Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he wants to cut the welfare bill "as soon as we possibly can" but declined to guarantee this will happen before the next general election, which must be held by August 2029.
Welfare spending is forecast to rise from £353bn this year to £431bn in 2031/32, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility. Burnham said he opposes "crude cuts" and wants to move people into "sustainable employment" instead.
Chancellor John Healey told the BBC's Today Programme that "there will be a reduction in the benefits bill, we'll do that in a Labour way." Treasury sources later disputed whether this constituted a promise to reduce the bill before the next election. Downing Street said it was "not setting an arbitrary target or timetable" and would not clarify whether the government aims to cut welfare below current levels or slow the rate of projected increases.
Two major reviews on disability benefits and young people not in education or employment are due in November. The government said more details on welfare reform proposals would follow those reports.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch accused Labour of having an "out-of-control welfare system" and said the government's mixed messaging looked like "foot in mouth syndrome is spreading."