Parliamentary constituency · 12 months to March 2026
Benefits spending in Bedford
£272.7m was paid out across six benefits in the Bedford constituency, about £2,465 per resident. That is 184th highest of 575 constituencies per person and 11.6% above the England and Wales figure of £2,209.
- Six-benefit spending
- £272.7m
- 168th of 575 by total
- Per resident
- £2,465
- 184th of 575 per person
- Population (mid-2022)
- 110,633
- ONS mid-year estimate
Which benefits are paid in Bedford
- Universal Credit£166.0m
60.9% of the six-benefit total
- Personal Independence Payment£54.2m
19.9% of the six-benefit total
- Housing Benefit£37.0m
13.6% of the six-benefit total
- Disability Living Allowance£13.2m
4.9% of the six-benefit total
- Employment and Support Allowance£8.0m
2.9% of the six-benefit total
- Carer's Allowance£7.4m
2.7% of the six-benefit total
Covers six benefits only: Universal Credit, PIP, Housing Benefit, DLA, Carer's Allowance and ESA. Excludes the State Pension, the largest welfare line. Compiled by the TaxPayers' Alliance from DWP Stat-Xplore, not a DWP borough publication. England and Wales, £133.1 billion in the 12 months to March 2026. Do not add this to the council budget: Housing Benefit is in both.
Constituencies with similar benefits spending per person
Bedford: common questions
How much is spent on benefits in Bedford?
£272.7m was paid out in Bedford on six benefits (Universal Credit, PIP, Housing Benefit, DLA, Carer's Allowance and ESA) in the 12 months to March 2026. The State Pension is not included.
How much is that per person in Bedford?
About £2,465 per resident, using an ONS mid-2022 population of 110,633. That is 184th highest of 575 constituencies in England and Wales, 11.6% above the average of £2,209.
Which benefit costs most in Bedford?
Universal Credit is the largest of the six at £166.0m, 60.9% of the total.
Where does this data come from?
Covers six benefits only: Universal Credit, PIP, Housing Benefit, DLA, Carer's Allowance and ESA. Excludes the State Pension, the largest welfare line. Compiled by the TaxPayers' Alliance from DWP Stat-Xplore, not a DWP borough publication. England and Wales, £133.1 billion in the 12 months to March 2026. Do not add this to the council budget: Housing Benefit is in both.