Five Wales areas among worst hit by benefits changes

BBC Wales economics correspondent Sarah Dickins has reported that Merthyr Tydfil, Neath Port Talbot, Blaenau Gwent, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Caerphilly are among the 25 areas in the UK to be most affected by changes to welfare payments – read Sarah’s article here.

The story points to new research by Sheffield Hallam University which documents for the first time the impact of the welfare reforms on local areas across the whole of Britain. The research provides comprehensive figures for each of Britain’s 379 local authority districts – click here to read the full report. An interactive map is also available on FT.com – you can use this to see how welfare reforms could impact you depending on where you live.

Professor Steve Fothergill from Sheffield Hallam’s Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, who undertook the study with colleague Professor Tina Beatty, said: “A key effect of the welfare reforms will be to widen the gaps in prosperity between the best and worst local economies across Britain.

“Our figures also show the Coalition government is presiding over national welfare reforms that will impact principally on individuals and communities outside its own political heartlands.”