New map shows the areas of Wales most vulnerable to Government DWP benefit reforms
Some parts of Wales have twice as many claimants of as average
Many people in Blaenau Gwent cite psychiatric disorders as their reason for claiming. Picture shows Ebbw Vale
(Image: South Wales Echo )
The areas of Wales with the highest number of people who receive Personal Independent Payments (PIP) are revealed in a new map which shows the areas most vulnerable to any government reform . One part of Wales has more than twice the rate seen across England and Wales.
PIP is a a benefit designed to assist with additional costs resulting from long-term disability or ill-health which was established in 2013. Recipients can receive £73.90 a week to help with their living costs at the standard rate and an additional £29.20 if they qualify for mobility help. At the enhanced rate for more severe disabilities, they qualify for £110.40 daily living support and £77.05 in mobility help - totalling £187.45.
The UK government had planned to cut the number of people who would qualify for the benefit by making it more difficult to qualify under the points-based system by which people's disability is assessed. However Keir Starmer was forced to back down amid the face of a rebellion by his own MPs.
The government was ultimately able to pass its benefits bill by a margin of 75 votes, but only after making last-minute concessions to Labour rebels that left it unrecognisable. It has now promised not alter PIP rules until it had time to consider a review's findings.
Deemed a "moral imperative" by the Prime Minister, the reforms were aimed at encouraging capable people to return to work, while reducing the welfare bill by £5bn and boosting employment rates.
As of April 2025, data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) revealed that more than 3.7 million people are beneficiaries of PIP across England and Wales, some 8.3% of the population.
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But the distribution is uneven, with certain areas showing far higher concentrations of claimants than others. Wales has a higher proportion of claimants to England with 11.7% of people here receiving the benefit.
Wales has some of the highest rates in the UK with four Welsh constituencies in the top ten in England and Wales.
In Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, 17.4% of working age adults claim PIP. This is followed by Aberafan Maesteg on 17.4%, Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare at 15.9% and Rhondda and Ogmore at 15.7%.
Only two areas of England have higher rates of PIP claimants than Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, Liverpool Walton on 18.6% and Easington in the north east of England on 17.8%.
The ten constituencies with the highest rate of PIP claimants in England and Wales
Liverpool Walton, north west England - 18.6% Easington, north east England - 17.8% Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, Wales - 17.4% Aberafan Maesteg, Wales - 16.9% Knowsley, north west England - 16.8% Blackpool South, north west England - 16.5% Birkenhead, north west England - 16.5% Bootle, north west England - 16.3% Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare, Wales - 15.9% Rhondda and Ogmore, Wales - 15.7%
The percentage of PIP claimants in Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney is more than twice the average rate in England and Wales.
In Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, 34.4% of claimants cite mental health or psychiatric disorders as their reason for claiming.
Another 24.5% do so due to general musculoskeletal disease, with an additional 14.4% for regional musculoskeletal disease, 10% for neurological disease, and 4.4% for respiratory disease.
According to the most recent data from the Office for National Statistics released in May 2024, the employment rate in Blaenau Gwent was 69.4% in the year ending in December 2023.
This is a decrease compared with the year ending December 2022 when the local rate was 73.8%.
Across Wales in the year ending December 2023, 74.1% of people aged 16 to 64 years were employed.
This was higher compared with the previous year, when 73.3% of people were employed.
During the year ending in December 2023, the unemployment rate was 4.1% - an increase compared with the year ending December 2022 when the unemployment rate was 2.9%.
However the number of people claiming unemployment-related benefits was 4.3% in the year leading to March 2023 was 4.3%. This figure remained the same in the following year leading to March 2024.
Around 11,500 people or 26.4% of the population aged 16 to 64 years in Blaenau Gwent were "economically inactive" in the year ending December 2023.
This compares with around 10,700 people (24.7%) in the year ending December 2022.
People are classed as "economically inactive" if they are not in employment but don't meet the criteria for being "unemployed".
This means they have not been seeking work within the previous four weeks or were unable to start work within the next two weeks.
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Common reasons include being retired, looking after the home or family or being temporarily or long-term sick and disabled.
Economic inactivity in Blaenau Gwent is higher than across Wales and Great Britain.
Across Wales, 23.0% of people aged 16 to 64 years were economically inactive during the year ending December 2023, a decrease compared with the year ending December 2022 when 24.4% were economically inactive.
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