Who Gets What

Compare local authorities · South East and Wales

Reading and Cardiff

182,809 and 382,028 residents (mid-2024).

Reading is higher than Cardiff on 5 of 22 measures per person in the age group, 3 of 22 per resident and 0 of 22 in total.

On 5 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 Cardiff 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 5 of 22 measures, and Cardiff on 17. 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 Cardiff

  1. All benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    All benefits, per resident: Reading £3,289, Cardiff £4,242Cardiff: £4,242Reading: £3,289Cardiff: £4,260Reading: £3,303Cardiff: £4,024Reading: £3,120

    £3,289£3,303£3,120Cardiff is higher£4,242£4,260£4,024

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

    Pensioner benefits, per person aged 66 and over: Reading £12,426, Cardiff £13,010Cardiff: £13,010Reading: £12,426Cardiff: £13,065Reading: £12,479Cardiff: £12,341Reading: £11,786

    £12,426£12,479£11,786Cardiff is higher£13,010£13,065£12,341

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

    Working-age benefits, per person aged 16 to 64: Reading £1,764, Cardiff £2,204Cardiff: £2,204Reading: £1,764Cardiff: £2,213Reading: £1,772Cardiff: £2,090Reading: £1,673

    £1,764£1,772£1,673Cardiff is higher£2,204£2,213£2,090

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

    State Pension, per person aged 66 and over: Reading £10,862, Cardiff £11,392Cardiff: £11,392Reading: £10,862Cardiff: £11,441Reading: £10,909Cardiff: £10,806Reading: £10,303

    £10,862£10,909£10,303Cardiff is higher£11,392£11,441£10,806

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

    Pension Credit, per person aged 66 and over: Reading £921, Cardiff £682Cardiff: £682Reading: £921Cardiff: £685Reading: £925Cardiff: £647Reading: £874

    £921£925£874Reading is higherDepends on how you count£682£685£647

  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, Cardiff £900Cardiff: £900Reading: £606Cardiff: £904Reading: £608Cardiff: £854Reading: £575

    £606£608£575Cardiff is higher£900£904£854

  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, Cardiff £36Cardiff: £36Reading: £36Cardiff: £36Reading: £36Cardiff: £34Reading: £34

    £36£36£34Reading 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: Reading £279, Cardiff £537Cardiff: £537Reading: £279Cardiff: £539Reading: £280Cardiff: £509Reading: £265

    £279£280£265Cardiff is higher£537£539£509

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

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, per resident: Reading £113, Cardiff £112Cardiff: £112Reading: £113Cardiff: £113Reading: £113Cardiff: £107Reading: £107

    £113£113£107Reading is higherDepends on how you count£112£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: Reading £75, Cardiff £109Cardiff: £109Reading: £75Cardiff: £109Reading: £75Cardiff: £103Reading: £71

    £75£75£71Cardiff is higher£109£109£103

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

    Universal Credit, per person aged 16 to 64: Reading £1,505, Cardiff £1,730Cardiff: £1,730Reading: £1,505Cardiff: £1,737Reading: £1,512Cardiff: £1,641Reading: £1,428

    £1,505£1,512£1,428Cardiff is higher£1,730£1,737£1,641

  12. Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, per resident: Reading £250, Cardiff £297Cardiff: £297Reading: £250Cardiff: £298Reading: £251Cardiff: £281Reading: £237

    £250£251£237Cardiff is higher£297£298£281

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

    Employment and Support Allowance, per person aged 16 to 64: Reading £171, Cardiff £351Cardiff: £351Reading: £171Cardiff: £352Reading: £172Cardiff: £333Reading: £162

    £171£172£162Cardiff is higher£351£352£333

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

    Jobseeker's Allowance, per person aged 16 to 64: Reading £8.93, Cardiff £6.56Cardiff: £6.56Reading: £8.93Cardiff: £6.59Reading: £8.97Cardiff: £6.22Reading: £8.47

    £8.93£8.97£8.47Reading is higherDepends on how you count£6.56£6.59£6.22

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

    Income Support, per person aged 16 to 64: Reading £4.39, Cardiff £7.66Cardiff: £7.66Reading: £4.39Cardiff: £7.70Reading: £4.40Cardiff: £7.27Reading: £4.16

    £4.39£4.40£4.16Cardiff is higher£7.66£7.70£7.27

  16. Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Other benefits, per resident: Reading £4.84, Cardiff £5.33Cardiff: £5.33Reading: £4.84Cardiff: £5.36Reading: £4.86Cardiff: £5.06Reading: £4.59

    £4.84£4.86£4.59Cardiff is higher£5.33£5.36£5.06

  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, Cardiff 1,021.2Cardiff: 1,021.2Reading: 963.7

    963.7Cardiff is higher1,021.2

  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, Cardiff 139.9Cardiff: 139.9Reading: 144.5

    144.5Reading is higherDepends on how you count139.9

  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, Cardiff 182.4Cardiff: 182.4Reading: 128.6

    128.6Cardiff is higher182.4

  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, Cardiff 75.6Cardiff: 75.6Reading: 43.5

    43.5Cardiff is higher75.6

  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, Cardiff 196.1Cardiff: 196.1Reading: 162.6

    162.6Cardiff is higher196.1

  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, Cardiff 23.7Cardiff: 23.7Reading: 16.7

    16.7Cardiff is higher23.7

Show the numbers
Reading and Cardiff, per person in the age group
MeasureReadingCardiffHigher
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25£3,289£3,303£3,120£4,242£4,260£4,024Cardiff
Pensioner benefitsper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£12,426£12,479£11,786£13,010£13,065£12,341Cardiff
Working-age benefitsper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£1,764£1,772£1,673£2,204£2,213£2,090Cardiff
State Pensionper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£10,862£10,909£10,303£11,392£11,441£10,806Cardiff
Pension Creditper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£921£925£874£682£685£647Reading
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£606£608£575£900£904£854Cardiff
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£36£36£34£36£36£34Reading
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£279£280£265£537£539£509Cardiff
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£113£113£107£112£113£107Reading
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£75£75£71£109£109£103Cardiff
Universal Creditper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£1,505£1,512£1,428£1,730£1,737£1,641Cardiff
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25£250£251£237£297£298£281Cardiff
Employment and Support Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£171£172£162£351£352£333Cardiff
Jobseeker's Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£8.93£8.97£8.47£6.56£6.59£6.22Reading
Income Supportper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£4.39£4.40£4.16£7.66£7.70£7.27Cardiff
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25£4.84£4.86£4.59£5.33£5.36£5.06Cardiff
State Pensionper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026963.71,021.2Cardiff
Pension Creditper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026144.5139.9Reading
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026128.6182.4Cardiff
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 202643.575.6Cardiff
Universal Creditper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, May 2026162.6196.1Cardiff
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, March 202616.723.7Cardiff

Per resident

Reading is higher on 3 of 22 measures, and Cardiff on 19. 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 Cardiff

  1. All benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    All benefits, per resident: Reading £3,289, Cardiff £4,242Cardiff: £4,242Reading: £3,289Cardiff: £4,260Reading: £3,303Cardiff: £4,024Reading: £3,120

    £3,289£3,303£3,120Cardiff is higher£4,242£4,260£4,024

  2. Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Pensioner benefits, per resident: Reading £1,418, Cardiff £1,791Cardiff: £1,791Reading: £1,418Cardiff: £1,798Reading: £1,424Cardiff: £1,698Reading: £1,345

    £1,418£1,424£1,345Cardiff is higher£1,791£1,798£1,698

  3. Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Working-age benefits, per resident: Reading £1,225, Cardiff £1,500Cardiff: £1,500Reading: £1,225Cardiff: £1,507Reading: £1,230Cardiff: £1,423Reading: £1,162

    £1,225£1,230£1,162Cardiff is higher£1,500£1,507£1,423

  4. State Pensionper resident, 2024-25

    State Pension, per resident: Reading £1,239, Cardiff £1,568Cardiff: £1,568Reading: £1,239Cardiff: £1,575Reading: £1,245Cardiff: £1,487Reading: £1,176

    £1,239£1,245£1,176Cardiff is higher£1,568£1,575£1,487

  5. Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25

    Pension Credit, per resident: Reading £105, Cardiff £94Cardiff: £94Reading: £105Cardiff: £94Reading: £106Cardiff: £89Reading: £100

    £105£106£100Reading is higherDepends on how you count£94£94£89

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

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, per resident: Reading £69, Cardiff £124Cardiff: £124Reading: £69Cardiff: £124Reading: £69Cardiff: £118Reading: £66

    £69£69£66Cardiff is higher£124£124£118

  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, Cardiff £4.92Cardiff: £4.92Reading: £4.14Cardiff: £4.94Reading: £4.16Cardiff: £4.67Reading: £3.93

    £4.14£4.16£3.93Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count£4.92£4.94£4.67

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per resident: Reading £279, Cardiff £537Cardiff: £537Reading: £279Cardiff: £539Reading: £280Cardiff: £509Reading: £265

    £279£280£265Cardiff is higher£537£539£509

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

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, per resident: Reading £113, Cardiff £112Cardiff: £112Reading: £113Cardiff: £113Reading: £113Cardiff: £107Reading: £107

    £113£113£107Reading is higherDepends on how you count£112£113£107

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

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, per resident: Reading £52, Cardiff £74Cardiff: £74Reading: £52Cardiff: £74Reading: £52Cardiff: £70Reading: £49

    £52£52£49Cardiff is higher£74£74£70

  11. Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25

    Universal Credit, per resident: Reading £1,045, Cardiff £1,178Cardiff: £1,178Reading: £1,045Cardiff: £1,183Reading: £1,049Cardiff: £1,117Reading: £991

    £1,045£1,049£991Cardiff is higher£1,178£1,183£1,117

  12. Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, per resident: Reading £250, Cardiff £297Cardiff: £297Reading: £250Cardiff: £298Reading: £251Cardiff: £281Reading: £237

    £250£251£237Cardiff is higher£297£298£281

  13. Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25

    Employment and Support Allowance, per resident: Reading £119, Cardiff £239Cardiff: £239Reading: £119Cardiff: £240Reading: £119Cardiff: £226Reading: £113

    £119£119£113Cardiff is higher£239£240£226

  14. Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25

    Jobseeker's Allowance, per resident: Reading £6.20, Cardiff £4.47Cardiff: £4.47Reading: £6.20Cardiff: £4.49Reading: £6.23Cardiff: £4.24Reading: £5.88

    £6.20£6.23£5.88Reading is higherDepends on how you count£4.47£4.49£4.24

  15. Income Supportper resident, 2024-25

    Income Support, per resident: Reading £3.05, Cardiff £5.22Cardiff: £5.22Reading: £3.05Cardiff: £5.24Reading: £3.06Cardiff: £4.95Reading: £2.89

    £3.05£3.06£2.89Cardiff is higher£5.22£5.24£4.95

  16. Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Other benefits, per resident: Reading £4.84, Cardiff £5.33Cardiff: £5.33Reading: £4.84Cardiff: £5.36Reading: £4.86Cardiff: £5.06Reading: £4.59

    £4.84£4.86£4.59Cardiff is higher£5.33£5.36£5.06

  17. State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    State Pension, per 1,000 residents: Reading 110.0, Cardiff 140.5Cardiff: 140.5Reading: 110.0

    110.0Cardiff is higher140.5

  18. Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    Pension Credit, per 1,000 residents: Reading 16.5, Cardiff 19.3Cardiff: 19.3Reading: 16.5

    16.5Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count19.3

  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, Cardiff 25.1Cardiff: 25.1Reading: 14.7

    14.7Cardiff is higher25.1

  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, Cardiff 75.6Cardiff: 75.6Reading: 43.5

    43.5Cardiff is higher75.6

  21. Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 2026

    Universal Credit, per 1,000 residents: Reading 112.9, Cardiff 133.5Cardiff: 133.5Reading: 112.9

    112.9Cardiff is higher133.5

  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, Cardiff 16.2Cardiff: 16.2Reading: 11.6

    11.6Cardiff is higher16.2

Show the numbers
Reading and Cardiff, per resident
MeasureReadingCardiffHigher
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25£3,289£3,303£3,120£4,242£4,260£4,024Cardiff
Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25£1,418£1,424£1,345£1,791£1,798£1,698Cardiff
Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25£1,225£1,230£1,162£1,500£1,507£1,423Cardiff
State Pensionper resident, 2024-25£1,239£1,245£1,176£1,568£1,575£1,487Cardiff
Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25£105£106£100£94£94£89Reading
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£69£69£66£124£124£118Cardiff
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper resident, 2024-25£4.14£4.16£3.93£4.92£4.94£4.67Cardiff
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£279£280£265£537£539£509Cardiff
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£113£113£107£112£113£107Reading
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper resident, 2024-25£52£52£49£74£74£70Cardiff
Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25£1,045£1,049£991£1,178£1,183£1,117Cardiff
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25£250£251£237£297£298£281Cardiff
Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25£119£119£113£239£240£226Cardiff
Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25£6.20£6.23£5.88£4.47£4.49£4.24Reading
Income Supportper resident, 2024-25£3.05£3.06£2.89£5.22£5.24£4.95Cardiff
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25£4.84£4.86£4.59£5.33£5.36£5.06Cardiff
State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026110.0140.5Cardiff
Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 202616.519.3Cardiff
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 202614.725.1Cardiff
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 202643.575.6Cardiff
Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 2026112.9133.5Cardiff
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 202611.616.2Cardiff

Total

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

  1. All benefitstotal, 2024-25

    All benefits, total: Reading £601.3m, Cardiff £1.6bnCardiff: £1.6bnReading: £601.3mCardiff: £1.6bnReading: £603.8mCardiff: £1.5bnReading: £570.3m

    £601.3m£603.8m£570.3mCardiff is higher£1.6bn£1.6bn£1.5bn

  2. Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Pensioner benefits, total: Reading £259.2m, Cardiff £684.0mCardiff: £684.0mReading: £259.2mCardiff: £687.0mReading: £260.3mCardiff: £648.8mReading: £245.9m

    £259.2m£260.3m£245.9mCardiff is higher£684.0m£687.0m£648.8m

  3. Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Working-age benefits, total: Reading £223.9m, Cardiff £573.2mCardiff: £573.2mReading: £223.9mCardiff: £575.6mReading: £224.8mCardiff: £543.7mReading: £212.3m

    £223.9m£224.8m£212.3mCardiff is higher£573.2m£575.6m£543.7m

  4. State Pensiontotal, 2024-25

    State Pension, total: Reading £226.6m, Cardiff £599.0mCardiff: £599.0mReading: £226.6mCardiff: £601.5mReading: £227.6mCardiff: £568.2mReading: £214.9m

    £226.6m£227.6m£214.9mCardiff is higher£599.0m£601.5m£568.2m

  5. Pension Credittotal, 2024-25

    Pension Credit, total: Reading £19.2m, Cardiff £35.8mCardiff: £35.8mReading: £19.2mCardiff: £36.0mReading: £19.3mCardiff: £34.0mReading: £18.2m

    £19.2m£19.3m£18.2mCardiff is higherDepends on how you count£35.8m£36.0m£34.0m

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

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, total: Reading £12.6m, Cardiff £47.3mCardiff: £47.3mReading: £12.6mCardiff: £47.5mReading: £12.7mCardiff: £44.9mReading: £12.0m

    £12.6m£12.7m£12.0mCardiff is higher£47.3m£47.5m£44.9m

  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, Cardiff £1.9mCardiff: £1.9mReading: £0.76mCardiff: £1.9mReading: £0.76mCardiff: £1.8mReading: £0.72m

    £0.76m£0.76m£0.72mCardiff is higherDepends on how you count£1.9m£1.9m£1.8m

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, total: Reading £51.0m, Cardiff £205.0mCardiff: £205.0mReading: £51.0mCardiff: £205.9mReading: £51.3mCardiff: £194.4mReading: £48.4m

    £51.0m£51.3m£48.4mCardiff is higher£205.0m£205.9m£194.4m

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

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, total: Reading £20.7m, Cardiff £42.9mCardiff: £42.9mReading: £20.7mCardiff: £43.1mReading: £20.7mCardiff: £40.7mReading: £19.6m

    £20.7m£20.7m£19.6mCardiff is higherDepends on how you count£42.9m£43.1m£40.7m

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

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, total: Reading £9.5m, Cardiff £28.3mCardiff: £28.3mReading: £9.5mCardiff: £28.4mReading: £9.5mCardiff: £26.8mReading: £9.0m

    £9.5m£9.5m£9.0mCardiff is higher£28.3m£28.4m£26.8m

  11. Universal Credittotal, 2024-25

    Universal Credit, total: Reading £191.0m, Cardiff £450.0mCardiff: £450.0mReading: £191.0mCardiff: £451.9mReading: £191.8mCardiff: £426.8mReading: £181.2m

    £191.0m£191.8m£181.2mCardiff is higher£450.0m£451.9m£426.8m

  12. Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, total: Reading £45.6m, Cardiff £113.3mCardiff: £113.3mReading: £45.6mCardiff: £113.8mReading: £45.8mCardiff: £107.5mReading: £43.3m

    £45.6m£45.8m£43.3mCardiff is higher£113.3m£113.8m£107.5m

  13. Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25

    Employment and Support Allowance, total: Reading £21.7m, Cardiff £91.2mCardiff: £91.2mReading: £21.7mCardiff: £91.6mReading: £21.8mCardiff: £86.5mReading: £20.6m

    £21.7m£21.8m£20.6mCardiff is higher£91.2m£91.6m£86.5m

  14. Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25

    Jobseeker's Allowance, total: Reading £1.1m, Cardiff £1.7mCardiff: £1.7mReading: £1.1mCardiff: £1.7mReading: £1.1mCardiff: £1.6mReading: £1.1m

    £1.1mCardiff is higherDepends on how you count£1.7m£1.7m£1.6m

  15. Income Supporttotal, 2024-25

    Income Support, total: Reading £0.56m, Cardiff £2.0mCardiff: £2.0mReading: £0.56mCardiff: £2.0mReading: £0.56mCardiff: £1.9mReading: £0.53m

    £0.56m£0.56m£0.53mCardiff is higher£2.0m£2.0m£1.9m

  16. Other benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Other benefits, total: Reading £0.88m, Cardiff £2.0mCardiff: £2.0mReading: £0.88mCardiff: £2.0mReading: £0.89mCardiff: £1.9mReading: £0.84m

    £0.88m£0.89m£0.84mCardiff is higher£2.0m£2.0m£1.9m

  17. State Pensiontotal, March 2026

    State Pension, total: Reading 20,103, Cardiff 53,692Cardiff: 53,692Reading: 20,103

    20,103Cardiff is higher53,692

  18. Pension Credittotal, March 2026

    Pension Credit, total: Reading 3,015, Cardiff 7,358Cardiff: 7,358Reading: 3,015

    3,015Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count7,358

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

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, total: Reading 2,682, Cardiff 9,592Cardiff: 9,592Reading: 2,682

    2,682Cardiff is higher9,592

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, total: Reading 7,952, Cardiff 28,870Cardiff: 28,870Reading: 7,952

    7,952Cardiff is higher28,870

  21. Universal Credittotal, May 2026

    Universal Credit, total: Reading 20,634, Cardiff 51,000Cardiff: 51,000Reading: 20,634

    20,634Cardiff is higher51,000

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

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, total: Reading 2,122, Cardiff 6,171Cardiff: 6,171Reading: 2,122

    2,122Cardiff is higher6,171

Show the numbers
Reading and Cardiff, total
MeasureReadingCardiffHigher
All benefitstotal, 2024-25£601.3m£603.8m£570.3m£1.6bn£1.6bn£1.5bnCardiff
Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25£259.2m£260.3m£245.9m£684.0m£687.0m£648.8mCardiff
Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25£223.9m£224.8m£212.3m£573.2m£575.6m£543.7mCardiff
State Pensiontotal, 2024-25£226.6m£227.6m£214.9m£599.0m£601.5m£568.2mCardiff
Pension Credittotal, 2024-25£19.2m£19.3m£18.2m£35.8m£36.0m£34.0mCardiff
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£12.6m£12.7m£12.0m£47.3m£47.5m£44.9mCardiff
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymenttotal, 2024-25£0.76m£0.76m£0.72m£1.9m£1.9m£1.8mCardiff
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£51.0m£51.3m£48.4m£205.0m£205.9m£194.4mCardiff
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£20.7m£20.7m£19.6m£42.9m£43.1m£40.7mCardiff
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, 2024-25£9.5m£9.5m£9.0m£28.3m£28.4m£26.8mCardiff
Universal Credittotal, 2024-25£191.0m£191.8m£181.2m£450.0m£451.9m£426.8mCardiff
Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25£45.6m£45.8m£43.3m£113.3m£113.8m£107.5mCardiff
Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25£21.7m£21.8m£20.6m£91.2m£91.6m£86.5mCardiff
Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25£1.1m£1.7m£1.7m£1.6mCardiff
Income Supporttotal, 2024-25£0.56m£0.56m£0.53m£2.0m£2.0m£1.9mCardiff
Other benefitstotal, 2024-25£0.88m£0.89m£0.84m£2.0m£2.0m£1.9mCardiff
State Pensiontotal, March 202620,10353,692Cardiff
Pension Credittotal, March 20263,0157,358Cardiff
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, March 20262,6829,592Cardiff
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, July 20267,95228,870Cardiff
Universal Credittotal, May 202620,63451,000Cardiff
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, March 20262,1226,171Cardiff

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.