Who Gets What

Local authority in East of England, England

Bedford

In Bedford, benefit spending per resident was lower than in 76% of local authorities in 2024-25.

194,881 residents (mid-2024)

See it on the mapCompare with Colchester
Bedford on a map of the local authorities of Great Britain, one hexagon each
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.

At a glance

How does Bedford compare?

We divide each type of spending by the people it is for. A rank of 1 is the highest of the local authorities in Great Britain. Money is in 2026-27 prices2026-27 prices, using CPI inflationcash terms, not adjusted for inflation.

  • All benefits

    £3,927£3,944£3,725

    per resident, 2024-251-11

    265th of 348, lower than in 76% of local authorities

    Great Britain: £4,441£4,460£4,212

  • Pensioner benefits

    £12,590£12,644£11,943

    per person aged 66 and over, 2024-251-3, 6, 8-11

    233rd of 347, lower than in 67% of local authorities

    Great Britain: £12,728£12,782£12,073

  • Working-age benefits

    £1,880£1,888£1,783

    per person aged 16 to 64, 2024-251-3, 7, 9-11

    183rd of 350, lower than in 52% of local authorities

    Great Britain: £2,093£2,102£1,985

Show the numbers
Main figures for Bedford
MeasureValueRankGreat Britain
Benefit spending, per resident, 2024-25£3,927£3,944£3,725265th of 348£4,441£4,460£4,212
Spending on pensioner benefits, per person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£12,590£12,644£11,943233rd of 347£12,728£12,782£12,073
Spending on working-age benefits, per person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£1,880£1,888£1,783183rd of 350£2,093£2,102£1,985

Spending by benefit, 2024-25

Where does Bedford's benefit money go?

People here received £765.4 million£768.6 million£726.0 million in benefits in 2024-25, in 2026-27 prices2026-27 prices, using CPI inflationcash terms, not adjusted for inflation. Each square is £1 million.1-11

Spending in Bedford, 2024-25, one square per £1 million: State Pension £360.2m; Pension Credit £14.1m; Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment £20.3m; Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment £0.73m; Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment £68.1m; Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment £22.2m; Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment £10.8m; Universal Credit £192.8m; Housing Benefit £47.9m; Employment and Support Allowance £25.3m; Jobseeker's Allowance £1.2m; Income Support £0.55m; Other benefits £1.2mState Pension: £360.2mPension Credit: £14.1mAttendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment: £20.3mWinter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment: £0.73mPersonal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment: £68.1mDisability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment: £22.2mCarer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment: £10.8mUniversal Credit: £192.8mHousing Benefit: £47.9mEmployment and Support Allowance: £25.3mJobseeker's Allowance: £1.2mIncome Support: £0.55mOther benefits: £1.2m
Spending in Bedford, 2024-25, one square per £1 million: State Pension £361.8m; Pension Credit £14.2m; Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment £20.4m; Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment £0.73m; Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment £68.4m; Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment £22.3m; Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment £10.8m; Universal Credit £193.7m; Housing Benefit £48.1m; Employment and Support Allowance £25.4m; Jobseeker's Allowance £1.2m; Income Support £0.56m; Other benefits £1.2mState Pension: £361.8mPension Credit: £14.2mAttendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment: £20.4mWinter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment: £0.73mPersonal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment: £68.4mDisability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment: £22.3mCarer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment: £10.8mUniversal Credit: £193.7mHousing Benefit: £48.1mEmployment and Support Allowance: £25.4mJobseeker's Allowance: £1.2mIncome Support: £0.56mOther benefits: £1.2m
Spending in Bedford, 2024-25, one square per £1 million: State Pension £341.7m; Pension Credit £13.4m; Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment £19.3m; Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment £0.69m; Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment £64.6m; Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment £21.0m; Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment £10.2m; Universal Credit £182.9m; Housing Benefit £45.4m; Employment and Support Allowance £24.0m; Jobseeker's Allowance £1.1m; Income Support £0.53m; Other benefits £1.1mState Pension: £341.7mPension Credit: £13.4mAttendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment: £19.3mWinter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment: £0.69mPersonal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment: £64.6mDisability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment: £21.0mCarer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment: £10.2mUniversal Credit: £182.9mHousing Benefit: £45.4mEmployment and Support Allowance: £24.0mJobseeker's Allowance: £1.1mIncome Support: £0.53mOther benefits: £1.1m
  1. State Pension£360.2m£361.8m£341.7m
  2. Pension Credit£14.1m£14.2m£13.4m
  3. Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment£20.3m£20.4m£19.3m
  4. Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment£0.73m£0.73m£0.69m
  5. Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment£68.1m£68.4m£64.6m
  6. Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment£22.2m£22.3m£21.0m
  7. Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment£10.8m£10.8m£10.2m
  8. Universal Credit£192.8m£193.7m£182.9m
  9. Housing Benefit£47.9m£48.1m£45.4m
  10. Employment and Support Allowance£25.3m£25.4m£24.0m
  11. Jobseeker's Allowance£1.2m£1.2m£1.1m
  12. Income Support£0.55m£0.56m£0.53m
  13. Other benefits£1.2m£1.2m£1.1m
Show the numbers
Spending by benefit in Bedford, 2024-25
BenefitSpendingShareFigure type
State Pension£360.2m£361.8m£341.7m47%Published
Pension Credit£14.1m£14.2m£13.4m2%Published
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment£20.3m£20.4m£19.3m3%Published
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment£0.73m£0.73m£0.69m0.1%Published
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment£68.1m£68.4m£64.6m9%Published
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment£22.2m£22.3m£21.0m3%Published
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment£10.8m£10.8m£10.2m1%Published
Universal Credit£192.8m£193.7m£182.9m25%Published
Housing Benefit£47.9m£48.1m£45.4m6%Published
Employment and Support Allowance£25.3m£25.4m£24.0m3%Published
Jobseeker's Allowance£1.2m£1.2m£1.1m0.2%Published
Income Support£0.55m£0.56m£0.53m0.1%Published
Other benefits£1.2m£1.2m£1.1m0.2%Published
All benefits£765.4m£768.6m£726.0m100%Total

More about Bedford

How has it changed over time?
Is spending what you would expect?

Compared with similar areas

Spending compared with the expected level

We work out an expected level of spending from the share of children and of people aged 66 and over, how deprived the area is, typical pay and which nation it is in. This compares the area with similar areas. It does not measure need.

Each bar starts at the expected level. A bar reaches the edge when the difference is larger than in 98% of local authorities.

  • All benefits, per resident1-11, 14-17

    All benefits: actual £3,927, expected £4,193, difference −£266

    Actual £3,927£3,944£3,725Expected £4,193£4,211£3,978Difference −£266−£267−£252

    Benefit spending per resident was £266 below the level we would expect from age, deprivation and pay.Benefit spending per resident was £267 below the level we would expect from age, deprivation and pay.Benefit spending per resident was £252 below the level we would expect from age, deprivation and pay. Across all local authorities, these factors explain 87% of the differences in this measure.

  • Pensioner benefits, per person aged 66 and over1-3, 6, 8-11, 14-17

    Pensioner benefits: actual £12,590, expected £12,853, difference −£263

    Actual £12,590£12,644£11,943Expected £12,853£12,908£12,192Difference −£263−£264−£249

    Spending on pensioner benefits per person aged 66 and over was £263 below the level we would expect from age, deprivation and pay.Spending on pensioner benefits per person aged 66 and over was £264 below the level we would expect from age, deprivation and pay.Spending on pensioner benefits per person aged 66 and over was £249 below the level we would expect from age, deprivation and pay. Across all local authorities, these factors explain 35% of the differences in this measure.

  • Working-age benefits, per person aged 16 to 641-3, 7, 9-11, 14-17

    Working-age benefits: actual £1,880, expected £2,121, difference −£241

    Actual £1,880£1,888£1,783Expected £2,121£2,130£2,012Difference −£241−£242−£229

    Spending on working-age benefits per person aged 16 to 64 was £241 below the level we would expect from age, deprivation and pay.Spending on working-age benefits per person aged 16 to 64 was £242 below the level we would expect from age, deprivation and pay.Spending on working-age benefits per person aged 16 to 64 was £229 below the level we would expect from age, deprivation and pay. Across all local authorities, these factors explain 85% of the differences in this measure.

The expected level comes from one statistical model across all areas of the same type. It uses ages, deprivation within each nation, typical pay and nation, and the methods page lists its figures. The difference compares an area only with areas that are similar on these measures. Rents, disability, household make-up and how many eligible people claim are not in the model, so the difference does not measure need.

How we work out the expected level

Show the numbers
Actual and expected spending in Bedford
MeasureActualExpectedDifference
All benefits, per resident£3,927£3,944£3,725£4,193£4,211£3,978−£266−£267−£252
Pensioner benefits, per person aged 66 and over£12,590£12,644£11,943£12,853£12,908£12,192−£263−£264−£249
Working-age benefits, per person aged 16 to 64£1,880£1,888£1,783£2,121£2,130£2,012−£241−£242−£229
How much income tax do residents pay?

Income tax only

Benefit spending and income tax paid by residents

In 2023-24, people in Bedford received £0.93 in benefits for each £1 of income tax that residents paid. Both figures are per resident, for the same tax year, 2023-24. Income tax is only one tax. There are no area figures for National Insurance, VAT or council tax.

Income tax paid by residents (income tax only), per resident9-13
£3,983£3,940£3,635
Survey estimate
Benefit spending, per resident
£3,702£3,662£3,379
Benefits for each £1 of income tax1-8, 12-13
£0.93
224th of 346, lower than in 64% of local authorities

Income tax only. There are no area figures for National Insurance, VAT, council tax or other taxes.

HMRC estimates income tax by area from a sample survey, the Survey of Personal Incomes, based on where taxpayers live. Figures for small areas are less certain, and HMRC does not publish some of them.

Spending and income tax are for the same year. Constituency income tax on the 2024 boundaries is only published for 2023-24.

Who lives here?

Profile

Deprivation and age

England, Wales and Scotland each measure deprivation in their own way. So we compare Bedford only with other areas in England.

Group 5 of 10 in England, where group 1 is the most deprived tenth of areas. English indices of deprivation 2025.14

Residents by age, mid-2024

  • Aged 0 to 1538,758
  • Aged 16 to 64122,682
  • Aged 652,035
  • Aged 66 and over31,406
  • All residents194,881
Which conditions are disability benefits paid for?

Disability benefit, July 2026

Personal Independence Payment by main condition

10,743 people in Bedford receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP). This shows the main condition each person has, compared with England and Wales. Every bar uses the same scale.3

  • Psychiatric disorders

    41%

    England and Wales: 39%

  • Musculoskeletal disease (general)

    17%

    England and Wales: 19%

  • Neurological disease

    13%

    England and Wales: 13%

  • Musculoskeletal disease (regional)

    11%

    England and Wales: 12%

  • Respiratory disease

    3%

    England and Wales: 4%

  • Malignant disease

    3%

    England and Wales: 3%

  • Cardiovascular disease

    2%

    England and Wales: 3%

  • Other condition groups (14)

    9%

    England and Wales: 8%

People receiving Personal Independence Payment, by the main condition recorded at their assessment, in the groups DWP uses. Stat-Xplore changes small counts slightly to protect privacy, so the groups can add up to a few people more or less than the area's total. The comparison is with England and Wales, because Scotland has no figures by area.

Show the numbers
Personal Independence Payment by main disabling condition in Bedford
Condition groupPeopleShareEngland and Wales
Psychiatric disorders4,42841%39%
Musculoskeletal disease (general)1,84117%19%
Neurological disease1,35413%13%
Musculoskeletal disease (regional)1,18011%12%
Respiratory disease3613%4%
Malignant disease3523%3%
Cardiovascular disease2382%3%
Visual disease1782%2%
Endocrine disease1712%1%
Hearing disorders1101%1%
Gastrointestinal disease1281%1%
Genitourinary disease1101%0.9%
Skin disease810.8%0.7%
Autoimmune disease (connective tissue disorders)590.5%0.5%
Diseases of the liver, gallbladder, biliary tract500.5%0.4%
Infectious disease250.2%0.4%
Haematological disease260.2%0.2%
Metabolic disease190.2%0.2%
Unknown or missing150.1%0.1%
Multisystem and extremes of age100.1%0.1%
Diseases of the immune system70.1%0.0%
Which areas are most like this one?

Similar areas

The 15 local authorities most like Bedford

We match areas anywhere in Great Britain on age, deprivation, pay and how many people live in each square kilometre. We do not match on place or spending. A smaller score means more alike. Bars show all benefits per resident, 2024-25.

  1. BedfordThis area£3,927£3,944£3,725
  2. Colchester0.66£4,006£4,023£3,800Compare
  3. North Northamptonshire0.72£4,084£4,101£3,874Compare
  4. Midlothian0.77£4,436£4,454£4,207Compare
  5. West Lothian0.80£4,576£4,596£4,341Compare
  6. Maidstone0.85£3,977£3,994£3,772Compare
  7. West Northamptonshire0.90£3,742£3,758£3,549Compare
  8. Gravesham0.98£4,298£4,316£4,077Compare
  9. Ashford0.98£4,227£4,245£4,010Compare
  10. Swindon0.99£3,767£3,783£3,573Compare
  11. Medway1.03£4,253£4,271£4,034Compare
  12. East Staffordshire1.06£4,017£4,035£3,811Compare
  13. Rugby1.07£3,624£3,639£3,437Compare
  14. Newport1.09£4,687£4,707£4,446Compare
  15. Calderdale1.13£4,767£4,787£4,521Compare
  16. Milton Keynes1.13£3,600£3,615£3,415Compare
Show the numbers
Areas most like Bedford
AreaScoreAll benefits, per resident
Bedford£3,927£3,944£3,725
Colchester0.66£4,006£4,023£3,800
North Northamptonshire0.72£4,084£4,101£3,874
Midlothian0.77£4,436£4,454£4,207
West Lothian0.80£4,576£4,596£4,341
Maidstone0.85£3,977£3,994£3,772
West Northamptonshire0.90£3,742£3,758£3,549
Gravesham0.98£4,298£4,316£4,077
Ashford0.98£4,227£4,245£4,010
Swindon0.99£3,767£3,783£3,573
Medway1.03£4,253£4,271£4,034
East Staffordshire1.06£4,017£4,035£3,811
Rugby1.07£3,624£3,639£3,437
Newport1.09£4,687£4,707£4,446
Calderdale1.13£4,767£4,787£4,521
Milton Keynes1.13£3,600£3,615£3,415
Which other areas overlap it?

Overlapping areas

The constituencies that overlap Bedford

Each share is the part of Bedford's residents who live in that area.

Every figure, in one table

Every figure

Every figure, with its rank

Every figure we publish for Bedford, in total and per person. Each has its rank among the local authorities of Great Britain and the figure for Great Britain. Money is in 2026-27 prices2026-27 prices, using CPI inflationcash terms, not adjusted for inflation.

Spending by benefit1-13
MeasureValueRankGreat BritainFigure type
All benefitstotal, 2024-25£765.4m£768.6m£726.0m142nd of 348£299.0bn£300.3bn£283.6bnPublished
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25£3,927£3,944£3,725265th of 348£4,441£4,460£4,212Published
Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25£395.4m£397.1m£375.1m145th of 348£154.0bn£154.6bn£146.1bnPublished
Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25£2,029£2,038£1,925270th of 348£2,287£2,297£2,170Published
Pensioner benefitsper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£12,590£12,644£11,943233rd of 347£12,728£12,782£12,073Published
Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25£230.7m£231.6m£218.8m135th of 350£88.8bn£89.1bn£84.2bnPublished
Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25£1,184£1,189£1,123173rd of 350£1,318£1,324£1,250Published
Working-age benefitsper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£1,880£1,888£1,783183rd of 350£2,093£2,102£1,985Published
State Pensiontotal, 2024-25£360.2m£361.8m£341.7m144th of 348£138.4bn£138.9bn£131.2bnPublished
State Pensionper resident, 2024-25£1,848£1,856£1,753265th of 348£2,055£2,064£1,949Published
State Pensionper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£11,470£11,519£10,880206th of 347£11,435£11,484£10,847Published
Pension Credittotal, 2024-25£14.1m£14.2m£13.4m150th of 350£6.3bn£6.4bn£6.0bnPublished
Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25£72£73£69225th of 350£94£94£89Published
Pension Creditper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£450£452£426156th of 349£523£525£496Published
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£20.3m£20.4m£19.3m178th of 350£9.0bn£9.0bn£8.5bnPublished
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£104£105£99285th of 350£133£134£126Published
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£648£651£614256th of 349£741£744£703Published
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymenttotal, 2024-25£0.73m£0.73m£0.69m169th of 350£346.1m£347.6m£328.3mPublished
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper resident, 2024-25£3.73£3.75£3.54269th of 350£5.14£5.17£4.88Published
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£23£23£22198th of 349£29£29£27Published
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£68.1m£68.4m£64.6m162nd of 350£30.4bn£30.5bn£28.9bnPublished
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£350£351£332239th of 350£452£454£429Published
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£22.2m£22.3m£21.0m153rd of 350£9.1bn£9.2bn£8.6bnPublished
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£114£114£108233rd of 350£135£136£128Published
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, 2024-25£10.8m£10.8m£10.2m155th of 350£4.9bn£4.9bn£4.6bnPublished
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper resident, 2024-25£55£56£53226th of 350£72£73£69Published
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£88£88£83237th of 350£115£115£109Published
Universal Credittotal, 2024-25£192.8m£193.7m£182.9m120th of 350£70.3bn£70.6bn£66.7bnPublished
Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25£990£994£939147th of 350£1,044£1,048£990Published
Universal Creditper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£1,572£1,579£1,491155th of 350£1,657£1,664£1,572Published
Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25£47.9m£48.1m£45.4m101st of 350£16.3bn£16.4bn£15.5bnPublished
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25£246£247£23392nd of 350£242£243£230Published
Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25£25.3m£25.4m£24.0m179th of 350£13.0bn£13.0bn£12.3bnPublished
Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25£130£130£123264th of 350£193£193£183Published
Employment and Support Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£206£207£196262nd of 350£306£307£290Published
Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25£1.2m£1.2m£1.1m87th of 350£329.6m£331.0m£312.7mPublished
Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25£5.97£5.99£5.6652nd of 350£4.89£4.91£4.64Published
Jobseeker's Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£9.49£9.53£9.0040th of 350£7.77£7.80£7.37Published
Income Supporttotal, 2024-25£0.55m£0.56m£0.53m174th of 350£294.9m£296.2m£279.7mPublished
Income Supportper resident, 2024-25£2.84£2.85£2.69237th of 350£4.38£4.39£4.15Published
Income Supportper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£4.51£4.53£4.28243rd of 350£6.96£6.99£6.60Published
Other benefitstotal, 2024-25£1.2m£1.2m£1.1m129th of 350£414.2m£415.9m£392.9mPublished
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25£5.97£5.99£5.66207th of 350£6.15£6.17£5.83Published
Benefits and income taxfor each £1 of income tax, 2023-24£0.93224th of 346£0.95Survey estimate
People receiving benefits3-4, 6-7, 9-11
MeasureValueRankGreat BritainFigure type
State Pensiontotal, March 202631,443146th of 35012,207,279Published
State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026161.3267th of 350181.3Published
State Pensionper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 20261,001.2263rd of 3491,009.0Published
Pension Credittotal, March 20262,936169th of 3501,380,853Published
Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 202615.1265th of 35020.5Published
Pension Creditper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 202693.5193rd of 349114.1Published
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, March 20264,327175th of 3501,881,995Published
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 202622.2282nd of 35028.0Published
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026137.8262nd of 349155.6Published
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, July 202610,748151st of 3504,594,229Published
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 202655.2230th of 35068.2Published
Universal Credittotal, May 202622,297125th of 3508,145,172Published
Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 2026114.4159th of 350121.0Published
Universal Creditper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, May 2026181.8165th of 350192.1Published
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, March 20262,527147th of 3501,090,721Published
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 202613.0215th of 35016.2Published
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, March 202620.6226th of 35025.7Published
Income tax1-13
MeasureValueRankGreat BritainFigure type
Income taxtotal, 2023-24£762.6m£754.3m£696.0m131st of 348£293.3bn£290.1bn£267.7bnSurvey estimate
Income taxper resident, 2023-24£3,983£3,940£3,635145th of 348£4,409£4,361£4,024Survey estimate
Benefits and income taxfor each £1 of income tax, 2023-24£0.93224th of 346£0.95Survey estimate
Compared with the expected level1-11, 14-17
MeasureValueRankGreat BritainFigure type
All benefits against expectedper resident, 2024-25−£266−£267−£252304th of 346£4.74£4.76£4.50Estimated
Pensioner benefits against expectedper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25−£263−£264−£249303rd of 346−£11−£11−£10Estimated
Working-age benefits against expectedper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25−£241−£242−£229307th of 348£8.64£8.68£8.20Estimated

Download all the data

Where do the numbers come from?

Notes

Limits and sources

Limits of the figures for Bedford

England, Wales and Scotland each measure deprivation in their own way, so we compare areas only with others in the same nation. Areas are split into 10 equal groups, from 1, the most deprived tenth, to 10, the least deprived.

Income tax only. There are no area figures for National Insurance, VAT, council tax or other taxes.

People receiving Personal Independence Payment, by the main condition recorded at their assessment, in the groups DWP uses. Stat-Xplore changes small counts slightly to protect privacy, so the groups can add up to a few people more or less than the area's total. The comparison is with England and Wales, because Scotland has no figures by area.

Sources

  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.
  12. 12HM Revenue and Customs. Income and tax by borough and district or unitary authority (Table 3.14). Published 29 April 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
  13. 13HM Revenue and Customs. Income and tax by parliamentary constituency (Table 3.15). Published 29 April 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
  14. 14Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. English indices of deprivation 2025. Published 19 November 2025. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
  15. 15Welsh Government. Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation 2025. Published 5 October 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
  16. 16Scottish Government. Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2020. Published 28 January 2020. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
  17. 17Office for National Statistics. Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, resident analysis, 2024 (Nomis NM_30_1). Published 6 October 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.

Northern Ireland is not included. How we worked out the figures · Download all the data

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