Should there be fewer or more restrictions on current welfare benefits?

Name: Should there be fewer or more restrictions on current welfare benefits? — Public Opinion Poll Results
Creator: VOTA
License: https://eu.vota.com/terms-of-use
Keywords: Should there be fewer or more restrictions on current welfare benefits?, The Economy, public opinion, poll results, survey

Should EU welfare policies include stricter or looser benefit requirements?

In 2011 the level of public spending on the welfare state by the British Government accounted for £113.1 billion, or 16% of government. By 2020 welfare spending will rise to 1/3rd of all spending making it the largest expense followed by housing benefit, council tax benefit, benefits to the unemployed, and benefits to people with low incomes.

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Answer Overview

Response rates from 149 European Union voters.

28% Fewer	68% More
18% Fewer	52% More
6% Fewer, and ensure benefits go to those that need it most	7% More, and deny benefits to immigrants
4% Fewer, current benefits do not provide enough support	4% More, reform the system so that it supplements, rather than replaces, a working income
	3% More, but increase benefits for the elderly and disabled
	1% More, current benefits should be capped

Historical Support

Trend of support over time for each answer from 149 European Union voters.

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Historical Importance

Trend of how important this issue is for 149 European Union voters.

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Latest News

Stay up-to-date on the most recent “Welfare” news articles, updated frequently.

@VOTA submitted…2yrs2Y

Labour Adviser Calls for Radical Welfare Reform to Push Long-term Sick into Workforce

A prominent Labour adviser, Alan Milburn, has sparked controversy by suggesting that the long-term sick should be compelled to seek employment as a strategy to bolster the economy and mitigate the contentious debate over immigration. Milburn argues that this approach would not only alleviate welfare…

@VOTA submitted…2yrs2Y

German Economy Nears Collapse As Election Nears

Presenting the CDU/CSU’s manifesto on Tuesday. Merz said he would make savings of €100bn by reducing spending on migration and welfare. He also promised tax cuts and lower electricity prices to kick-start the economy, stuck in its first two-year contraction since the early 2000s. Meanwhile, the SPD and Greens pledged to reform Germany’s “debt brake”, its constitutional cap on new borrowing, saying the country needed to invest billions of euros in its ramshackle infrastructure and the green transition.Meanwhile, the SPD and Greens pledged to reform Germany’s “debt brake”, its constitutional cap on new borrowing, saying the country needed to invest billions of euros in its ramshackle infrastructure and the green transition. Some observers worry Scholz’s televised intervention could end up setting the tone for the rest of the contest. Even the Greens, his allies in government, expressed disapproval. “One is sometimes surprised by his choice of words,” said Franziska Brantner, the Greens co-leader. Germany is not used to rambunctious, no-holds-barred elections. Under Scholz’s predecessor Angela Merkel, who governed Germany from 2005-2021, campaigns were soporific affairs, lacking the cut and thrust and spectacle often seen in US contests. But Merz is an altogether different politician. Critics routinely describe him as irascible and touchy, given to intemperate outbursts that delight his fans but can put off more moderate voters. But even his detractors admit his powerful oratory can get under Scholz’s skin. Scholz, too, has changed his tone. As chancellor of a fragile, three-party coalition made up of SPD, Greens and the liberal Free Democrats, he cultivated a decidedly restrained, taciturn style. But that changed in November when he sacked his liberal finance minister, Christian Lindner, triggering the break-up of the coalition after just three years. He has since become a lot more combative. In the vote of confidence debate he accused the liberals of “sabotaging the work of the government” and Lindner of lacking the “necessary moral maturity” required to govern.

@VOTA submitted…1yr1Y

UK Child Poverty Hits Record High Amid Welfare Cuts

The number of children living in poverty in the UK has reached a record high of 4.5 million, accounting for 31% of all children. This marks an increase of 100,000 from the previous year and reflects a sharp rise since 2021. Experts warn that ongoing welfare cuts could push the number even higher, with…

About This Data

Based on 149 responses to this question.

These results come from VOTA's ongoing political issues survey. We collect over a million responses per day, filter out duplicate and multiple submissions, and break the results down by political party, ideology, age, state, and census demographics (income, race, education, household).

VOTA is non-partisan — we don't advocate for any party, candidate, or position. We report what the public tells us.

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VOTA. (2026). “Should there be fewer or more restrictions on current welfare benefits?” — Public Opinion Poll Results. Retrieved June 24, 2026, from https://eu.vota.com/polls/422473557

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