Parliamentary constituency · 12 months to March 2026
Benefits spending in South Dorset
£210.0m was paid out across six benefits in the South Dorset constituency, about £2,131 per resident. That is 272nd highest of 575 constituencies per person and 3.5% below the England and Wales figure of £2,209.
- Six-benefit spending
- £210.0m
- 291st of 575 by total
- Per resident
- £2,131
- 272nd of 575 per person
- Population (mid-2022)
- 98,533
- ONS mid-year estimate
Which benefits are paid in South Dorset
- Universal Credit£116.0m
55.2% of the six-benefit total
- Personal Independence Payment£55.9m
26.6% of the six-benefit total
- Housing Benefit£16.4m
7.8% of the six-benefit total
- Disability Living Allowance£14.0m
6.7% of the six-benefit total
- Employment and Support Allowance£8.5m
4.0% of the six-benefit total
- Carer's Allowance£6.8m
3.2% 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
South Dorset: common questions
How much is spent on benefits in South Dorset?
£210.0m was paid out in South Dorset 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 South Dorset?
About £2,131 per resident, using an ONS mid-2022 population of 98,533. That is 272nd highest of 575 constituencies in England and Wales, 3.5% below the average of £2,209.
Which benefit costs most in South Dorset?
Universal Credit is the largest of the six at £116.0m, 55.2% 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.