Parliamentary constituency · 12 months to March 2026

Benefits spending in Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare

£329.1m was paid out across six benefits in the Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare constituency, about £3,301 per resident. That is 42nd highest of 575 constituencies per person and 49.4% above the England and Wales figure of £2,209.

Six-benefit spending
£329.1m
87th of 575 by total
Per resident
£3,301
42nd of 575 per person
Population (mid-2022)
99,698
ONS mid-year estimate

Which benefits are paid in Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare

Benefits paid in Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare by benefit
  • Universal Credit£176.2m

    53.5% of the six-benefit total

  • Personal Independence Payment£100.8m

    30.6% of the six-benefit total

  • Disability Living Allowance£22.1m

    6.7% of the six-benefit total

  • Employment and Support Allowance£17.6m

    5.3% of the six-benefit total

  • Housing Benefit£15.4m

    4.7% of the six-benefit total

  • Carer's Allowance£12.9m

    3.9% 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

Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare: common questions

How much is spent on benefits in Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare?

£329.1m was paid out in Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare 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 Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare?

About £3,301 per resident, using an ONS mid-2022 population of 99,698. That is 42nd highest of 575 constituencies in England and Wales, 49.4% above the average of £2,209.

Which benefit costs most in Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare?

Universal Credit is the largest of the six at £176.2m, 53.5% 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.