A total of 52.6% lived in households that received more from the state than they paid to the Treasury last year, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The figures underscore the challenge facing Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves as they try to tackle a ballooning sickness benefit bill and pressures from an ageing population.
The analysis, which reveals a decrease from 53.6% the previous year and covers the 12 months to March 2023, factors in both cash benefits and the use of public services such as the NHS, schools and free childcare.
Working-age people are typically net contributors to the state – meaning they pay more in direct and indirect taxes than they receive in benefits and public services.
However, even among this group, 45.3% received more from the state than they paid in taxes, although this partially reflects benefits relating to education and childcare.
Meanwhile, pensioners are overwhelmingly classed as net recipients, with 85.3% receiving more from the Government than they contribute.
The latest findings have been released as Britain struggles with stagnant growth, faltering public services and a tax burden heading towards a post-war high, inflicting ever greater pain on workers.
These pressures are only set to intensify as the population ages and more people become so-called net recipients in retirement, with the number of over-85s set to double by 2045 to 3.1 million.
No wonder we can’t afford anything.
Worth reading in full.
Dr. Will Jones is Editor of the Daily Sceptic. He has a PhD in political philosophy, an MA in ethics, a BSc in mathematics and a diploma in theology. This article was first published HERE
The analysis, which reveals a decrease from 53.6% the previous year and covers the 12 months to March 2023, factors in both cash benefits and the use of public services such as the NHS, schools and free childcare.
Working-age people are typically net contributors to the state – meaning they pay more in direct and indirect taxes than they receive in benefits and public services.
However, even among this group, 45.3% received more from the state than they paid in taxes, although this partially reflects benefits relating to education and childcare.
Meanwhile, pensioners are overwhelmingly classed as net recipients, with 85.3% receiving more from the Government than they contribute.
The latest findings have been released as Britain struggles with stagnant growth, faltering public services and a tax burden heading towards a post-war high, inflicting ever greater pain on workers.
These pressures are only set to intensify as the population ages and more people become so-called net recipients in retirement, with the number of over-85s set to double by 2045 to 3.1 million.
No wonder we can’t afford anything.
Worth reading in full.
Dr. Will Jones is Editor of the Daily Sceptic. He has a PhD in political philosophy, an MA in ethics, a BSc in mathematics and a diploma in theology. This article was first published HERE
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