{"id":794736,"date":"2026-10-07T10:54:12","date_gmt":"2026-10-07T10:54:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/794736\/"},"modified":"2026-10-07T10:54:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T10:54:12","slug":"welfare-spending-the-10-uk-areas-claiming-the-most-in-benefits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/794736\/","title":{"rendered":"Welfare spending: The 10 UK areas claiming the most in benefits"},"content":{"rendered":"

Britain’s welfare bill has surged beyond \u00a3133billion with eight of the top 10 largest welfare spending areas leeching more than \u00a3500million each from the taxpayer, a new analysis has shown.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The figure has surged by \u00a326.1billion (24.4 per cent) in just over two years, according to the data aggregated to March 2026.<\/p>\n

London and Birmingham dominate the list of highest-spending areas. Six are in the capital and four are in Birmingham.<\/p>\n

Nine out of the 10 areas are Labour-held constituencies, while the last – Birmingham Perry Barr – is controlled by independent MP Ayoub Khan. <\/p>\n

In total, the analysis found some 54 constituencies have welfare bills exceeding \u00a3365million, equivalent to more than \u00a31million for every day of the year.<\/p>\n

Universal Credit makes up 57 per cent of the total while PIP accounts for 22 per cent.<\/p>\n

To reduce the burden on the public purse, the TaxPayers’ Alliance is calling for the two-child limit to be reinstated and for PIP to be means-tested.<\/p>\n

It also wants tougher PIP assessments and stricter eligibility rules.<\/p>\n

Want to see how your area stacks up? Use the calculator HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Map showing the 10 UK areas claiming the most in benefits <\/p>\n

| <\/p>\n

GB NEWS<\/p>\n

1. Tottenham<\/p>\n

Tottenham tops the table at \u00a3624.9million, the highest bill in the country. <\/p>\n

This means a tax bill of \u00a34,730 per resident per year – a 25.6 per cent increase since February 2024.<\/p>\n

Some 29,078 households claim Universal Credit, landing taxpayers with a bill of \u00a3462.5million <\/p>\n

In addition, there are 10,640 PIP claimants – 38 per cent of which are awarded for psychiatric conditions<\/p>\n

Of the estimated 138,441 population, there are 53,610 benefits claims.<\/p>\n

The seat is held by former Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy.<\/p>\n

2. Brent East<\/p>\n

Brent East is second on the list at \u00a3605.9million.<\/p>\n

This means a tax bill of \u00a34,624 per resident per year – a 24.1 per cent increase since February 2024.<\/p>\n

Some 25,842 households claim Universal Credit, landing taxpayers with a bill of \u00a3421.4million.<\/p>\n

In addition, there are 5,698 Housing Benefit claimants – totalling \u00a377,673,080.<\/p>\n

Of the estimated 137,143 population, there are 48,696 benefits claims.<\/p>\n

The seat is held by Labour MP Dawn Butler.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0Birmingham Ladywood<\/p>\n

Birmingham Ladywood is third on the list at \u00a3590.7million, the highest outside London.<\/p>\n

This means a tax bill of \u00a33,738 per resident per year.<\/p>\n

It also represents a 32 per cent increase since February 2024.<\/p>\n

Some 33,810 households claim Universal Credit, landing taxpayers with a bill of \u00a3372.6million.<\/p>\n

In addition, there are 9,023 Housing Benefit claimants – totalling \u00a3118,062,467.<\/p>\n

Of the estimated 156,258 population, there are 63,189 benefits claims.<\/p>\n

The seat is held by Labour MP Shabana Mahmood.<\/p>\n

\"\"\/ | <\/p>\n

GETTY<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0Hackney North and Stoke Newington\u00a0<\/p>\n

Hackney North and Stoke Newington is fourth on the list at \u00a3553.4million.<\/p>\n

This means a tax bill of \u00a34,967 per resident per year – a 36.6 per cent increase since February 2024.<\/p>\n

Some 21,727 households claim Universal Credit, landing taxpayers with a bill of \u00a3403million.<\/p>\n

In addition, there are 8,319 PIP claimants – 43.7 per cent of which are awarded for psychiatric conditions.<\/p>\n

Of the estimated 116,000 population, there are 41,927 benefits claims.<\/p>\n

The seat is held by Labour MP Diane Abbott.<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0Enfield North<\/p>\n

Enfield North is fifth on the list at \u00a3541.3million.<\/p>\n

This means a tax bill of \u00a34,450 per resident per year – a 27.6 per cent increase since February 2024.<\/p>\n

Some 23,030 households claim Universal Credit, landing taxpayers with a bill of \u00a3375.9million.<\/p>\n

In addition, there are 10,204 PIP claimants – 5,494 of whom are eligible for a Motability vehicle<\/p>\n

Of the estimated 127,513 population, there are 44,860 benefits claims.<\/p>\n

The seat is held by Labour MP Feryal Clark.<\/p>\n

6.\u00a0Queen’s Park and Maida Vale<\/p>\n

Queen’s Park and Maida Vale is sixth on the list at \u00a3526million.<\/p>\n

This means a tax bill of \u00a34,382 per resident per year.<\/p>\n

Some 21,771 households claim Universal Credit, landing taxpayers with a bill of \u00a3333.9million.<\/p>\n

In addition, there are 7,171 Housing Benefit claimants – totalling \u00a396,556,154.<\/p>\n

Of the estimated 113,559 population, there are 46,218 benefits claims.<\/p>\n

The seat is held by Labour MP Georgia Gould.<\/p>\n

7.\u00a0Edmonton and Winchmore Hill<\/p>\n

Edmonton and Winchmore Hill is seventh on the list at \u00a3525.2million.<\/p>\n

This means a tax bill of \u00a34,365 per resident per year.<\/p>\n

Some 23,346 households claim Universal Credit, landing taxpayers with a bill of \u00a3370.4million.<\/p>\n

In addition, there are 9,502 PIP claimants – 4,988 of whom are eligible for a Motability vehicle<\/p>\n

Of the estimated 125,096 population, there are 43,942 benefits claims.<\/p>\n

The seat is held by Labour MP Kate Osamor.<\/p>\n

\"Work<\/p>\n

Spending has risen in every single constituency, according to the report<\/p>\n

| <\/p>\n

PA<\/p>\n

8.\u00a0Birmingham Erdington<\/p>\n

Birmingham Erdington is eighth on the list at \u00a3503.5million.<\/p>\n

This means a tax bill of \u00a34,175 per resident per year.<\/p>\n

It also represents a 29 per cent increase since February 2024.<\/p>\n

Some 25,613 households claim Universal Credit, landing taxpayers with a bill of \u00a3286million.<\/p>\n

In addition, there are 12,696 PIP claimants – 7,062 of whom are eligible for a Motability vehicle<\/p>\n

Of the estimated 126,168 population, there are 55,082 benefits claims.<\/p>\n

The seat is held by Labour MP Paulette Hamilton.<\/p>\n

9.\u00a0\u00a0Birmingham Perry Barr<\/p>\n

Birmingham Perry Barr is ninth on the list at \u00a3499.9million.<\/p>\n

This means a tax bill of \u00a34,175 per resident per year – a 37 per cent increase since February 2024.<\/p>\n

Some 27,417 households claim Universal Credit, landing taxpayers with a bill of \u00a3280million.<\/p>\n

In addition, there are 9,020 Housing Benefit claimants – totalling \u00a3127,461,037.<\/p>\n

Of the estimated 76,350 population, there are 54,096 benefits claims.<\/p>\n

The seat is held by independent MP Ayoub Khan, the only non-Labour MP in the top ten.<\/p>\n

10.\u00a0\u00a0Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North<\/p>\n

Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North completes the top ten at \u00a3472.7million.<\/p>\n

This means a tax bill of \u00a33,980 per resident per year, a 35.2 per cent increase since February 2024.<\/p>\n

Some 24,994 households claim Universal Credit, landing taxpayers with a bill of \u00a3296,254,315.<\/p>\n

In addition, there are 12,233 PIP claimants – 41.6 per cent of which are awarded for psychiatric conditions.<\/p>\n

Of the estimated 125,440 population, there are 52,731 benefits claims.<\/p>\n

The seat is held by Labour MP Liam Byrne.<\/p>\n

The gap between areas is stark. Sheffield Hallam represents the lowest bill at \u00a380.8million, meaning Tottenham’s welfare bill is almost eight times higher.<\/p>\n

Spending has risen in every single constituency, according to the report.<\/p>\n

The West Midlands saw the fastest regional growth, at 27.3 per cent.<\/p>\n

Want to see how your area stacks up? Use the calculator HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Britain’s welfare bill has surged beyond \u00a3133billion with eight of the top 10 largest welfare spending areas leeching…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":794737,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[59,57,58,33142,50,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-794736","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-united-kingdom","tag-gb","tag-great-britain","tag-greatbritain","tag-membership","tag-news","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/794736","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=794736"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/794736\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/794737"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=794736"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=794736"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=794736"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}