Who Gets What

Compare local authorities · East of England and East of England

Bedford and Colchester

194,881 and 199,730 residents (mid-2024).

Bedford is higher than Colchester on 9 of 22 measures per person in the age group, 9 of 22 per resident and 7 of 22 in total.

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

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Bedford and Colchester 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

Bedford is higher on 9 of 22 measures, and Colchester on 13. 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

Bedford Colchester

  1. All benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    All benefits, per resident: Bedford £3,927, Colchester £4,006Colchester: £4,006Bedford: £3,927Colchester: £4,023Bedford: £3,944Colchester: £3,800Bedford: £3,725

    £3,927£3,944£3,725Colchester is higher£4,006£4,023£3,800

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

    Pensioner benefits, per person aged 66 and over: Bedford £12,590, Colchester £12,836Colchester: £12,836Bedford: £12,590Colchester: £12,891Bedford: £12,644Colchester: £12,175Bedford: £11,943

    £12,590£12,644£11,943Colchester is higher£12,836£12,891£12,175

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

    Working-age benefits, per person aged 16 to 64: Bedford £1,880, Colchester £1,742Colchester: £1,742Bedford: £1,880Colchester: £1,750Bedford: £1,888Colchester: £1,653Bedford: £1,783

    £1,880£1,888£1,783Bedford is higher£1,742£1,750£1,653

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

    State Pension, per person aged 66 and over: Bedford £11,470, Colchester £11,610Colchester: £11,610Bedford: £11,470Colchester: £11,659Bedford: £11,519Colchester: £11,013Bedford: £10,880

    £11,470£11,519£10,880Colchester is higher£11,610£11,659£11,013

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

    Pension Credit, per person aged 66 and over: Bedford £450, Colchester £390Colchester: £390Bedford: £450Colchester: £391Bedford: £452Colchester: £370Bedford: £426

    £450£452£426Bedford is higher£390£391£370

  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: Bedford £648, Colchester £815Colchester: £815Bedford: £648Colchester: £818Bedford: £651Colchester: £773Bedford: £614

    £648£651£614Colchester is higher£815£818£773

  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: Bedford £23, Colchester £22Colchester: £22Bedford: £23Colchester: £22Bedford: £23Colchester: £20Bedford: £22

    £23£23£22Bedford is higherDepends on how you count£22£22£20

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per resident: Bedford £350, Colchester £364Colchester: £364Bedford: £350Colchester: £366Bedford: £351Colchester: £345Bedford: £332

    £350£351£332Colchester is higher£364£366£345

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

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, per resident: Bedford £114, Colchester £153Colchester: £153Bedford: £114Colchester: £153Bedford: £114Colchester: £145Bedford: £108

    £114£114£108Colchester is higher£153£153£145

  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: Bedford £88, Colchester £97Colchester: £97Bedford: £88Colchester: £98Bedford: £88Colchester: £92Bedford: £83

    £88£88£83Colchester is higher£97£98£92

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

    Universal Credit, per person aged 16 to 64: Bedford £1,572, Colchester £1,388Colchester: £1,388Bedford: £1,572Colchester: £1,394Bedford: £1,579Colchester: £1,317Bedford: £1,491

    £1,572£1,579£1,491Bedford is higher£1,388£1,394£1,317

  12. Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, per resident: Bedford £246, Colchester £190Colchester: £190Bedford: £246Colchester: £191Bedford: £247Colchester: £180Bedford: £233

    £246£247£233Bedford is higher£190£191£180

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

    Employment and Support Allowance, per person aged 16 to 64: Bedford £206, Colchester £243Colchester: £243Bedford: £206Colchester: £244Bedford: £207Colchester: £231Bedford: £196

    £206£207£196Colchester is higher£243£244£231

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

    Jobseeker's Allowance, per person aged 16 to 64: Bedford £9.49, Colchester £7.93Colchester: £7.93Bedford: £9.49Colchester: £7.96Bedford: £9.53Colchester: £7.52Bedford: £9.00

    £9.49£9.53£9.00Bedford is higher£7.93£7.96£7.52

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

    Income Support, per person aged 16 to 64: Bedford £4.51, Colchester £5.75Colchester: £5.75Bedford: £4.51Colchester: £5.77Bedford: £4.53Colchester: £5.45Bedford: £4.28

    £4.51£4.53£4.28Colchester is higher£5.75£5.77£5.45

  16. Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Other benefits, per resident: Bedford £5.97, Colchester £3.77Colchester: £3.77Bedford: £5.97Colchester: £3.79Bedford: £5.99Colchester: £3.58Bedford: £5.66

    £5.97£5.99£5.66Bedford is higher£3.77£3.79£3.58

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

    State Pension, per 1,000 people aged 66 and over: Bedford 1,001.2, Colchester 1,005.5Colchester: 1,005.5Bedford: 1,001.2

    1,001.2Colchester is higher1,005.5

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

    Pension Credit, per 1,000 people aged 66 and over: Bedford 93.5, Colchester 87.4Colchester: 87.4Bedford: 93.5

    93.5Bedford is higherDepends on how you count87.4

  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: Bedford 137.8, Colchester 165.9Colchester: 165.9Bedford: 137.8

    137.8Colchester is higher165.9

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per 1,000 residents: Bedford 55.2, Colchester 57.0Colchester: 57.0Bedford: 55.2

    55.2Colchester is higher57.0

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

    Universal Credit, per 1,000 people aged 16 to 64: Bedford 181.8, Colchester 158.6Colchester: 158.6Bedford: 181.8

    181.8Bedford is higher158.6

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

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, per 1,000 people aged 16 to 64: Bedford 20.6, Colchester 21.7Colchester: 21.7Bedford: 20.6

    20.6Colchester is higher21.7

Show the numbers
Bedford and Colchester, per person in the age group
MeasureBedfordColchesterHigher
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25£3,927£3,944£3,725£4,006£4,023£3,800Colchester
Pensioner benefitsper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£12,590£12,644£11,943£12,836£12,891£12,175Colchester
Working-age benefitsper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£1,880£1,888£1,783£1,742£1,750£1,653Bedford
State Pensionper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£11,470£11,519£10,880£11,610£11,659£11,013Colchester
Pension Creditper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£450£452£426£390£391£370Bedford
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£648£651£614£815£818£773Colchester
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£23£23£22£22£22£20Bedford
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£350£351£332£364£366£345Colchester
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£114£114£108£153£153£145Colchester
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£88£88£83£97£98£92Colchester
Universal Creditper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£1,572£1,579£1,491£1,388£1,394£1,317Bedford
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25£246£247£233£190£191£180Bedford
Employment and Support Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£206£207£196£243£244£231Colchester
Jobseeker's Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£9.49£9.53£9.00£7.93£7.96£7.52Bedford
Income Supportper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£4.51£4.53£4.28£5.75£5.77£5.45Colchester
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25£5.97£5.99£5.66£3.77£3.79£3.58Bedford
State Pensionper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 20261,001.21,005.5Colchester
Pension Creditper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 202693.587.4Bedford
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026137.8165.9Colchester
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 202655.257.0Colchester
Universal Creditper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, May 2026181.8158.6Bedford
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, March 202620.621.7Colchester

Per resident

Bedford is higher on 9 of 22 measures, and Colchester on 13. 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

Bedford Colchester

  1. All benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    All benefits, per resident: Bedford £3,927, Colchester £4,006Colchester: £4,006Bedford: £3,927Colchester: £4,023Bedford: £3,944Colchester: £3,800Bedford: £3,725

    £3,927£3,944£3,725Colchester is higher£4,006£4,023£3,800

  2. Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Pensioner benefits, per resident: Bedford £2,029, Colchester £2,198Colchester: £2,198Bedford: £2,029Colchester: £2,208Bedford: £2,038Colchester: £2,085Bedford: £1,925

    £2,029£2,038£1,925Colchester is higher£2,198£2,208£2,085

  3. Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Working-age benefits, per resident: Bedford £1,184, Colchester £1,097Colchester: £1,097Bedford: £1,184Colchester: £1,102Bedford: £1,189Colchester: £1,041Bedford: £1,123

    £1,184£1,189£1,123Bedford is higher£1,097£1,102£1,041

  4. State Pensionper resident, 2024-25

    State Pension, per resident: Bedford £1,848, Colchester £1,988Colchester: £1,988Bedford: £1,848Colchester: £1,997Bedford: £1,856Colchester: £1,886Bedford: £1,753

    £1,848£1,856£1,753Colchester is higher£1,988£1,997£1,886

  5. Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25

    Pension Credit, per resident: Bedford £72, Colchester £67Colchester: £67Bedford: £72Colchester: £67Bedford: £73Colchester: £63Bedford: £69

    £72£73£69Bedford is higher£67£67£63

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

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, per resident: Bedford £104, Colchester £139Colchester: £139Bedford: £104Colchester: £140Bedford: £105Colchester: £132Bedford: £99

    £104£105£99Colchester is higher£139£140£132

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

    Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, per resident: Bedford £3.73, Colchester £3.70Colchester: £3.70Bedford: £3.73Colchester: £3.72Bedford: £3.75Colchester: £3.51Bedford: £3.54

    £3.73£3.75£3.54Bedford is higherDepends on how you count£3.70£3.72£3.51

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per resident: Bedford £350, Colchester £364Colchester: £364Bedford: £350Colchester: £366Bedford: £351Colchester: £345Bedford: £332

    £350£351£332Colchester is higher£364£366£345

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

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, per resident: Bedford £114, Colchester £153Colchester: £153Bedford: £114Colchester: £153Bedford: £114Colchester: £145Bedford: £108

    £114£114£108Colchester is higher£153£153£145

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

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, per resident: Bedford £55, Colchester £61Colchester: £61Bedford: £55Colchester: £61Bedford: £56Colchester: £58Bedford: £53

    £55£56£53Colchester is higher£61£61£58

  11. Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25

    Universal Credit, per resident: Bedford £990, Colchester £874Colchester: £874Bedford: £990Colchester: £878Bedford: £994Colchester: £829Bedford: £939

    £990£994£939Bedford is higher£874£878£829

  12. Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, per resident: Bedford £246, Colchester £190Colchester: £190Bedford: £246Colchester: £191Bedford: £247Colchester: £180Bedford: £233

    £246£247£233Bedford is higher£190£191£180

  13. Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25

    Employment and Support Allowance, per resident: Bedford £130, Colchester £153Colchester: £153Bedford: £130Colchester: £154Bedford: £130Colchester: £145Bedford: £123

    £130£130£123Colchester is higher£153£154£145

  14. Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25

    Jobseeker's Allowance, per resident: Bedford £5.97, Colchester £4.99Colchester: £4.99Bedford: £5.97Colchester: £5.01Bedford: £5.99Colchester: £4.73Bedford: £5.66

    £5.97£5.99£5.66Bedford is higher£4.99£5.01£4.73

  15. Income Supportper resident, 2024-25

    Income Support, per resident: Bedford £2.84, Colchester £3.62Colchester: £3.62Bedford: £2.84Colchester: £3.63Bedford: £2.85Colchester: £3.43Bedford: £2.69

    £2.84£2.85£2.69Colchester is higher£3.62£3.63£3.43

  16. Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Other benefits, per resident: Bedford £5.97, Colchester £3.77Colchester: £3.77Bedford: £5.97Colchester: £3.79Bedford: £5.99Colchester: £3.58Bedford: £5.66

    £5.97£5.99£5.66Bedford is higher£3.77£3.79£3.58

  17. State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    State Pension, per 1,000 residents: Bedford 161.3, Colchester 172.2Colchester: 172.2Bedford: 161.3

    161.3Colchester is higher172.2

  18. Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    Pension Credit, per 1,000 residents: Bedford 15.1, Colchester 15.0Colchester: 15.0Bedford: 15.1

    15.1Bedford is higherDepends on how you count15.0

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

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, per 1,000 residents: Bedford 22.2, Colchester 28.4Colchester: 28.4Bedford: 22.2

    22.2Colchester is higher28.4

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per 1,000 residents: Bedford 55.2, Colchester 57.0Colchester: 57.0Bedford: 55.2

    55.2Colchester is higher57.0

  21. Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 2026

    Universal Credit, per 1,000 residents: Bedford 114.4, Colchester 99.9Colchester: 99.9Bedford: 114.4

    114.4Bedford is higher99.9

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

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, per 1,000 residents: Bedford 13.0, Colchester 13.7Colchester: 13.7Bedford: 13.0

    13.0Colchester is higher13.7

Show the numbers
Bedford and Colchester, per resident
MeasureBedfordColchesterHigher
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25£3,927£3,944£3,725£4,006£4,023£3,800Colchester
Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25£2,029£2,038£1,925£2,198£2,208£2,085Colchester
Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25£1,184£1,189£1,123£1,097£1,102£1,041Bedford
State Pensionper resident, 2024-25£1,848£1,856£1,753£1,988£1,997£1,886Colchester
Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25£72£73£69£67£67£63Bedford
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£104£105£99£139£140£132Colchester
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper resident, 2024-25£3.73£3.75£3.54£3.70£3.72£3.51Bedford
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£350£351£332£364£366£345Colchester
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£114£114£108£153£153£145Colchester
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper resident, 2024-25£55£56£53£61£61£58Colchester
Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25£990£994£939£874£878£829Bedford
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25£246£247£233£190£191£180Bedford
Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25£130£130£123£153£154£145Colchester
Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25£5.97£5.99£5.66£4.99£5.01£4.73Bedford
Income Supportper resident, 2024-25£2.84£2.85£2.69£3.62£3.63£3.43Colchester
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25£5.97£5.99£5.66£3.77£3.79£3.58Bedford
State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026161.3172.2Colchester
Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 202615.115.0Bedford
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 202622.228.4Colchester
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 202655.257.0Colchester
Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 2026114.499.9Bedford
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 202613.013.7Colchester

Total

Bedford is higher on 7 of 22 measures, and Colchester 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

Bedford Colchester

  1. All benefitstotal, 2024-25

    All benefits, total: Bedford £765.4m, Colchester £800.1mColchester: £800.1mBedford: £765.4mColchester: £803.5mBedford: £768.6mColchester: £758.9mBedford: £726.0m

    £765.4m£768.6m£726.0mColchester is higher£800.1m£803.5m£758.9m

  2. Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Pensioner benefits, total: Bedford £395.4m, Colchester £439.1mColchester: £439.1mBedford: £395.4mColchester: £440.9mBedford: £397.1mColchester: £416.5mBedford: £375.1m

    £395.4m£397.1m£375.1mColchester is higher£439.1m£440.9m£416.5m

  3. Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Working-age benefits, total: Bedford £230.7m, Colchester £219.1mColchester: £219.1mBedford: £230.7mColchester: £220.1mBedford: £231.6mColchester: £207.9mBedford: £218.8m

    £230.7m£231.6m£218.8mBedford is higher£219.1m£220.1m£207.9m

  4. State Pensiontotal, 2024-25

    State Pension, total: Bedford £360.2m, Colchester £397.1mColchester: £397.1mBedford: £360.2mColchester: £398.8mBedford: £361.8mColchester: £376.7mBedford: £341.7m

    £360.2m£361.8m£341.7mColchester is higher£397.1m£398.8m£376.7m

  5. Pension Credittotal, 2024-25

    Pension Credit, total: Bedford £14.1m, Colchester £13.3mColchester: £13.3mBedford: £14.1mColchester: £13.4mBedford: £14.2mColchester: £12.6mBedford: £13.4m

    £14.1m£14.2m£13.4mBedford is higher£13.3m£13.4m£12.6m

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

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, total: Bedford £20.3m, Colchester £27.9mColchester: £27.9mBedford: £20.3mColchester: £28.0mBedford: £20.4mColchester: £26.4mBedford: £19.3m

    £20.3m£20.4m£19.3mColchester is higher£27.9m£28.0m£26.4m

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

    Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, total: Bedford £0.73m, Colchester £0.74mColchester: £0.74mBedford: £0.73mColchester: £0.74mBedford: £0.73mColchester: £0.70mBedford: £0.69m

    £0.73m£0.73m£0.69mColchester is higherDepends on how you count£0.74m£0.74m£0.70m

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, total: Bedford £68.1m, Colchester £72.7mColchester: £72.7mBedford: £68.1mColchester: £73.0mBedford: £68.4mColchester: £69.0mBedford: £64.6m

    £68.1m£68.4m£64.6mColchester is higher£72.7m£73.0m£69.0m

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

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, total: Bedford £22.2m, Colchester £30.5mColchester: £30.5mBedford: £22.2mColchester: £30.6mBedford: £22.3mColchester: £28.9mBedford: £21.0m

    £22.2m£22.3m£21.0mColchester is higher£30.5m£30.6m£28.9m

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

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, total: Bedford £10.8m, Colchester £12.2mColchester: £12.2mBedford: £10.8mColchester: £12.3mBedford: £10.8mColchester: £11.6mBedford: £10.2m

    £10.8m£10.8m£10.2mColchester is higher£12.2m£12.3m£11.6m

  11. Universal Credittotal, 2024-25

    Universal Credit, total: Bedford £192.8m, Colchester £174.6mColchester: £174.6mBedford: £192.8mColchester: £175.4mBedford: £193.7mColchester: £165.6mBedford: £182.9m

    £192.8m£193.7m£182.9mBedford is higher£174.6m£175.4m£165.6m

  12. Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, total: Bedford £47.9m, Colchester £37.9mColchester: £37.9mBedford: £47.9mColchester: £38.1mBedford: £48.1mColchester: £36.0mBedford: £45.4m

    £47.9m£48.1m£45.4mBedford is higher£37.9m£38.1m£36.0m

  13. Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25

    Employment and Support Allowance, total: Bedford £25.3m, Colchester £30.6mColchester: £30.6mBedford: £25.3mColchester: £30.7mBedford: £25.4mColchester: £29.0mBedford: £24.0m

    £25.3m£25.4m£24.0mColchester is higher£30.6m£30.7m£29.0m

  14. Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25

    Jobseeker's Allowance, total: Bedford £1.2m, Colchester £1.00mColchester: £1.00mBedford: £1.2mColchester: £1.0mBedford: £1.2mColchester: £0.95mBedford: £1.1m

    £1.2m£1.2m£1.1mBedford is higher£1.00m£1.0m£0.95m

  15. Income Supporttotal, 2024-25

    Income Support, total: Bedford £0.55m, Colchester £0.72mColchester: £0.72mBedford: £0.55mColchester: £0.73mBedford: £0.56mColchester: £0.69mBedford: £0.53m

    £0.55m£0.56m£0.53mColchester is higher£0.72m£0.73m£0.69m

  16. Other benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Other benefits, total: Bedford £1.2m, Colchester £0.75mColchester: £0.75mBedford: £1.2mColchester: £0.76mBedford: £1.2mColchester: £0.72mBedford: £1.1m

    £1.2m£1.2m£1.1mBedford is higher£0.75m£0.76m£0.72m

  17. State Pensiontotal, March 2026

    State Pension, total: Bedford 31,443, Colchester 34,395Colchester: 34,395Bedford: 31,443

    31,443Colchester is higher34,395

  18. Pension Credittotal, March 2026

    Pension Credit, total: Bedford 2,936, Colchester 2,989Colchester: 2,989Bedford: 2,936

    2,936Colchester is higherDepends on how you count2,989

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

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, total: Bedford 4,327, Colchester 5,675Colchester: 5,675Bedford: 4,327

    4,327Colchester is higher5,675

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, total: Bedford 10,748, Colchester 11,389Colchester: 11,389Bedford: 10,748

    10,748Colchester is higher11,389

  21. Universal Credittotal, May 2026

    Universal Credit, total: Bedford 22,297, Colchester 19,955Colchester: 19,955Bedford: 22,297

    22,297Bedford is higher19,955

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

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, total: Bedford 2,527, Colchester 2,735Colchester: 2,735Bedford: 2,527

    2,527Colchester is higher2,735

Show the numbers
Bedford and Colchester, total
MeasureBedfordColchesterHigher
All benefitstotal, 2024-25£765.4m£768.6m£726.0m£800.1m£803.5m£758.9mColchester
Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25£395.4m£397.1m£375.1m£439.1m£440.9m£416.5mColchester
Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25£230.7m£231.6m£218.8m£219.1m£220.1m£207.9mBedford
State Pensiontotal, 2024-25£360.2m£361.8m£341.7m£397.1m£398.8m£376.7mColchester
Pension Credittotal, 2024-25£14.1m£14.2m£13.4m£13.3m£13.4m£12.6mBedford
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£20.3m£20.4m£19.3m£27.9m£28.0m£26.4mColchester
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymenttotal, 2024-25£0.73m£0.73m£0.69m£0.74m£0.74m£0.70mColchester
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£68.1m£68.4m£64.6m£72.7m£73.0m£69.0mColchester
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£22.2m£22.3m£21.0m£30.5m£30.6m£28.9mColchester
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, 2024-25£10.8m£10.8m£10.2m£12.2m£12.3m£11.6mColchester
Universal Credittotal, 2024-25£192.8m£193.7m£182.9m£174.6m£175.4m£165.6mBedford
Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25£47.9m£48.1m£45.4m£37.9m£38.1m£36.0mBedford
Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25£25.3m£25.4m£24.0m£30.6m£30.7m£29.0mColchester
Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25£1.2m£1.2m£1.1m£1.00m£1.0m£0.95mBedford
Income Supporttotal, 2024-25£0.55m£0.56m£0.53m£0.72m£0.73m£0.69mColchester
Other benefitstotal, 2024-25£1.2m£1.2m£1.1m£0.75m£0.76m£0.72mBedford
State Pensiontotal, March 202631,44334,395Colchester
Pension Credittotal, March 20262,9362,989Colchester
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, March 20264,3275,675Colchester
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, July 202610,74811,389Colchester
Universal Credittotal, May 202622,29719,955Bedford
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, March 20262,5272,735Colchester

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.