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2 clusters · 5 sources · 3 days · First seen · Last updated

UK welfare spending trends and analysis

Overview

Analysis from the TaxPayers’ Alliance indicates that welfare spending across England and Wales reached £133.1 billion in the 12 months leading to March 2026, representing a 24.4% increase since 2021.

Data shows that Universal Credit accounts for 57% of this total, while Personal Independence Payment (PIP) represents 22%. High-spending areas are concentrated in London and Birmingham, with Tottenham recording the highest constituency bill at approximately £624.9 million. In Wales, spending on the six major benefits rose to £7.84 billion by March 2026, a 19.8% increase from the previous two years.

The TaxPayers’ Alliance has responded to these rising costs by advocating for the reinstatement of the two-child limit and the implementation of means-testing and stricter eligibility rules for PIP.

Entities

Tottenham · Wales · Shabana Mahmood · Swansea West · Taxpayers' Alliance

Timeline

  1. [POLITICS] 2 sources
    UK welfare spending exceeds £133 billion, analysis shows

    A TaxPayers' Alliance analysis shows UK welfare spending has surpassed £133 billion, with London and Birmingham constituencies accounting for the highest costs.

  2. [BUSINESS] 3 sources
    Welfare spending in England and Wales reaches £133.1 billion

    A new report by the TaxPayers’ Alliance shows welfare spending in England and Wales hit £133.1 billion by March 2026, with 54 constituencies spending over £1 million a day on benefits.

Sources

gbnews.com · nation.cymru · taxpayersalliance.com · thenationalpulse.com · watfordobserver.co.uk