| Weekly cost to taxpayer on minimum wage | |
| Weekly cost to taxpayer on average wage | |
| Expected cost to taxpayer over remaining working life on minimum wage | |
| Expected cost to taxpayer over remaining working life on average wage | |
| Maximum cost to taxpayer over remaining working life on minimum wage | |
| Maximum cost to taxpayer over remaining working life on average wage | |
| Maximum cost to taxpayer over remaining working life for disabled worker on minimum wage | |
| Maximum cost to taxpayer over remaining working life for disabled worker on average wage |
The above figures are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be relied on as an accurate representation of the cost to the taxpayer in any given situation.
The assumptions on which these calculations are based are as follows. Information is current for fiscal year 2012/13. Housing and Council Tax Benefits are for a Band A house in Manchester. Average wage is for a full time (40 hours per week) worker. Government benefits and minimum wage are for a single adult. The expected cost is assuming a worker is unemployed for 7.3% of his working life (the long term average rate for the UK). The maximum cost is assuming the worker is unemployed for the rest of his working life. Present values are assuming a discount rate equal to inflation. Calculations ignore other sundry government benefits such as free health or dental care and travel passes, etc.
