HEREFORDSHIRE residents receive an estimated £300 million a year through six major benefits, according to new analysis of official government figures.

Research by the TaxPayers’ Alliance estimates that £299,690,735 is spent annually across the county on Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance, Housing Benefit, Employment and Support Allowance and Carer’s Allowance.

That works out at £1,568.68 for every resident, placing Herefordshire 224th highest out of 317 council areas in England and Wales for spending per person.

The county ranks 145th nationally when areas are instead compared by their overall estimated benefits bill.

The figures mean that while almost £300 million is estimated to be spent in Herefordshire each year, the amount per resident remains towards the lower end of the national table.

Figures for the Hereford and South Herefordshire parliamentary constituency, which includes Ross-on-Wye, show an estimated annual bill of £165,786,734.

That equates to £1,686.85 per resident and puts the constituency 386th highest out of 575 constituencies in England and Wales for spending per person.

The figures have been produced by the TaxPayers’ Alliance using official Department for Work and Pensions data to estimate spending in every constituency and council area.

The calculations use average payments and claimant numbers to estimate an annual bill for six major benefits. For Universal Credit, the number of households receiving payments is used instead.

The TaxPayers’ Alliance has launched an online postcode tool allowing residents to see estimated benefit spending where they live.

The campaign group said the figures demonstrated the scale of welfare spending and has called for reform of the system.

However, the totals do not represent unemployment benefits alone, with the analysis also including support received by disabled people, carers and households receiving help with housing costs across the county.

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