Who Gets What

Compare local authorities · East of England and South East

Southend-on-Sea and Reading

184,503 and 182,809 residents (mid-2024).

Southend-on-Sea is higher than Reading on 17 of 22 measures per person in the age group, 19 of 22 per resident and 19 of 22 in total.

On 2 of 22 measures, which area is higher depends on whether you count per person or in total. Choose a way of counting below to see each one.

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Southend-on-Sea and Reading on a map of the local authorities of Great Britain
How to count
Prices

Money in 2026-27 prices, adjusted for inflation so that years can be compared2026-27 prices, using CPI inflation, adjusted for inflation so that years can be comparedcash terms, not adjusted for inflation.

Per person in the age group

Southend-on-Sea is higher on 17 of 22 measures, and Reading on 5. Each row has its own scale from zero. Money is in 2026-27 prices2026-27 prices, using CPI inflationcash terms, not adjusted for inflation.1-11

Southend-on-Sea Reading

  1. All benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    All benefits, per resident: Southend-on-Sea £4,822, Reading £3,289Reading: £3,289Southend-on-Sea: £4,822Reading: £3,303Southend-on-Sea: £4,843Reading: £3,120Southend-on-Sea: £4,574

    £4,822£4,843£4,574Southend-on-Sea is higher£3,289£3,303£3,120

  2. Pensioner benefitsper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25

    Pensioner benefits, per person aged 66 and over: Southend-on-Sea £12,934, Reading £12,426Reading: £12,426Southend-on-Sea: £12,934Reading: £12,479Southend-on-Sea: £12,989Reading: £11,786Southend-on-Sea: £12,268

    £12,934£12,989£12,268Southend-on-Sea is higher£12,426£12,479£11,786

  3. Working-age benefitsper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25

    Working-age benefits, per person aged 16 to 64: Southend-on-Sea £2,502, Reading £1,764Reading: £1,764Southend-on-Sea: £2,502Reading: £1,772Southend-on-Sea: £2,513Reading: £1,673Southend-on-Sea: £2,373

    £2,502£2,513£2,373Southend-on-Sea is higher£1,764£1,772£1,673

  4. State Pensionper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25

    State Pension, per person aged 66 and over: Southend-on-Sea £11,509, Reading £10,862Reading: £10,862Southend-on-Sea: £11,509Reading: £10,909Southend-on-Sea: £11,558Reading: £10,303Southend-on-Sea: £10,916

    £11,509£11,558£10,916Southend-on-Sea is higher£10,862£10,909£10,303

  5. Pension Creditper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25

    Pension Credit, per person aged 66 and over: Southend-on-Sea £546, Reading £921Reading: £921Southend-on-Sea: £546Reading: £925Southend-on-Sea: £548Reading: £874Southend-on-Sea: £518

    £546£548£518Reading is higher£921£925£874

  6. Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, per person aged 66 and over: Southend-on-Sea £848, Reading £606Reading: £606Southend-on-Sea: £848Reading: £608Southend-on-Sea: £851Reading: £575Southend-on-Sea: £804

    £848£851£804Southend-on-Sea is higher£606£608£575

  7. Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25

    Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, per person aged 66 and over: Southend-on-Sea £32, Reading £36Reading: £36Southend-on-Sea: £32Reading: £36Southend-on-Sea: £32Reading: £34Southend-on-Sea: £30

    £32£32£30Reading is higherDepends on how you count£36£36£34

  8. Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per resident: Southend-on-Sea £438, Reading £279Reading: £279Southend-on-Sea: £438Reading: £280Southend-on-Sea: £440Reading: £265Southend-on-Sea: £415

    £438£440£415Southend-on-Sea is higher£279£280£265

  9. Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, per resident: Southend-on-Sea £149, Reading £113Reading: £113Southend-on-Sea: £149Reading: £113Southend-on-Sea: £149Reading: £107Southend-on-Sea: £141

    £149£149£141Southend-on-Sea is higher£113£113£107

  10. Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, per person aged 16 to 64: Southend-on-Sea £120, Reading £75Reading: £75Southend-on-Sea: £120Reading: £75Southend-on-Sea: £120Reading: £71Southend-on-Sea: £114

    £120£120£114Southend-on-Sea is higher£75£75£71

  11. Universal Creditper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25

    Universal Credit, per person aged 16 to 64: Southend-on-Sea £2,077, Reading £1,505Reading: £1,505Southend-on-Sea: £2,077Reading: £1,512Southend-on-Sea: £2,086Reading: £1,428Southend-on-Sea: £1,970

    £2,077£2,086£1,970Southend-on-Sea is higher£1,505£1,512£1,428

  12. Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, per resident: Southend-on-Sea £311, Reading £250Reading: £250Southend-on-Sea: £311Reading: £251Southend-on-Sea: £312Reading: £237Southend-on-Sea: £295

    £311£312£295Southend-on-Sea is higher£250£251£237

  13. Employment and Support Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25

    Employment and Support Allowance, per person aged 16 to 64: Southend-on-Sea £290, Reading £171Reading: £171Southend-on-Sea: £290Reading: £172Southend-on-Sea: £292Reading: £162Southend-on-Sea: £275

    £290£292£275Southend-on-Sea is higher£171£172£162

  14. Jobseeker's Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25

    Jobseeker's Allowance, per person aged 16 to 64: Southend-on-Sea £7.96, Reading £8.93Reading: £8.93Southend-on-Sea: £7.96Reading: £8.97Southend-on-Sea: £7.99Reading: £8.47Southend-on-Sea: £7.55

    £7.96£7.99£7.55Reading is higher£8.93£8.97£8.47

  15. Income Supportper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25

    Income Support, per person aged 16 to 64: Southend-on-Sea £6.53, Reading £4.39Reading: £4.39Southend-on-Sea: £6.53Reading: £4.40Southend-on-Sea: £6.55Reading: £4.16Southend-on-Sea: £6.19

    £6.53£6.55£6.19Southend-on-Sea is higher£4.39£4.40£4.16

  16. Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Other benefits, per resident: Southend-on-Sea £4.75, Reading £4.84Reading: £4.84Southend-on-Sea: £4.75Reading: £4.86Southend-on-Sea: £4.77Reading: £4.59Southend-on-Sea: £4.51

    £4.75£4.77£4.51Reading is higher£4.84£4.86£4.59

  17. State Pensionper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026

    State Pension, per 1,000 people aged 66 and over: Southend-on-Sea 1,013.0, Reading 963.7Reading: 963.7Southend-on-Sea: 1,013.0

    1,013.0Southend-on-Sea is higher963.7

  18. Pension Creditper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026

    Pension Credit, per 1,000 people aged 66 and over: Southend-on-Sea 123.6, Reading 144.5Reading: 144.5Southend-on-Sea: 123.6

    123.6Reading is higherDepends on how you count144.5

  19. Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, per 1,000 people aged 66 and over: Southend-on-Sea 176.3, Reading 128.6Reading: 128.6Southend-on-Sea: 176.3

    176.3Southend-on-Sea is higher128.6

  20. Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 2026

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per 1,000 residents: Southend-on-Sea 69.0, Reading 43.5Reading: 43.5Southend-on-Sea: 69.0

    69.0Southend-on-Sea is higher43.5

  21. Universal Creditper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, May 2026

    Universal Credit, per 1,000 people aged 16 to 64: Southend-on-Sea 212.4, Reading 162.6Reading: 162.6Southend-on-Sea: 212.4

    212.4Southend-on-Sea is higher162.6

  22. Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, March 2026

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, per 1,000 people aged 16 to 64: Southend-on-Sea 26.7, Reading 16.7Reading: 16.7Southend-on-Sea: 26.7

    26.7Southend-on-Sea is higher16.7

Show the numbers
Southend-on-Sea and Reading, per person in the age group
MeasureSouthend-on-SeaReadingHigher
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25£4,822£4,843£4,574£3,289£3,303£3,120Southend-on-Sea
Pensioner benefitsper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£12,934£12,989£12,268£12,426£12,479£11,786Southend-on-Sea
Working-age benefitsper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£2,502£2,513£2,373£1,764£1,772£1,673Southend-on-Sea
State Pensionper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£11,509£11,558£10,916£10,862£10,909£10,303Southend-on-Sea
Pension Creditper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£546£548£518£921£925£874Reading
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£848£851£804£606£608£575Southend-on-Sea
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£32£32£30£36£36£34Reading
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£438£440£415£279£280£265Southend-on-Sea
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£149£149£141£113£113£107Southend-on-Sea
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£120£120£114£75£75£71Southend-on-Sea
Universal Creditper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£2,077£2,086£1,970£1,505£1,512£1,428Southend-on-Sea
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25£311£312£295£250£251£237Southend-on-Sea
Employment and Support Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£290£292£275£171£172£162Southend-on-Sea
Jobseeker's Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£7.96£7.99£7.55£8.93£8.97£8.47Reading
Income Supportper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£6.53£6.55£6.19£4.39£4.40£4.16Southend-on-Sea
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25£4.75£4.77£4.51£4.84£4.86£4.59Reading
State Pensionper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 20261,013.0963.7Southend-on-Sea
Pension Creditper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026123.6144.5Reading
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026176.3128.6Southend-on-Sea
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 202669.043.5Southend-on-Sea
Universal Creditper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, May 2026212.4162.6Southend-on-Sea
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, March 202626.716.7Southend-on-Sea

Per resident

Southend-on-Sea is higher on 19 of 22 measures, and Reading on 3. Each row has its own scale from zero. Money is in 2026-27 prices2026-27 prices, using CPI inflationcash terms, not adjusted for inflation.1-11

Southend-on-Sea Reading

  1. All benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    All benefits, per resident: Southend-on-Sea £4,822, Reading £3,289Reading: £3,289Southend-on-Sea: £4,822Reading: £3,303Southend-on-Sea: £4,843Reading: £3,120Southend-on-Sea: £4,574

    £4,822£4,843£4,574Southend-on-Sea is higher£3,289£3,303£3,120

  2. Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Pensioner benefits, per resident: Southend-on-Sea £2,375, Reading £1,418Reading: £1,418Southend-on-Sea: £2,375Reading: £1,424Southend-on-Sea: £2,386Reading: £1,345Southend-on-Sea: £2,253

    £2,375£2,386£2,253Southend-on-Sea is higher£1,418£1,424£1,345

  3. Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Working-age benefits, per resident: Southend-on-Sea £1,544, Reading £1,225Reading: £1,225Southend-on-Sea: £1,544Reading: £1,230Southend-on-Sea: £1,551Reading: £1,162Southend-on-Sea: £1,465

    £1,544£1,551£1,465Southend-on-Sea is higher£1,225£1,230£1,162

  4. State Pensionper resident, 2024-25

    State Pension, per resident: Southend-on-Sea £2,114, Reading £1,239Reading: £1,239Southend-on-Sea: £2,114Reading: £1,245Southend-on-Sea: £2,123Reading: £1,176Southend-on-Sea: £2,005

    £2,114£2,123£2,005Southend-on-Sea is higher£1,239£1,245£1,176

  5. Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25

    Pension Credit, per resident: Southend-on-Sea £100, Reading £105Reading: £105Southend-on-Sea: £100Reading: £106Southend-on-Sea: £101Reading: £100Southend-on-Sea: £95

    £100£101£95Reading is higher£105£106£100

  6. Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, per resident: Southend-on-Sea £156, Reading £69Reading: £69Southend-on-Sea: £156Reading: £69Southend-on-Sea: £156Reading: £66Southend-on-Sea: £148

    £156£156£148Southend-on-Sea is higher£69£69£66

  7. Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper resident, 2024-25

    Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, per resident: Southend-on-Sea £5.80, Reading £4.14Reading: £4.14Southend-on-Sea: £5.80Reading: £4.16Southend-on-Sea: £5.82Reading: £3.93Southend-on-Sea: £5.50

    £5.80£5.82£5.50Southend-on-Sea is higherDepends on how you count£4.14£4.16£3.93

  8. Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per resident: Southend-on-Sea £438, Reading £279Reading: £279Southend-on-Sea: £438Reading: £280Southend-on-Sea: £440Reading: £265Southend-on-Sea: £415

    £438£440£415Southend-on-Sea is higher£279£280£265

  9. Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, per resident: Southend-on-Sea £149, Reading £113Reading: £113Southend-on-Sea: £149Reading: £113Southend-on-Sea: £149Reading: £107Southend-on-Sea: £141

    £149£149£141Southend-on-Sea is higher£113£113£107

  10. Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper resident, 2024-25

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, per resident: Southend-on-Sea £74, Reading £52Reading: £52Southend-on-Sea: £74Reading: £52Southend-on-Sea: £74Reading: £49Southend-on-Sea: £70

    £74£74£70Southend-on-Sea is higher£52£52£49

  11. Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25

    Universal Credit, per resident: Southend-on-Sea £1,282, Reading £1,045Reading: £1,045Southend-on-Sea: £1,282Reading: £1,049Southend-on-Sea: £1,287Reading: £991Southend-on-Sea: £1,216

    £1,282£1,287£1,216Southend-on-Sea is higher£1,045£1,049£991

  12. Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, per resident: Southend-on-Sea £311, Reading £250Reading: £250Southend-on-Sea: £311Reading: £251Southend-on-Sea: £312Reading: £237Southend-on-Sea: £295

    £311£312£295Southend-on-Sea is higher£250£251£237

  13. Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25

    Employment and Support Allowance, per resident: Southend-on-Sea £179, Reading £119Reading: £119Southend-on-Sea: £179Reading: £119Southend-on-Sea: £180Reading: £113Southend-on-Sea: £170

    £179£180£170Southend-on-Sea is higher£119£119£113

  14. Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25

    Jobseeker's Allowance, per resident: Southend-on-Sea £4.91, Reading £6.20Reading: £6.20Southend-on-Sea: £4.91Reading: £6.23Southend-on-Sea: £4.93Reading: £5.88Southend-on-Sea: £4.66

    £4.91£4.93£4.66Reading is higher£6.20£6.23£5.88

  15. Income Supportper resident, 2024-25

    Income Support, per resident: Southend-on-Sea £4.03, Reading £3.05Reading: £3.05Southend-on-Sea: £4.03Reading: £3.06Southend-on-Sea: £4.04Reading: £2.89Southend-on-Sea: £3.82

    £4.03£4.04£3.82Southend-on-Sea is higher£3.05£3.06£2.89

  16. Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Other benefits, per resident: Southend-on-Sea £4.75, Reading £4.84Reading: £4.84Southend-on-Sea: £4.75Reading: £4.86Southend-on-Sea: £4.77Reading: £4.59Southend-on-Sea: £4.51

    £4.75£4.77£4.51Reading is higher£4.84£4.86£4.59

  17. State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    State Pension, per 1,000 residents: Southend-on-Sea 186.1, Reading 110.0Reading: 110.0Southend-on-Sea: 186.1

    186.1Southend-on-Sea is higher110.0

  18. Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    Pension Credit, per 1,000 residents: Southend-on-Sea 22.7, Reading 16.5Reading: 16.5Southend-on-Sea: 22.7

    22.7Southend-on-Sea is higherDepends on how you count16.5

  19. Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, per 1,000 residents: Southend-on-Sea 32.4, Reading 14.7Reading: 14.7Southend-on-Sea: 32.4

    32.4Southend-on-Sea is higher14.7

  20. Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 2026

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per 1,000 residents: Southend-on-Sea 69.0, Reading 43.5Reading: 43.5Southend-on-Sea: 69.0

    69.0Southend-on-Sea is higher43.5

  21. Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 2026

    Universal Credit, per 1,000 residents: Southend-on-Sea 131.1, Reading 112.9Reading: 112.9Southend-on-Sea: 131.1

    131.1Southend-on-Sea is higher112.9

  22. Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, per 1,000 residents: Southend-on-Sea 16.5, Reading 11.6Reading: 11.6Southend-on-Sea: 16.5

    16.5Southend-on-Sea is higher11.6

Show the numbers
Southend-on-Sea and Reading, per resident
MeasureSouthend-on-SeaReadingHigher
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25£4,822£4,843£4,574£3,289£3,303£3,120Southend-on-Sea
Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25£2,375£2,386£2,253£1,418£1,424£1,345Southend-on-Sea
Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25£1,544£1,551£1,465£1,225£1,230£1,162Southend-on-Sea
State Pensionper resident, 2024-25£2,114£2,123£2,005£1,239£1,245£1,176Southend-on-Sea
Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25£100£101£95£105£106£100Reading
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£156£156£148£69£69£66Southend-on-Sea
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper resident, 2024-25£5.80£5.82£5.50£4.14£4.16£3.93Southend-on-Sea
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£438£440£415£279£280£265Southend-on-Sea
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£149£149£141£113£113£107Southend-on-Sea
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper resident, 2024-25£74£74£70£52£52£49Southend-on-Sea
Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25£1,282£1,287£1,216£1,045£1,049£991Southend-on-Sea
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25£311£312£295£250£251£237Southend-on-Sea
Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25£179£180£170£119£119£113Southend-on-Sea
Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25£4.91£4.93£4.66£6.20£6.23£5.88Reading
Income Supportper resident, 2024-25£4.03£4.04£3.82£3.05£3.06£2.89Southend-on-Sea
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25£4.75£4.77£4.51£4.84£4.86£4.59Reading
State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026186.1110.0Southend-on-Sea
Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 202622.716.5Southend-on-Sea
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 202632.414.7Southend-on-Sea
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 202669.043.5Southend-on-Sea
Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 2026131.1112.9Southend-on-Sea
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 202616.511.6Southend-on-Sea

Total

Southend-on-Sea is higher on 19 of 22 measures, and Reading on 3. Each row has its own scale from zero. Money is in 2026-27 prices2026-27 prices, using CPI inflationcash terms, not adjusted for inflation.1-11

Southend-on-Sea Reading

  1. All benefitstotal, 2024-25

    All benefits, total: Southend-on-Sea £889.7m, Reading £601.3mReading: £601.3mSouthend-on-Sea: £889.7mReading: £603.8mSouthend-on-Sea: £893.5mReading: £570.3mSouthend-on-Sea: £843.9m

    £889.7m£893.5m£843.9mSouthend-on-Sea is higher£601.3m£603.8m£570.3m

  2. Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Pensioner benefits, total: Southend-on-Sea £438.3m, Reading £259.2mReading: £259.2mSouthend-on-Sea: £438.3mReading: £260.3mSouthend-on-Sea: £440.1mReading: £245.9mSouthend-on-Sea: £415.7m

    £438.3m£440.1m£415.7mSouthend-on-Sea is higher£259.2m£260.3m£245.9m

  3. Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Working-age benefits, total: Southend-on-Sea £284.9m, Reading £223.9mReading: £223.9mSouthend-on-Sea: £284.9mReading: £224.8mSouthend-on-Sea: £286.1mReading: £212.3mSouthend-on-Sea: £270.2m

    £284.9m£286.1m£270.2mSouthend-on-Sea is higher£223.9m£224.8m£212.3m

  4. State Pensiontotal, 2024-25

    State Pension, total: Southend-on-Sea £390.0m, Reading £226.6mReading: £226.6mSouthend-on-Sea: £390.0mReading: £227.6mSouthend-on-Sea: £391.6mReading: £214.9mSouthend-on-Sea: £369.9m

    £390.0m£391.6m£369.9mSouthend-on-Sea is higher£226.6m£227.6m£214.9m

  5. Pension Credittotal, 2024-25

    Pension Credit, total: Southend-on-Sea £18.5m, Reading £19.2mReading: £19.2mSouthend-on-Sea: £18.5mReading: £19.3mSouthend-on-Sea: £18.6mReading: £18.2mSouthend-on-Sea: £17.6m

    £18.5m£18.6m£17.6mReading is higher£19.2m£19.3m£18.2m

  6. Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, total: Southend-on-Sea £28.7m, Reading £12.6mReading: £12.6mSouthend-on-Sea: £28.7mReading: £12.7mSouthend-on-Sea: £28.8mReading: £12.0mSouthend-on-Sea: £27.2m

    £28.7m£28.8m£27.2mSouthend-on-Sea is higher£12.6m£12.7m£12.0m

  7. Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymenttotal, 2024-25

    Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, total: Southend-on-Sea £1.1m, Reading £0.76mReading: £0.76mSouthend-on-Sea: £1.1mReading: £0.76mSouthend-on-Sea: £1.1mReading: £0.72mSouthend-on-Sea: £1.0m

    £1.1m£1.1m£1.0mSouthend-on-Sea is higherDepends on how you count£0.76m£0.76m£0.72m

  8. Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, total: Southend-on-Sea £80.8m, Reading £51.0mReading: £51.0mSouthend-on-Sea: £80.8mReading: £51.3mSouthend-on-Sea: £81.2mReading: £48.4mSouthend-on-Sea: £76.7m

    £80.8m£81.2m£76.7mSouthend-on-Sea is higher£51.0m£51.3m£48.4m

  9. Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, total: Southend-on-Sea £27.5m, Reading £20.7mReading: £20.7mSouthend-on-Sea: £27.5mReading: £20.7mSouthend-on-Sea: £27.6mReading: £19.6mSouthend-on-Sea: £26.0m

    £27.5m£27.6m£26.0mSouthend-on-Sea is higher£20.7m£20.7m£19.6m

  10. Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, 2024-25

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, total: Southend-on-Sea £13.7m, Reading £9.5mReading: £9.5mSouthend-on-Sea: £13.7mReading: £9.5mSouthend-on-Sea: £13.7mReading: £9.0mSouthend-on-Sea: £13.0m

    £13.7m£13.7m£13.0mSouthend-on-Sea is higher£9.5m£9.5m£9.0m

  11. Universal Credittotal, 2024-25

    Universal Credit, total: Southend-on-Sea £236.5m, Reading £191.0mReading: £191.0mSouthend-on-Sea: £236.5mReading: £191.8mSouthend-on-Sea: £237.5mReading: £181.2mSouthend-on-Sea: £224.3m

    £236.5m£237.5m£224.3mSouthend-on-Sea is higher£191.0m£191.8m£181.2m

  12. Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, total: Southend-on-Sea £57.4m, Reading £45.6mReading: £45.6mSouthend-on-Sea: £57.4mReading: £45.8mSouthend-on-Sea: £57.6mReading: £43.3mSouthend-on-Sea: £54.4m

    £57.4m£57.6m£54.4mSouthend-on-Sea is higher£45.6m£45.8m£43.3m

  13. Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25

    Employment and Support Allowance, total: Southend-on-Sea £33.1m, Reading £21.7mReading: £21.7mSouthend-on-Sea: £33.1mReading: £21.8mSouthend-on-Sea: £33.2mReading: £20.6mSouthend-on-Sea: £31.4m

    £33.1m£33.2m£31.4mSouthend-on-Sea is higher£21.7m£21.8m£20.6m

  14. Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25

    Jobseeker's Allowance, total: Southend-on-Sea £0.91m, Reading £1.1mReading: £1.1mSouthend-on-Sea: £0.91mReading: £1.1mSouthend-on-Sea: £0.91mReading: £1.1mSouthend-on-Sea: £0.86m

    £0.91m£0.91m£0.86mReading is higher£1.1m

  15. Income Supporttotal, 2024-25

    Income Support, total: Southend-on-Sea £0.74m, Reading £0.56mReading: £0.56mSouthend-on-Sea: £0.74mReading: £0.56mSouthend-on-Sea: £0.75mReading: £0.53mSouthend-on-Sea: £0.70m

    £0.74m£0.75m£0.70mSouthend-on-Sea is higher£0.56m£0.56m£0.53m

  16. Other benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Other benefits, total: Southend-on-Sea £0.88m, Reading £0.88mReading: £0.88mSouthend-on-Sea: £0.88mReading: £0.89mSouthend-on-Sea: £0.88mReading: £0.84mSouthend-on-Sea: £0.83m

    £0.88m£0.88m£0.83mReading is higher£0.88m£0.89m£0.84m

  17. State Pensiontotal, March 2026

    State Pension, total: Southend-on-Sea 34,326, Reading 20,103Reading: 20,103Southend-on-Sea: 34,326

    34,326Southend-on-Sea is higher20,103

  18. Pension Credittotal, March 2026

    Pension Credit, total: Southend-on-Sea 4,189, Reading 3,015Reading: 3,015Southend-on-Sea: 4,189

    4,189Southend-on-Sea is higherDepends on how you count3,015

  19. Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, March 2026

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, total: Southend-on-Sea 5,975, Reading 2,682Reading: 2,682Southend-on-Sea: 5,975

    5,975Southend-on-Sea is higher2,682

  20. Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, July 2026

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, total: Southend-on-Sea 12,731, Reading 7,952Reading: 7,952Southend-on-Sea: 12,731

    12,731Southend-on-Sea is higher7,952

  21. Universal Credittotal, May 2026

    Universal Credit, total: Southend-on-Sea 24,184, Reading 20,634Reading: 20,634Southend-on-Sea: 24,184

    24,184Southend-on-Sea is higher20,634

  22. Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, March 2026

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, total: Southend-on-Sea 3,039, Reading 2,122Reading: 2,122Southend-on-Sea: 3,039

    3,039Southend-on-Sea is higher2,122

Show the numbers
Southend-on-Sea and Reading, total
MeasureSouthend-on-SeaReadingHigher
All benefitstotal, 2024-25£889.7m£893.5m£843.9m£601.3m£603.8m£570.3mSouthend-on-Sea
Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25£438.3m£440.1m£415.7m£259.2m£260.3m£245.9mSouthend-on-Sea
Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25£284.9m£286.1m£270.2m£223.9m£224.8m£212.3mSouthend-on-Sea
State Pensiontotal, 2024-25£390.0m£391.6m£369.9m£226.6m£227.6m£214.9mSouthend-on-Sea
Pension Credittotal, 2024-25£18.5m£18.6m£17.6m£19.2m£19.3m£18.2mReading
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£28.7m£28.8m£27.2m£12.6m£12.7m£12.0mSouthend-on-Sea
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymenttotal, 2024-25£1.1m£1.1m£1.0m£0.76m£0.76m£0.72mSouthend-on-Sea
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£80.8m£81.2m£76.7m£51.0m£51.3m£48.4mSouthend-on-Sea
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£27.5m£27.6m£26.0m£20.7m£20.7m£19.6mSouthend-on-Sea
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, 2024-25£13.7m£13.7m£13.0m£9.5m£9.5m£9.0mSouthend-on-Sea
Universal Credittotal, 2024-25£236.5m£237.5m£224.3m£191.0m£191.8m£181.2mSouthend-on-Sea
Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25£57.4m£57.6m£54.4m£45.6m£45.8m£43.3mSouthend-on-Sea
Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25£33.1m£33.2m£31.4m£21.7m£21.8m£20.6mSouthend-on-Sea
Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25£0.91m£0.91m£0.86m£1.1mReading
Income Supporttotal, 2024-25£0.74m£0.75m£0.70m£0.56m£0.56m£0.53mSouthend-on-Sea
Other benefitstotal, 2024-25£0.88m£0.88m£0.83m£0.88m£0.89m£0.84mReading
State Pensiontotal, March 202634,32620,103Southend-on-Sea
Pension Credittotal, March 20264,1893,015Southend-on-Sea
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, March 20265,9752,682Southend-on-Sea
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, July 202612,7317,952Southend-on-Sea
Universal Credittotal, May 202624,18420,634Southend-on-Sea
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, March 20263,0392,122Southend-on-Sea

Sources

Each area's page lists the limits of its figures and where each one comes from.

  1. 1Department for Work and Pensions. Benefit expenditure by local authority, 2024-25. Published 15 December 2025. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
  2. 2Department for Work and Pensions. Benefit expenditure by parliamentary constituency, 2024-25. Published 15 December 2025. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
  3. 3Department for Work and Pensions. Stat-Xplore benefit caseloads and awards. Published 6 October 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
  4. 4Social Security Scotland. Adult Disability Payment statistics to 31 July 2026. Published 14 September 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
  5. 5Social Security Scotland. Child Disability Payment statistics to 30 June 2026. Published 17 August 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
  6. 6Social Security Scotland. Pension Age Disability Payment statistics to 31 July 2026. Published 14 September 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
  7. 7Social Security Scotland. Carer Support Payment statistics to 30 June 2026. Published 10 August 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
  8. 8Social Security Scotland. Winter heating benefits statistics for winter 2025/26. Published 18 May 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
  9. 9Office for National Statistics. Population estimates by local authority (Nomis NM_2002_1). Published 5 October 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
  10. 10Office for National Statistics. Population estimates by 2024 parliamentary constituency (Nomis NM_2014_1). Published 5 October 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
  11. 11National Records of Scotland. Population estimates for other geographies, mid-2011 to mid-2024. Published 31 August 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.