£26.1 billion rise in benefits bill: what the new Welfare Map shows

The TaxPayers' Alliance says spending on six major benefits in England and Wales reached £133.1 billion in the 12 months to March 2026, an increase of £26.1 billion since 2024. The campaign group, which argues for lower taxes and an end to what it calls wasteful government spending, published the figures on Sunday in a new Welfare Map covering every constituency and local authority. Its headline finding is that 29 of the 30 constituencies with the highest welfare spending are represented by Labour MPs.

The research has drawn sharp reaction, with GB News presenter Martin Daubney calling it Britain's "benefits league of shame". For readers, the more useful questions are what the figures actually measure, what the group wants done and whether anything changes for people claiming today. The short answer to the last one is no, not yet.

How the Welfare Map adds up the benefits bill

The map looks at spending on six main benefits, including Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment (PIP). It tracks how spending has changed since 2021 and since Labour came to power in 2024. According to the TPA, the £26.1 billion rise is a 24.4% increase in just over two years. The Daily Express report on the research names only Universal Credit and PIP, so the coverage does not show the full list.

Of the £133.1 billion total, Labour-held constituencies accounted for £98.1 billion, the group said. It put the average Labour seat's welfare bill at £267.3 million, compared with £224.9 million for Reform UK seats and £159.3 million for Conservative seats. The figures show where benefit money is paid out. They do not show decisions made by individual MPs.

John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said the map "lays bare the parts of Britain which have become addicted to benefits" and claimed spending had "spiralled out of control" while politicians resisted restraint. Helen Whately MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, called the map "a vital tool" and said Labour had "made it easier to claim and harder to get a job". She said her side had announced new policies to bring spending down, but the report does not set out what they are.

Where the biggest benefit bills are

According to the TPA, Tottenham had the highest welfare bill of any constituency at £624.9 million. Brent East came second at £605.9 million and Birmingham Ladywood third at £590.7 million. Fifty-four constituencies had bills above £365 million, which the group says works out at more than £1 million for every day of the year. Of these, 36 were above £400 million and eight were above £500 million.

London had the largest regional bill at £24.2 billion, but the TPA calls Birmingham "Britain's benefits capital". Birmingham Hall Green and Moseley saw the fastest growth of any seat, up 37.1% in just over two years. Five of the 10 seats with the biggest percentage rises were in the city, the group said.

The group also picked out seats held by senior politicians. Makerfield, Andy Burnham's constituency, had a bill of £221.3 million, up £42.1 million or 23.5% in just over two years. East Ham, the seat of Stephen Timms, the minister charged with reviewing PIP, came in at £415.6 million. Wolverhampton South East, held by DWP secretary Pat McFadden, came in at £393.6 million.

Key numbers

• £133.1 billion: spent on the six benefits in England and Wales in the 12 months to March 2026.
• £26.1 billion: the rise since 2024, which the TPA says is a 24.4% increase in just over two years.
• 29 of the 30: the highest-spending constituencies held by Labour MPs, according to the research.
• £624.9 million: Tottenham's welfare bill, the largest of any constituency.
• £267.3 million: the average welfare bill in a Labour seat, against £159.3 million in a Conservative seat.
• 37.1%: the growth in Birmingham Hall Green and Moseley, the fastest of any seat.

What the TPA wants, and why nothing changes yet

Nothing changes for claimants because of this research. The Welfare Map is a report by a campaign group, not a government announcement, and it does not come with any new rules, dates or votes. The TPA is calling on all political parties to commit to urgent measures to "bring welfare spending under control", including tougher benefit caps, tighter assessments and eligibility rules, and wider means testing.

The group's chief executive said politicians must cut the bill "including by restricting who can claim and capping how much they can get". The coverage mentions that Stephen Timms is reviewing PIP, but it gives no date for the review to finish and no details of what it might recommend. Anyone claiming PIP should watch for official government announcements rather than relying on campaign reports.

What you can do now

If you claim one of these benefits, this report does not affect your payments. You do not need to fill in a form or meet a deadline because of it. If you get Housing Benefit or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, the government says you only need to act if your circumstances change or you receive a Migration Notice telling you to move to Universal Credit. If that letter arrives, the government says you must move by the deadline in it to keep getting financial support.

With so much talk of cuts, it is worth knowing exactly what you are entitled to now. The government lists free and anonymous benefits calculators, including entitledto, Turn2us and Policy in Practice. They estimate what you could get and how your payments would change if you start work, increase your hours or your circumstances change.

Have details of your savings and your household income to hand before you start, including your partner's income and payslips. You can also check with a local benefits adviser if your situation is complicated. If you look up your own area on the Welfare Map, remember that it was produced by a group that openly wants welfare spending cut.

Your questions answered

Does this report mean my benefits will be cut?

No. The Welfare Map is research by the TaxPayers' Alliance, a campaign group, and it does not change any payment. The coverage of the report does not mention any new government plans to change benefits.

Which benefits are included in the figures?

The TPA says it covered six main benefits, including Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment. The Daily Express report does not name the rest, so we cannot confirm the full list.

Why do Labour seats have higher bills?

The TPA's figures show Labour seats received £98.1 billion of the £133.1 billion total, with an average bill of £267.3 million per seat. The research measures how much benefit money is paid in each area, not how individual MPs voted or decided. Helen Whately says the figures show Labour has lost control of benefits spending.