Who Gets What

Compare local authorities · East of England and East of England

Colchester and Bedford

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

Colchester is higher than Bedford on 13 of 22 measures per person in the age group, 13 of 22 per resident and 15 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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Colchester and Bedford 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

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

Colchester Bedford

  1. All benefitsper resident, 2024-25

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  12. Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  16. Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25

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

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

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

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

    1,005.5Colchester is higher1,001.2

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

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

    87.4Bedford is higherDepends on how you count93.5

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

    165.9Colchester is higher137.8

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

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

    57.0Colchester is higher55.2

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

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

    158.6Bedford is higher181.8

  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: Colchester 21.7, Bedford 20.6Bedford: 20.6Colchester: 21.7

    21.7Colchester is higher20.6

Show the numbers
Colchester and Bedford, per person in the age group
MeasureColchesterBedfordHigher
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25£4,006£4,023£3,800£3,927£3,944£3,725Colchester
Pensioner benefitsper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£12,836£12,891£12,175£12,590£12,644£11,943Colchester
Working-age benefitsper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£1,742£1,750£1,653£1,880£1,888£1,783Bedford
State Pensionper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£11,610£11,659£11,013£11,470£11,519£10,880Colchester
Pension Creditper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£390£391£370£450£452£426Bedford
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£815£818£773£648£651£614Colchester
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£22£22£20£23£23£22Bedford
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£364£366£345£350£351£332Colchester
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£153£153£145£114£114£108Colchester
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£97£98£92£88£88£83Colchester
Universal Creditper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£1,388£1,394£1,317£1,572£1,579£1,491Bedford
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25£190£191£180£246£247£233Bedford
Employment and Support Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£243£244£231£206£207£196Colchester
Jobseeker's Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£7.93£7.96£7.52£9.49£9.53£9.00Bedford
Income Supportper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£5.75£5.77£5.45£4.51£4.53£4.28Colchester
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25£3.77£3.79£3.58£5.97£5.99£5.66Bedford
State Pensionper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 20261,005.51,001.2Colchester
Pension Creditper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 202687.493.5Bedford
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026165.9137.8Colchester
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 202657.055.2Colchester
Universal Creditper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, May 2026158.6181.8Bedford
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, March 202621.720.6Colchester

Per resident

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

Colchester Bedford

  1. All benefitsper resident, 2024-25

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

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

  2. Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25

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

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

  3. Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25

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

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

  4. State Pensionper resident, 2024-25

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

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

  5. Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  11. Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25

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

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

  12. Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25

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

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

  13. Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25

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

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

  14. Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25

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

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

  15. Income Supportper resident, 2024-25

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

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

  16. Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25

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

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

  17. State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026

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

    172.2Colchester is higher161.3

  18. Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 2026

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

    15.0Bedford is higherDepends on how you count15.1

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

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

    28.4Colchester is higher22.2

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

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

    57.0Colchester is higher55.2

  21. Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 2026

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

    99.9Bedford is higher114.4

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

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

    13.7Colchester is higher13.0

Show the numbers
Colchester and Bedford, per resident
MeasureColchesterBedfordHigher
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25£4,006£4,023£3,800£3,927£3,944£3,725Colchester
Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25£2,198£2,208£2,085£2,029£2,038£1,925Colchester
Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25£1,097£1,102£1,041£1,184£1,189£1,123Bedford
State Pensionper resident, 2024-25£1,988£1,997£1,886£1,848£1,856£1,753Colchester
Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25£67£67£63£72£73£69Bedford
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£139£140£132£104£105£99Colchester
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper resident, 2024-25£3.70£3.72£3.51£3.73£3.75£3.54Bedford
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£364£366£345£350£351£332Colchester
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£153£153£145£114£114£108Colchester
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper resident, 2024-25£61£61£58£55£56£53Colchester
Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25£874£878£829£990£994£939Bedford
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25£190£191£180£246£247£233Bedford
Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25£153£154£145£130£130£123Colchester
Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25£4.99£5.01£4.73£5.97£5.99£5.66Bedford
Income Supportper resident, 2024-25£3.62£3.63£3.43£2.84£2.85£2.69Colchester
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25£3.77£3.79£3.58£5.97£5.99£5.66Bedford
State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026172.2161.3Colchester
Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 202615.015.1Bedford
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 202628.422.2Colchester
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 202657.055.2Colchester
Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 202699.9114.4Bedford
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 202613.713.0Colchester

Total

Colchester is higher on 15 of 22 measures, and Bedford 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

Colchester Bedford

  1. All benefitstotal, 2024-25

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

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

  2. Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25

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

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

  3. Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25

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

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

  4. State Pensiontotal, 2024-25

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

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

  5. Pension Credittotal, 2024-25

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  11. Universal Credittotal, 2024-25

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

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

  12. Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25

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

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

  13. Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25

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

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

  14. Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25

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

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

  15. Income Supporttotal, 2024-25

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

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

  16. Other benefitstotal, 2024-25

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

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

  17. State Pensiontotal, March 2026

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

    34,395Colchester is higher31,443

  18. Pension Credittotal, March 2026

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

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

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

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

    5,675Colchester is higher4,327

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

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

    11,389Colchester is higher10,748

  21. Universal Credittotal, May 2026

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

    19,955Bedford is higher22,297

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

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

    2,735Colchester is higher2,527

Show the numbers
Colchester and Bedford, total
MeasureColchesterBedfordHigher
All benefitstotal, 2024-25£800.1m£803.5m£758.9m£765.4m£768.6m£726.0mColchester
Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25£439.1m£440.9m£416.5m£395.4m£397.1m£375.1mColchester
Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25£219.1m£220.1m£207.9m£230.7m£231.6m£218.8mBedford
State Pensiontotal, 2024-25£397.1m£398.8m£376.7m£360.2m£361.8m£341.7mColchester
Pension Credittotal, 2024-25£13.3m£13.4m£12.6m£14.1m£14.2m£13.4mBedford
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£27.9m£28.0m£26.4m£20.3m£20.4m£19.3mColchester
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymenttotal, 2024-25£0.74m£0.74m£0.70m£0.73m£0.73m£0.69mColchester
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£72.7m£73.0m£69.0m£68.1m£68.4m£64.6mColchester
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£30.5m£30.6m£28.9m£22.2m£22.3m£21.0mColchester
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, 2024-25£12.2m£12.3m£11.6m£10.8m£10.8m£10.2mColchester
Universal Credittotal, 2024-25£174.6m£175.4m£165.6m£192.8m£193.7m£182.9mBedford
Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25£37.9m£38.1m£36.0m£47.9m£48.1m£45.4mBedford
Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25£30.6m£30.7m£29.0m£25.3m£25.4m£24.0mColchester
Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25£1.00m£1.0m£0.95m£1.2m£1.2m£1.1mBedford
Income Supporttotal, 2024-25£0.72m£0.73m£0.69m£0.55m£0.56m£0.53mColchester
Other benefitstotal, 2024-25£0.75m£0.76m£0.72m£1.2m£1.2m£1.1mBedford
State Pensiontotal, March 202634,39531,443Colchester
Pension Credittotal, March 20262,9892,936Colchester
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, March 20265,6754,327Colchester
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, July 202611,38910,748Colchester
Universal Credittotal, May 202619,95522,297Bedford
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, March 20262,7352,527Colchester

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.