Who Gets What

Compare local authorities · South East and East of England

Reading and Watford

182,809 and 106,799 residents (mid-2024).

Reading is higher than Watford on 6 of 22 measures per person in the age group, 7 of 22 per resident and 22 of 22 in total.

On 16 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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Reading and Watford 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

Reading is higher on 6 of 22 measures, and Watford on 16. 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

Reading Watford

  1. All benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    All benefits, per resident: Reading £3,289, Watford £3,458Watford: £3,458Reading: £3,289Watford: £3,473Reading: £3,303Watford: £3,280Reading: £3,120

    £3,289£3,303£3,120Watford is higherDepends on how you count£3,458£3,473£3,280

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

    Pensioner benefits, per person aged 66 and over: Reading £12,426, Watford £12,493Watford: £12,493Reading: £12,426Watford: £12,546Reading: £12,479Watford: £11,850Reading: £11,786

    £12,426£12,479£11,786Watford is higherDepends on how you count£12,493£12,546£11,850

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

    Working-age benefits, per person aged 16 to 64: Reading £1,764, Watford £1,948Watford: £1,948Reading: £1,764Watford: £1,956Reading: £1,772Watford: £1,847Reading: £1,673

    £1,764£1,772£1,673Watford is higherDepends on how you count£1,948£1,956£1,847

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

    State Pension, per person aged 66 and over: Reading £10,862, Watford £11,153Watford: £11,153Reading: £10,862Watford: £11,201Reading: £10,909Watford: £10,579Reading: £10,303

    £10,862£10,909£10,303Watford is higherDepends on how you count£11,153£11,201£10,579

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

    Pension Credit, per person aged 66 and over: Reading £921, Watford £593Watford: £593Reading: £921Watford: £595Reading: £925Watford: £562Reading: £874

    £921£925£874Reading is higher£593£595£562

  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: Reading £606, Watford £720Watford: £720Reading: £606Watford: £723Reading: £608Watford: £683Reading: £575

    £606£608£575Watford is higherDepends on how you count£720£723£683

  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: Reading £36, Watford £27Watford: £27Reading: £36Watford: £27Reading: £36Watford: £26Reading: £34

    £36£36£34Reading is higher£27£27£26

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per resident: Reading £279, Watford £299Watford: £299Reading: £279Watford: £301Reading: £280Watford: £284Reading: £265

    £279£280£265Watford is higherDepends on how you count£299£301£284

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

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, per resident: Reading £113, Watford £84Watford: £84Reading: £113Watford: £85Reading: £113Watford: £80Reading: £107

    £113£113£107Reading is higher£84£85£80

  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: Reading £75, Watford £73Watford: £73Reading: £75Watford: £73Reading: £75Watford: £69Reading: £71

    £75£75£71Reading is higher£73£73£69

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

    Universal Credit, per person aged 16 to 64: Reading £1,505, Watford £1,682Watford: £1,682Reading: £1,505Watford: £1,689Reading: £1,512Watford: £1,595Reading: £1,428

    £1,505£1,512£1,428Watford is higherDepends on how you count£1,682£1,689£1,595

  12. Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, per resident: Reading £250, Watford £260Watford: £260Reading: £250Watford: £261Reading: £251Watford: £247Reading: £237

    £250£251£237Watford is higherDepends on how you count£260£261£247

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

    Employment and Support Allowance, per person aged 16 to 64: Reading £171, Watford £179Watford: £179Reading: £171Watford: £180Reading: £172Watford: £170Reading: £162

    £171£172£162Watford is higherDepends on how you count£179£180£170

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

    Jobseeker's Allowance, per person aged 16 to 64: Reading £8.93, Watford £11Watford: £11Reading: £8.93Watford: £11Reading: £8.97Watford: £10Reading: £8.47

    £8.93£8.97£8.47Watford is higherDepends on how you count£11£11£10

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

    Income Support, per person aged 16 to 64: Reading £4.39, Watford £3.08Watford: £3.08Reading: £4.39Watford: £3.09Reading: £4.40Watford: £2.92Reading: £4.16

    £4.39£4.40£4.16Reading is higher£3.08£3.09£2.92

  16. Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Other benefits, per resident: Reading £4.84, Watford £6.69Watford: £6.69Reading: £4.84Watford: £6.72Reading: £4.86Watford: £6.35Reading: £4.59

    £4.84£4.86£4.59Watford is higherDepends on how you count£6.69£6.72£6.35

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

    State Pension, per 1,000 people aged 66 and over: Reading 963.7, Watford 989.1Watford: 989.1Reading: 963.7

    963.7Watford is higherDepends on how you count989.1

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

    Pension Credit, per 1,000 people aged 66 and over: Reading 144.5, Watford 113.3Watford: 113.3Reading: 144.5

    144.5Reading is higher113.3

  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: Reading 128.6, Watford 150.7Watford: 150.7Reading: 128.6

    128.6Watford is higherDepends on how you count150.7

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per 1,000 residents: Reading 43.5, Watford 47.1Watford: 47.1Reading: 43.5

    43.5Watford is higherDepends on how you count47.1

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

    Universal Credit, per 1,000 people aged 16 to 64: Reading 162.6, Watford 174.9Watford: 174.9Reading: 162.6

    162.6Watford is higherDepends on how you count174.9

  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: Reading 16.7, Watford 17.3Watford: 17.3Reading: 16.7

    16.7Watford is higherDepends on how you count17.3

Show the numbers
Reading and Watford, per person in the age group
MeasureReadingWatfordHigher
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25£3,289£3,303£3,120£3,458£3,473£3,280Watford
Pensioner benefitsper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£12,426£12,479£11,786£12,493£12,546£11,850Watford
Working-age benefitsper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£1,764£1,772£1,673£1,948£1,956£1,847Watford
State Pensionper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£10,862£10,909£10,303£11,153£11,201£10,579Watford
Pension Creditper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£921£925£874£593£595£562Reading
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£606£608£575£720£723£683Watford
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£36£36£34£27£27£26Reading
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£279£280£265£299£301£284Watford
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£113£113£107£84£85£80Reading
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£75£75£71£73£73£69Reading
Universal Creditper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£1,505£1,512£1,428£1,682£1,689£1,595Watford
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25£250£251£237£260£261£247Watford
Employment and Support Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£171£172£162£179£180£170Watford
Jobseeker's Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£8.93£8.97£8.47£11£11£10Watford
Income Supportper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£4.39£4.40£4.16£3.08£3.09£2.92Reading
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25£4.84£4.86£4.59£6.69£6.72£6.35Watford
State Pensionper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026963.7989.1Watford
Pension Creditper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026144.5113.3Reading
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026128.6150.7Watford
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 202643.547.1Watford
Universal Creditper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, May 2026162.6174.9Watford
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, March 202616.717.3Watford

Per resident

Reading is higher on 7 of 22 measures, and Watford on 15. 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

Reading Watford

  1. All benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    All benefits, per resident: Reading £3,289, Watford £3,458Watford: £3,458Reading: £3,289Watford: £3,473Reading: £3,303Watford: £3,280Reading: £3,120

    £3,289£3,303£3,120Watford is higherDepends on how you count£3,458£3,473£3,280

  2. Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Pensioner benefits, per resident: Reading £1,418, Watford £1,518Watford: £1,518Reading: £1,418Watford: £1,525Reading: £1,424Watford: £1,440Reading: £1,345

    £1,418£1,424£1,345Watford is higherDepends on how you count£1,518£1,525£1,440

  3. Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Working-age benefits, per resident: Reading £1,225, Watford £1,290Watford: £1,290Reading: £1,225Watford: £1,295Reading: £1,230Watford: £1,223Reading: £1,162

    £1,225£1,230£1,162Watford is higherDepends on how you count£1,290£1,295£1,223

  4. State Pensionper resident, 2024-25

    State Pension, per resident: Reading £1,239, Watford £1,356Watford: £1,356Reading: £1,239Watford: £1,361Reading: £1,245Watford: £1,286Reading: £1,176

    £1,239£1,245£1,176Watford is higherDepends on how you count£1,356£1,361£1,286

  5. Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25

    Pension Credit, per resident: Reading £105, Watford £72Watford: £72Reading: £105Watford: £72Reading: £106Watford: £68Reading: £100

    £105£106£100Reading is higher£72£72£68

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

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, per resident: Reading £69, Watford £88Watford: £88Reading: £69Watford: £88Reading: £69Watford: £83Reading: £66

    £69£69£66Watford is higherDepends on how you count£88£88£83

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

    Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, per resident: Reading £4.14, Watford £3.31Watford: £3.31Reading: £4.14Watford: £3.32Reading: £4.16Watford: £3.14Reading: £3.93

    £4.14£4.16£3.93Reading is higher£3.31£3.32£3.14

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per resident: Reading £279, Watford £299Watford: £299Reading: £279Watford: £301Reading: £280Watford: £284Reading: £265

    £279£280£265Watford is higherDepends on how you count£299£301£284

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

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, per resident: Reading £113, Watford £84Watford: £84Reading: £113Watford: £85Reading: £113Watford: £80Reading: £107

    £113£113£107Reading is higher£84£85£80

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

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, per resident: Reading £52, Watford £48Watford: £48Reading: £52Watford: £49Reading: £52Watford: £46Reading: £49

    £52£52£49Reading is higher£48£49£46

  11. Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25

    Universal Credit, per resident: Reading £1,045, Watford £1,114Watford: £1,114Reading: £1,045Watford: £1,118Reading: £1,049Watford: £1,056Reading: £991

    £1,045£1,049£991Watford is higherDepends on how you count£1,114£1,118£1,056

  12. Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, per resident: Reading £250, Watford £260Watford: £260Reading: £250Watford: £261Reading: £251Watford: £247Reading: £237

    £250£251£237Watford is higherDepends on how you count£260£261£247

  13. Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25

    Employment and Support Allowance, per resident: Reading £119, Watford £119Watford: £119Reading: £119Watford: £119Reading: £119Watford: £113Reading: £113

    £119£119£113Watford is higherDepends on how you count£119£119£113

  14. Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25

    Jobseeker's Allowance, per resident: Reading £6.20, Watford £7.03Watford: £7.03Reading: £6.20Watford: £7.06Reading: £6.23Watford: £6.67Reading: £5.88

    £6.20£6.23£5.88Watford is higherDepends on how you count£7.03£7.06£6.67

  15. Income Supportper resident, 2024-25

    Income Support, per resident: Reading £3.05, Watford £2.03Watford: £2.03Reading: £3.05Watford: £2.04Reading: £3.06Watford: £1.93Reading: £2.89

    £3.05£3.06£2.89Reading is higher£2.03£2.04£1.93

  16. Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Other benefits, per resident: Reading £4.84, Watford £6.69Watford: £6.69Reading: £4.84Watford: £6.72Reading: £4.86Watford: £6.35Reading: £4.59

    £4.84£4.86£4.59Watford is higherDepends on how you count£6.69£6.72£6.35

  17. State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    State Pension, per 1,000 residents: Reading 110.0, Watford 120.2Watford: 120.2Reading: 110.0

    110.0Watford is higherDepends on how you count120.2

  18. Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    Pension Credit, per 1,000 residents: Reading 16.5, Watford 13.8Watford: 13.8Reading: 16.5

    16.5Reading is higher13.8

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

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, per 1,000 residents: Reading 14.7, Watford 18.3Watford: 18.3Reading: 14.7

    14.7Watford is higherDepends on how you count18.3

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per 1,000 residents: Reading 43.5, Watford 47.1Watford: 47.1Reading: 43.5

    43.5Watford is higherDepends on how you count47.1

  21. Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 2026

    Universal Credit, per 1,000 residents: Reading 112.9, Watford 115.8Watford: 115.8Reading: 112.9

    112.9Watford is higherDepends on how you count115.8

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

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, per 1,000 residents: Reading 11.6, Watford 11.4Watford: 11.4Reading: 11.6

    11.6Reading is higherDepends on how you count11.4

Show the numbers
Reading and Watford, per resident
MeasureReadingWatfordHigher
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25£3,289£3,303£3,120£3,458£3,473£3,280Watford
Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25£1,418£1,424£1,345£1,518£1,525£1,440Watford
Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25£1,225£1,230£1,162£1,290£1,295£1,223Watford
State Pensionper resident, 2024-25£1,239£1,245£1,176£1,356£1,361£1,286Watford
Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25£105£106£100£72£72£68Reading
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£69£69£66£88£88£83Watford
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper resident, 2024-25£4.14£4.16£3.93£3.31£3.32£3.14Reading
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£279£280£265£299£301£284Watford
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£113£113£107£84£85£80Reading
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper resident, 2024-25£52£52£49£48£49£46Reading
Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25£1,045£1,049£991£1,114£1,118£1,056Watford
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25£250£251£237£260£261£247Watford
Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25£119£119£113£119£119£113Watford
Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25£6.20£6.23£5.88£7.03£7.06£6.67Watford
Income Supportper resident, 2024-25£3.05£3.06£2.89£2.03£2.04£1.93Reading
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25£4.84£4.86£4.59£6.69£6.72£6.35Watford
State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026110.0120.2Watford
Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 202616.513.8Reading
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 202614.718.3Watford
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 202643.547.1Watford
Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 2026112.9115.8Watford
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 202611.611.4Reading

Total

Reading is higher on 22 of 22 measures, and Watford on 0. 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

Reading Watford

  1. All benefitstotal, 2024-25

    All benefits, total: Reading £601.3m, Watford £369.4mWatford: £369.4mReading: £601.3mWatford: £370.9mReading: £603.8mWatford: £350.3mReading: £570.3m

    £601.3m£603.8m£570.3mReading is higherDepends on how you count£369.4m£370.9m£350.3m

  2. Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Pensioner benefits, total: Reading £259.2m, Watford £162.2mWatford: £162.2mReading: £259.2mWatford: £162.9mReading: £260.3mWatford: £153.8mReading: £245.9m

    £259.2m£260.3m£245.9mReading is higherDepends on how you count£162.2m£162.9m£153.8m

  3. Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Working-age benefits, total: Reading £223.9m, Watford £137.7mWatford: £137.7mReading: £223.9mWatford: £138.3mReading: £224.8mWatford: £130.7mReading: £212.3m

    £223.9m£224.8m£212.3mReading is higherDepends on how you count£137.7m£138.3m£130.7m

  4. State Pensiontotal, 2024-25

    State Pension, total: Reading £226.6m, Watford £144.8mWatford: £144.8mReading: £226.6mWatford: £145.4mReading: £227.6mWatford: £137.3mReading: £214.9m

    £226.6m£227.6m£214.9mReading is higherDepends on how you count£144.8m£145.4m£137.3m

  5. Pension Credittotal, 2024-25

    Pension Credit, total: Reading £19.2m, Watford £7.7mWatford: £7.7mReading: £19.2mWatford: £7.7mReading: £19.3mWatford: £7.3mReading: £18.2m

    £19.2m£19.3m£18.2mReading is higher£7.7m£7.7m£7.3m

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

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, total: Reading £12.6m, Watford £9.3mWatford: £9.3mReading: £12.6mWatford: £9.4mReading: £12.7mWatford: £8.9mReading: £12.0m

    £12.6m£12.7m£12.0mReading is higherDepends on how you count£9.3m£9.4m£8.9m

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

    Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, total: Reading £0.76m, Watford £0.35mWatford: £0.35mReading: £0.76mWatford: £0.35mReading: £0.76mWatford: £0.34mReading: £0.72m

    £0.76m£0.76m£0.72mReading is higher£0.35m£0.35m£0.34m

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, total: Reading £51.0m, Watford £32.0mWatford: £32.0mReading: £51.0mWatford: £32.1mReading: £51.3mWatford: £30.3mReading: £48.4m

    £51.0m£51.3m£48.4mReading is higherDepends on how you count£32.0m£32.1m£30.3m

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

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, total: Reading £20.7m, Watford £9.0mWatford: £9.0mReading: £20.7mWatford: £9.0mReading: £20.7mWatford: £8.5mReading: £19.6m

    £20.7m£20.7m£19.6mReading is higher£9.0m£9.0m£8.5m

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

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, total: Reading £9.5m, Watford £5.2mWatford: £5.2mReading: £9.5mWatford: £5.2mReading: £9.5mWatford: £4.9mReading: £9.0m

    £9.5m£9.5m£9.0mReading is higher£5.2m£5.2m£4.9m

  11. Universal Credittotal, 2024-25

    Universal Credit, total: Reading £191.0m, Watford £118.9mWatford: £118.9mReading: £191.0mWatford: £119.4mReading: £191.8mWatford: £112.8mReading: £181.2m

    £191.0m£191.8m£181.2mReading is higherDepends on how you count£118.9m£119.4m£112.8m

  12. Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, total: Reading £45.6m, Watford £27.8mWatford: £27.8mReading: £45.6mWatford: £27.9mReading: £45.8mWatford: £26.3mReading: £43.3m

    £45.6m£45.8m£43.3mReading is higherDepends on how you count£27.8m£27.9m£26.3m

  13. Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25

    Employment and Support Allowance, total: Reading £21.7m, Watford £12.7mWatford: £12.7mReading: £21.7mWatford: £12.7mReading: £21.8mWatford: £12.0mReading: £20.6m

    £21.7m£21.8m£20.6mReading is higherDepends on how you count£12.7m£12.7m£12.0m

  14. Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25

    Jobseeker's Allowance, total: Reading £1.1m, Watford £0.75mWatford: £0.75mReading: £1.1mWatford: £0.75mReading: £1.1mWatford: £0.71mReading: £1.1m

    £1.1mReading is higherDepends on how you count£0.75m£0.75m£0.71m

  15. Income Supporttotal, 2024-25

    Income Support, total: Reading £0.56m, Watford £0.22mWatford: £0.22mReading: £0.56mWatford: £0.22mReading: £0.56mWatford: £0.21mReading: £0.53m

    £0.56m£0.56m£0.53mReading is higher£0.22m£0.22m£0.21m

  16. Other benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Other benefits, total: Reading £0.88m, Watford £0.72mWatford: £0.72mReading: £0.88mWatford: £0.72mReading: £0.89mWatford: £0.68mReading: £0.84m

    £0.88m£0.89m£0.84mReading is higherDepends on how you count£0.72m£0.72m£0.68m

  17. State Pensiontotal, March 2026

    State Pension, total: Reading 20,103, Watford 12,839Watford: 12,839Reading: 20,103

    20,103Reading is higherDepends on how you count12,839

  18. Pension Credittotal, March 2026

    Pension Credit, total: Reading 3,015, Watford 1,470Watford: 1,470Reading: 3,015

    3,015Reading is higher1,470

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

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, total: Reading 2,682, Watford 1,956Watford: 1,956Reading: 2,682

    2,682Reading is higherDepends on how you count1,956

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, total: Reading 7,952, Watford 5,029Watford: 5,029Reading: 7,952

    7,952Reading is higherDepends on how you count5,029

  21. Universal Credittotal, May 2026

    Universal Credit, total: Reading 20,634, Watford 12,368Watford: 12,368Reading: 20,634

    20,634Reading is higherDepends on how you count12,368

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

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, total: Reading 2,122, Watford 1,220Watford: 1,220Reading: 2,122

    2,122Reading is higherDepends on how you count1,220

Show the numbers
Reading and Watford, total
MeasureReadingWatfordHigher
All benefitstotal, 2024-25£601.3m£603.8m£570.3m£369.4m£370.9m£350.3mReading
Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25£259.2m£260.3m£245.9m£162.2m£162.9m£153.8mReading
Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25£223.9m£224.8m£212.3m£137.7m£138.3m£130.7mReading
State Pensiontotal, 2024-25£226.6m£227.6m£214.9m£144.8m£145.4m£137.3mReading
Pension Credittotal, 2024-25£19.2m£19.3m£18.2m£7.7m£7.7m£7.3mReading
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£12.6m£12.7m£12.0m£9.3m£9.4m£8.9mReading
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymenttotal, 2024-25£0.76m£0.76m£0.72m£0.35m£0.35m£0.34mReading
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£51.0m£51.3m£48.4m£32.0m£32.1m£30.3mReading
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£20.7m£20.7m£19.6m£9.0m£9.0m£8.5mReading
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, 2024-25£9.5m£9.5m£9.0m£5.2m£5.2m£4.9mReading
Universal Credittotal, 2024-25£191.0m£191.8m£181.2m£118.9m£119.4m£112.8mReading
Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25£45.6m£45.8m£43.3m£27.8m£27.9m£26.3mReading
Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25£21.7m£21.8m£20.6m£12.7m£12.7m£12.0mReading
Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25£1.1m£0.75m£0.75m£0.71mReading
Income Supporttotal, 2024-25£0.56m£0.56m£0.53m£0.22m£0.22m£0.21mReading
Other benefitstotal, 2024-25£0.88m£0.89m£0.84m£0.72m£0.72m£0.68mReading
State Pensiontotal, March 202620,10312,839Reading
Pension Credittotal, March 20263,0151,470Reading
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, March 20262,6821,956Reading
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, July 20267,9525,029Reading
Universal Credittotal, May 202620,63412,368Reading
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, March 20262,1221,220Reading

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.