UK welfare spending tops £133bn across constituencies

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 7 Oct, 01:13 · Archive

Britain's welfare spending has surged to over £133 billion, with eight of the top ten areas each claiming more than £500 million.

Britain's welfare spending has surged beyond £133 billion, according to new analysis mapping six major benefits: Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Housing Benefit, Disability Living Allowance, Carer's Allowance and Employment Support Allowance. The figure has risen by £26.1 billion, a 24.4 per cent increase, across all 575 constituencies in England and Wales in just over two years to March 2026. Eight of the top ten areas each claim more than £500 million in welfare spending.

Birmingham, which appears prominently in the data, receives £2.54 in welfare for every £1 its residents contribute in income tax and National Insurance, according to the Daily Mail's analysis. London and Birmingham dominate the list of largest welfare spending areas.

How it is being reported

• Almost every English region receives more in benefits handouts than it brings in in personal tax, new analysis revealsBirmingham, which is playing host to the Conservative Party's conference, takes £2.54 in welfare for every £1 its residents contribute in income tax and National Insurance.Daily Mail · 7 Oct, 01:00
• MAPPED: The 10 UK areas claiming the most in benefits - How does your area compare?Britain's welfare bill has surged beyond £133billion with eight of the top 10 largest welfare spending areas leeching more than £500million each from the taxpayer, a new analysis has shown. The TaxPayers' Alliance has mapped spending on six major benefits - Universal Credit, PIP, Housing Benefit, Disability Living Allowance, Carer's Allowance, and Employment Support Allowance - across all 575 constituencies in England and Wales. The figure has surged by £26.1billion (24.4 per cent) in just over two years, according to the data aggregated to March 2026. London and Birmingham dominate the list…GB News · 7 Oct, 00:01

In this story: Birmingham · London · England · Wales · TaxPayers' Alliance

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