Waverley and East Hampshire may have relatively low levels of welfare spending - but poverty and financial hardship still exist locally.

The TaxPayers’ Alliance has created a ‘Benefits Bill’ online tool by which people can use Department for Work and Pensions data to see exactly how much money is spent on benefits in every constituency and council area in England and Wales.

In the East Hampshire council area in 2025-26, £160,378,426 (£1,234 per resident) was spent on benefits, ranking it 276th out of 318. The figure for Waverley was £152, 197, 822 (£1,133 per resident), putting it 282nd.

In the East Hampshire constituency, which has different boundaries to the council area, spending was £115,052,865 (£1,237 per resident), putting it 563rd out of 575. The Farnham and Bordon figure was £122, 926,076 (£1,170 per resident), making it 551st.

The constituencies with the highest total spending and highest spending per resident were both in London - Tottenham (£624,901,702) and Hackney North and Stoke Newington (£4,713). The lowest in both categories was Sheffield Hallam (£80,811,453 and £851).

John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “Our Benefits Bill is designed to show what our broken welfare system means in the real world.

“It brings the big numbers that we hear on television and radio right down to what it means for you and your town. Because the fact is that Britain’s benefits boom is everywhere, in almost every neighbourhood, and it’s bankrupting us.

“We hope the Benefits Bill will push politicians to finally take this problem seriously and do what needs to be done to cut welfare spending before it’s too late.”

But Farnham Foodbank project manager Fiona Brooks painted a different picture which showed there are reasons behind benefits spending.

She said: “The need for the foodbank in Farnham remains, and the need is often hidden. We see over 2,000 people each year, approximately five per cent of the population.

“Surrey-i data shows that 10 per cent of Farnham's population is experiencing deprivation, so possibly more people out there needing our help.

“The Sandy Hill Estate has been identified as one of the most disadvantaged communities in Surrey, according to Surreyi.gov.uk.

“So far this year we have given out 10 tons of food, and supported many clients with money advice given out by the Frontline Money Advice Farnham team. And we have seen an increase in complex needs.”

Fiona said the foodbank was not just dealing with typical families from long-established households.

She added: “We have seen more people using the foodbank from the following groups: rough sleepers, families from Afghanistan recently resettled in Farnham, women from the local women's refuge, young men, and people - mostly women - experiencing domestic abuse.

“These cases are complex and we often support these individuals and families for a little longer until their lives are more stable.”

Trussell, which runs a nationwide network of foodbanks including those in Farnham and Alton, confirmed that the Farnham one gave out 2,032 food parcels last year, with 798 of those for children. In Alton the figures were 1,998 and 754.

Some of the Farnham Foodbank clients left thank you messages for the team.

One said: “I have just looked through my delivery and I really appreciate it. Every time I get one I nearly cry. You don’t understand how much you have helped me.”

Another added: “Coming to the foodbank was just a great relief and nobody judges anybody.”

And a third said: “Thank you for the food and listening to me - and not judging me. You are all really kind and I feel calmer now. I feel motivated to sort things out now.”

Fiona concluded: “It’s so important that people recognise that, although Farnham is often seen as an affluent town, poverty and financial hardship are a reality for many.”