Who Gets What

Compare local authorities · South East and London

Reading and Merton

182,809 and 220,020 residents (mid-2024).

Reading is higher than Merton on 15 of 22 measures per person in the age group, 9 of 21 per resident and 1 of 22 in total.

On 14 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 Merton 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 15 of 22 measures, and Merton on 7. 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 Merton

  1. All benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    All benefits, per resident: Reading £3,289, Merton £3,406Merton: £3,406Reading: £3,289Merton: £3,420Reading: £3,303Merton: £3,231Reading: £3,120

    £3,289£3,303£3,120Merton is higher£3,406£3,420£3,231

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

    Pensioner benefits, per person aged 66 and over: Reading £12,426, Merton £12,347Merton: £12,347Reading: £12,426Merton: £12,399Reading: £12,479Merton: £11,711Reading: £11,786

    £12,426£12,479£11,786Reading is higherDepends on how you count£12,347£12,399£11,711

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

    Working-age benefits, per person aged 16 to 64: Reading £1,764, Merton £1,819Merton: £1,819Reading: £1,764Merton: £1,827Reading: £1,772Merton: £1,725Reading: £1,673

    £1,764£1,772£1,673Merton is higher£1,819£1,827£1,725

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

    State Pension, per person aged 66 and over: Reading £10,862, Merton £10,821Merton: £10,821Reading: £10,862Merton: £10,867Reading: £10,909Merton: £10,264Reading: £10,303

    £10,862£10,909£10,303Reading is higherDepends on how you count£10,821£10,867£10,264

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

    Pension Credit, per person aged 66 and over: Reading £921, Merton £880Merton: £880Reading: £921Merton: £884Reading: £925Merton: £835Reading: £874

    £921£925£874Reading is higherDepends on how you count£880£884£835

  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, Merton £612Merton: £612Reading: £606Merton: £614Reading: £608Merton: £580Reading: £575

    £606£608£575Merton is higher£612£614£580

  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, Merton £34Merton: £34Reading: £36Merton: £34Reading: £36Merton: £32Reading: £34

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

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per resident: Reading £279, Merton £260Merton: £260Reading: £279Merton: £261Reading: £280Merton: £247Reading: £265

    £279£280£265Reading is higherDepends on how you count£260£261£247

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

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, per resident: Reading £113, Merton £92Merton: £92Reading: £113Merton: £92Reading: £113Merton: £87Reading: £107

    £113£113£107Reading is higher£92£92£87

  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, Merton £65Merton: £65Reading: £75Merton: £66Reading: £75Merton: £62Reading: £71

    £75£75£71Reading is higherDepends on how you count£65£66£62

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

    Universal Credit, per person aged 16 to 64: Reading £1,505, Merton £1,586Merton: £1,586Reading: £1,505Merton: £1,593Reading: £1,512Merton: £1,504Reading: £1,428

    £1,505£1,512£1,428Merton is higher£1,586£1,593£1,504

  12. Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, per resident: Reading £250, Merton £283Merton: £283Reading: £250Merton: £284Reading: £251Merton: £268Reading: £237

    £250£251£237Merton is higher£283£284£268

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

    Employment and Support Allowance, per person aged 16 to 64: Reading £171, Merton £155Merton: £155Reading: £171Merton: £156Reading: £172Merton: £147Reading: £162

    £171£172£162Reading is higherDepends on how you count£155£156£147

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

    Jobseeker's Allowance, per person aged 16 to 64: Reading £8.93, Merton £8.86Merton: £8.86Reading: £8.93Merton: £8.89Reading: £8.97Merton: £8.40Reading: £8.47

    £8.93£8.97£8.47Reading is higherDepends on how you count£8.86£8.89£8.40

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

    Income Support, per person aged 16 to 64: Reading £4.39, Merton £4.08Merton: £4.08Reading: £4.39Merton: £4.10Reading: £4.40Merton: £3.87Reading: £4.16

    £4.39£4.40£4.16Reading is higherDepends on how you count£4.08£4.10£3.87

  16. Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Other benefits, per resident: Reading £4.84, Merton £5.78Merton: £5.78Reading: £4.84Merton: £5.80Reading: £4.86Merton: £5.48Reading: £4.59

    £4.84£4.86£4.59Merton is higher£5.78£5.80£5.48

  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, Merton 989.4Merton: 989.4Reading: 963.7

    963.7Merton is higher989.4

  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, Merton 133.5Merton: 133.5Reading: 144.5

    144.5Reading is higherDepends on how you count133.5

  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: Reading 128.6, Merton 127.2Merton: 127.2Reading: 128.6

    128.6Reading is higherDepends on how you count127.2

  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, Merton 40.5Merton: 40.5Reading: 43.5

    43.5Reading is higherDepends on how you count40.5

  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, Merton 156.7Merton: 156.7Reading: 162.6

    162.6Reading is higherDepends on how you count156.7

  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, Merton 14.7Merton: 14.7Reading: 16.7

    16.7Reading is higherDepends on how you count14.7

Show the numbers
Reading and Merton, per person in the age group
MeasureReadingMertonHigher
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25£3,289£3,303£3,120£3,406£3,420£3,231Merton
Pensioner benefitsper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£12,426£12,479£11,786£12,347£12,399£11,711Reading
Working-age benefitsper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£1,764£1,772£1,673£1,819£1,827£1,725Merton
State Pensionper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£10,862£10,909£10,303£10,821£10,867£10,264Reading
Pension Creditper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£921£925£874£880£884£835Reading
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£606£608£575£612£614£580Merton
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£36£36£34£34£34£32Reading
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£279£280£265£260£261£247Reading
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£113£113£107£92£92£87Reading
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£75£75£71£65£66£62Reading
Universal Creditper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£1,505£1,512£1,428£1,586£1,593£1,504Merton
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25£250£251£237£283£284£268Merton
Employment and Support Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£171£172£162£155£156£147Reading
Jobseeker's Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£8.93£8.97£8.47£8.86£8.89£8.40Reading
Income Supportper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£4.39£4.40£4.16£4.08£4.10£3.87Reading
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25£4.84£4.86£4.59£5.78£5.80£5.48Merton
State Pensionper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026963.7989.4Merton
Pension Creditper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026144.5133.5Reading
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026128.6127.2Reading
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 202643.540.5Reading
Universal Creditper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, May 2026162.6156.7Reading
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, March 202616.714.7Reading

Per resident

Reading is higher on 9 of 21 measures, and Merton on 12. 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 Merton

  1. All benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    All benefits, per resident: Reading £3,289, Merton £3,406Merton: £3,406Reading: £3,289Merton: £3,420Reading: £3,303Merton: £3,231Reading: £3,120

    £3,289£3,303£3,120Merton is higher£3,406£3,420£3,231

  2. Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Pensioner benefits, per resident: Reading £1,418, Merton £1,525Merton: £1,525Reading: £1,418Merton: £1,532Reading: £1,424Merton: £1,447Reading: £1,345

    £1,418£1,424£1,345Merton is higherDepends on how you count£1,525£1,532£1,447

  3. Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Working-age benefits, per resident: Reading £1,225, Merton £1,240Merton: £1,240Reading: £1,225Merton: £1,245Reading: £1,230Merton: £1,176Reading: £1,162

    £1,225£1,230£1,162Merton is higher£1,240£1,245£1,176

  4. State Pensionper resident, 2024-25

    State Pension, per resident: Reading £1,239, Merton £1,337Merton: £1,337Reading: £1,239Merton: £1,342Reading: £1,245Merton: £1,268Reading: £1,176

    £1,239£1,245£1,176Merton is higherDepends on how you count£1,337£1,342£1,268

  5. Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25

    Pension Credit, per resident: Reading £105, Merton £109Merton: £109Reading: £105Merton: £109Reading: £106Merton: £103Reading: £100

    £105£106£100Merton is higherDepends on how you count£109£109£103

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

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, per resident: Reading £69, Merton £76Merton: £76Reading: £69Merton: £76Reading: £69Merton: £72Reading: £66

    £69£69£66Merton is higher£76£76£72

  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, Merton £4.20Merton: £4.20Reading: £4.14Merton: £4.21Reading: £4.16Merton: £3.98Reading: £3.93

    £4.14£4.16£3.93Merton is higherDepends on how you count£4.20£4.21£3.98

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per resident: Reading £279, Merton £260Merton: £260Reading: £279Merton: £261Reading: £280Merton: £247Reading: £265

    £279£280£265Reading is higherDepends on how you count£260£261£247

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

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, per resident: Reading £113, Merton £92Merton: £92Reading: £113Merton: £92Reading: £113Merton: £87Reading: £107

    £113£113£107Reading is higher£92£92£87

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

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, per resident: Reading £52, Merton £44Merton: £44Reading: £52Merton: £45Reading: £52Merton: £42Reading: £49

    £52£52£49Reading is higherDepends on how you count£44£45£42

  11. Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25

    Universal Credit, per resident: Reading £1,045, Merton £1,081Merton: £1,081Reading: £1,045Merton: £1,086Reading: £1,049Merton: £1,025Reading: £991

    £1,045£1,049£991Merton is higher£1,081£1,086£1,025

  12. Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, per resident: Reading £250, Merton £283Merton: £283Reading: £250Merton: £284Reading: £251Merton: £268Reading: £237

    £250£251£237Merton is higher£283£284£268

  13. Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25

    Employment and Support Allowance, per resident: Reading £119, Merton £106Merton: £106Reading: £119Merton: £106Reading: £119Merton: £100Reading: £113

    £119£119£113Reading is higherDepends on how you count£106£106£100

  14. Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25

    Jobseeker's Allowance, per resident: Reading £6.20, Merton £6.03Merton: £6.03Reading: £6.20Merton: £6.06Reading: £6.23Merton: £5.72Reading: £5.88

    £6.20£6.23£5.88Reading is higherDepends on how you count£6.03£6.06£5.72

  15. Income Supportper resident, 2024-25

    Income Support, per resident: Reading £3.05, Merton £2.78Merton: £2.78Reading: £3.05Merton: £2.80Reading: £3.06Merton: £2.64Reading: £2.89

    £3.05£3.06£2.89Reading is higherDepends on how you count£2.78£2.80£2.64

  16. Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Other benefits, per resident: Reading £4.84, Merton £5.78Merton: £5.78Reading: £4.84Merton: £5.80Reading: £4.86Merton: £5.48Reading: £4.59

    £4.84£4.86£4.59Merton is higher£5.78£5.80£5.48

  17. State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    State Pension, per 1,000 residents: Reading 110.0, Merton 122.2Merton: 122.2Reading: 110.0

    110.0Merton is higher122.2

  18. Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    Pension Credit, per 1,000 residents: Reading 16.5, Merton 16.5Merton: 16.5Reading: 16.5

    16.5No difference to showDepends 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: Reading 14.7, Merton 15.7Merton: 15.7Reading: 14.7

    14.7Merton is higherDepends on how you count15.7

  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, Merton 40.5Merton: 40.5Reading: 43.5

    43.5Reading is higherDepends on how you count40.5

  21. Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 2026

    Universal Credit, per 1,000 residents: Reading 112.9, Merton 106.8Merton: 106.8Reading: 112.9

    112.9Reading is higherDepends on how you count106.8

  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, Merton 10.0Merton: 10.0Reading: 11.6

    11.6Reading is higherDepends on how you count10.0

Show the numbers
Reading and Merton, per resident
MeasureReadingMertonHigher
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25£3,289£3,303£3,120£3,406£3,420£3,231Merton
Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25£1,418£1,424£1,345£1,525£1,532£1,447Merton
Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25£1,225£1,230£1,162£1,240£1,245£1,176Merton
State Pensionper resident, 2024-25£1,239£1,245£1,176£1,337£1,342£1,268Merton
Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25£105£106£100£109£109£103Merton
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£69£69£66£76£76£72Merton
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper resident, 2024-25£4.14£4.16£3.93£4.20£4.21£3.98Merton
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£279£280£265£260£261£247Reading
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£113£113£107£92£92£87Reading
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper resident, 2024-25£52£52£49£44£45£42Reading
Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25£1,045£1,049£991£1,081£1,086£1,025Merton
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25£250£251£237£283£284£268Merton
Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25£119£119£113£106£106£100Reading
Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25£6.20£6.23£5.88£6.03£6.06£5.72Reading
Income Supportper resident, 2024-25£3.05£3.06£2.89£2.78£2.80£2.64Reading
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25£4.84£4.86£4.59£5.78£5.80£5.48Merton
State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026110.0122.2Merton
Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 202616.516.5
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 202614.715.7Merton
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 202643.540.5Reading
Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 2026112.9106.8Reading
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 202611.610.0Reading

Total

Reading is higher on 1 of 22 measures, and Merton on 21. 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 Merton

  1. All benefitstotal, 2024-25

    All benefits, total: Reading £601.3m, Merton £749.3mMerton: £749.3mReading: £601.3mMerton: £752.5mReading: £603.8mMerton: £710.8mReading: £570.3m

    £601.3m£603.8m£570.3mMerton is higher£749.3m£752.5m£710.8m

  2. Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Pensioner benefits, total: Reading £259.2m, Merton £335.6mMerton: £335.6mReading: £259.2mMerton: £337.0mReading: £260.3mMerton: £318.3mReading: £245.9m

    £259.2m£260.3m£245.9mMerton is higherDepends on how you count£335.6m£337.0m£318.3m

  3. Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Working-age benefits, total: Reading £223.9m, Merton £272.8mMerton: £272.8mReading: £223.9mMerton: £274.0mReading: £224.8mMerton: £258.8mReading: £212.3m

    £223.9m£224.8m£212.3mMerton is higher£272.8m£274.0m£258.8m

  4. State Pensiontotal, 2024-25

    State Pension, total: Reading £226.6m, Merton £294.1mMerton: £294.1mReading: £226.6mMerton: £295.4mReading: £227.6mMerton: £279.0mReading: £214.9m

    £226.6m£227.6m£214.9mMerton is higherDepends on how you count£294.1m£295.4m£279.0m

  5. Pension Credittotal, 2024-25

    Pension Credit, total: Reading £19.2m, Merton £23.9mMerton: £23.9mReading: £19.2mMerton: £24.0mReading: £19.3mMerton: £22.7mReading: £18.2m

    £19.2m£19.3m£18.2mMerton is higherDepends on how you count£23.9m£24.0m£22.7m

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

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, total: Reading £12.6m, Merton £16.6mMerton: £16.6mReading: £12.6mMerton: £16.7mReading: £12.7mMerton: £15.8mReading: £12.0m

    £12.6m£12.7m£12.0mMerton is higher£16.6m£16.7m£15.8m

  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, Merton £0.92mMerton: £0.92mReading: £0.76mMerton: £0.93mReading: £0.76mMerton: £0.88mReading: £0.72m

    £0.76m£0.76m£0.72mMerton is higherDepends on how you count£0.92m£0.93m£0.88m

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, total: Reading £51.0m, Merton £57.3mMerton: £57.3mReading: £51.0mMerton: £57.5mReading: £51.3mMerton: £54.3mReading: £48.4m

    £51.0m£51.3m£48.4mMerton is higherDepends on how you count£57.3m£57.5m£54.3m

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

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, total: Reading £20.7m, Merton £20.2mMerton: £20.2mReading: £20.7mMerton: £20.3mReading: £20.7mMerton: £19.2mReading: £19.6m

    £20.7m£20.7m£19.6mReading is higher£20.2m£20.3m£19.2m

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

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, total: Reading £9.5m, Merton £9.8mMerton: £9.8mReading: £9.5mMerton: £9.8mReading: £9.5mMerton: £9.3mReading: £9.0m

    £9.5m£9.5m£9.0mMerton is higherDepends on how you count£9.8m£9.8m£9.3m

  11. Universal Credittotal, 2024-25

    Universal Credit, total: Reading £191.0m, Merton £237.9mMerton: £237.9mReading: £191.0mMerton: £238.9mReading: £191.8mMerton: £225.6mReading: £181.2m

    £191.0m£191.8m£181.2mMerton is higher£237.9m£238.9m£225.6m

  12. Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, total: Reading £45.6m, Merton £62.2mMerton: £62.2mReading: £45.6mMerton: £62.4mReading: £45.8mMerton: £59.0mReading: £43.3m

    £45.6m£45.8m£43.3mMerton is higher£62.2m£62.4m£59.0m

  13. Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25

    Employment and Support Allowance, total: Reading £21.7m, Merton £23.2mMerton: £23.2mReading: £21.7mMerton: £23.3mReading: £21.8mMerton: £22.0mReading: £20.6m

    £21.7m£21.8m£20.6mMerton is higherDepends on how you count£23.2m£23.3m£22.0m

  14. Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25

    Jobseeker's Allowance, total: Reading £1.1m, Merton £1.3mMerton: £1.3mReading: £1.1mMerton: £1.3mReading: £1.1mMerton: £1.3mReading: £1.1m

    £1.1mMerton is higherDepends on how you count£1.3m

  15. Income Supporttotal, 2024-25

    Income Support, total: Reading £0.56m, Merton £0.61mMerton: £0.61mReading: £0.56mMerton: £0.61mReading: £0.56mMerton: £0.58mReading: £0.53m

    £0.56m£0.56m£0.53mMerton is higherDepends on how you count£0.61m£0.61m£0.58m

  16. Other benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Other benefits, total: Reading £0.88m, Merton £1.3mMerton: £1.3mReading: £0.88mMerton: £1.3mReading: £0.89mMerton: £1.2mReading: £0.84m

    £0.88m£0.89m£0.84mMerton is higher£1.3m£1.3m£1.2m

  17. State Pensiontotal, March 2026

    State Pension, total: Reading 20,103, Merton 26,891Merton: 26,891Reading: 20,103

    20,103Merton is higher26,891

  18. Pension Credittotal, March 2026

    Pension Credit, total: Reading 3,015, Merton 3,629Merton: 3,629Reading: 3,015

    3,015Merton is higherDepends on how you count3,629

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

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, total: Reading 2,682, Merton 3,456Merton: 3,456Reading: 2,682

    2,682Merton is higherDepends on how you count3,456

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, total: Reading 7,952, Merton 8,915Merton: 8,915Reading: 7,952

    7,952Merton is higherDepends on how you count8,915

  21. Universal Credittotal, May 2026

    Universal Credit, total: Reading 20,634, Merton 23,497Merton: 23,497Reading: 20,634

    20,634Merton is higherDepends on how you count23,497

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

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, total: Reading 2,122, Merton 2,203Merton: 2,203Reading: 2,122

    2,122Merton is higherDepends on how you count2,203

Show the numbers
Reading and Merton, total
MeasureReadingMertonHigher
All benefitstotal, 2024-25£601.3m£603.8m£570.3m£749.3m£752.5m£710.8mMerton
Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25£259.2m£260.3m£245.9m£335.6m£337.0m£318.3mMerton
Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25£223.9m£224.8m£212.3m£272.8m£274.0m£258.8mMerton
State Pensiontotal, 2024-25£226.6m£227.6m£214.9m£294.1m£295.4m£279.0mMerton
Pension Credittotal, 2024-25£19.2m£19.3m£18.2m£23.9m£24.0m£22.7mMerton
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£12.6m£12.7m£12.0m£16.6m£16.7m£15.8mMerton
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymenttotal, 2024-25£0.76m£0.76m£0.72m£0.92m£0.93m£0.88mMerton
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£51.0m£51.3m£48.4m£57.3m£57.5m£54.3mMerton
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£20.7m£20.7m£19.6m£20.2m£20.3m£19.2mReading
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, 2024-25£9.5m£9.5m£9.0m£9.8m£9.8m£9.3mMerton
Universal Credittotal, 2024-25£191.0m£191.8m£181.2m£237.9m£238.9m£225.6mMerton
Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25£45.6m£45.8m£43.3m£62.2m£62.4m£59.0mMerton
Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25£21.7m£21.8m£20.6m£23.2m£23.3m£22.0mMerton
Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25£1.1m£1.3mMerton
Income Supporttotal, 2024-25£0.56m£0.56m£0.53m£0.61m£0.61m£0.58mMerton
Other benefitstotal, 2024-25£0.88m£0.89m£0.84m£1.3m£1.3m£1.2mMerton
State Pensiontotal, March 202620,10326,891Merton
Pension Credittotal, March 20263,0153,629Merton
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, March 20262,6823,456Merton
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, July 20267,9528,915Merton
Universal Credittotal, May 202620,63423,497Merton
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, March 20262,1222,203Merton

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.