Who Gets What

Compare local authorities · East of England and South East

Watford and Reading

106,799 and 182,809 residents (mid-2024).

Watford is higher than Reading on 16 of 22 measures per person in the age group, 15 of 22 per resident and 0 of 22 in total.

On 16 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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Watford and Reading 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

Watford is higher on 16 of 22 measures, and Reading on 6. 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

Watford Reading

  1. All benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    All benefits, per resident: Watford £3,458, Reading £3,289Reading: £3,289Watford: £3,458Reading: £3,303Watford: £3,473Reading: £3,120Watford: £3,280

    £3,458£3,473£3,280Watford is higherDepends on how you count£3,289£3,303£3,120

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

    Pensioner benefits, per person aged 66 and over: Watford £12,493, Reading £12,426Reading: £12,426Watford: £12,493Reading: £12,479Watford: £12,546Reading: £11,786Watford: £11,850

    £12,493£12,546£11,850Watford is higherDepends on how you count£12,426£12,479£11,786

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

    Working-age benefits, per person aged 16 to 64: Watford £1,948, Reading £1,764Reading: £1,764Watford: £1,948Reading: £1,772Watford: £1,956Reading: £1,673Watford: £1,847

    £1,948£1,956£1,847Watford is higherDepends on how you count£1,764£1,772£1,673

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

    State Pension, per person aged 66 and over: Watford £11,153, Reading £10,862Reading: £10,862Watford: £11,153Reading: £10,909Watford: £11,201Reading: £10,303Watford: £10,579

    £11,153£11,201£10,579Watford is higherDepends on how you count£10,862£10,909£10,303

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

    Pension Credit, per person aged 66 and over: Watford £593, Reading £921Reading: £921Watford: £593Reading: £925Watford: £595Reading: £874Watford: £562

    £593£595£562Reading is higher£921£925£874

  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: Watford £720, Reading £606Reading: £606Watford: £720Reading: £608Watford: £723Reading: £575Watford: £683

    £720£723£683Watford is higherDepends on how you count£606£608£575

  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: Watford £27, Reading £36Reading: £36Watford: £27Reading: £36Watford: £27Reading: £34Watford: £26

    £27£27£26Reading is higher£36£36£34

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per resident: Watford £299, Reading £279Reading: £279Watford: £299Reading: £280Watford: £301Reading: £265Watford: £284

    £299£301£284Watford is higherDepends on how you count£279£280£265

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

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, per resident: Watford £84, Reading £113Reading: £113Watford: £84Reading: £113Watford: £85Reading: £107Watford: £80

    £84£85£80Reading is higher£113£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: Watford £73, Reading £75Reading: £75Watford: £73Reading: £75Watford: £73Reading: £71Watford: £69

    £73£73£69Reading is higher£75£75£71

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

    Universal Credit, per person aged 16 to 64: Watford £1,682, Reading £1,505Reading: £1,505Watford: £1,682Reading: £1,512Watford: £1,689Reading: £1,428Watford: £1,595

    £1,682£1,689£1,595Watford is higherDepends on how you count£1,505£1,512£1,428

  12. Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, per resident: Watford £260, Reading £250Reading: £250Watford: £260Reading: £251Watford: £261Reading: £237Watford: £247

    £260£261£247Watford is higherDepends on how you count£250£251£237

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

    Employment and Support Allowance, per person aged 16 to 64: Watford £179, Reading £171Reading: £171Watford: £179Reading: £172Watford: £180Reading: £162Watford: £170

    £179£180£170Watford is higherDepends on how you count£171£172£162

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

    Jobseeker's Allowance, per person aged 16 to 64: Watford £11, Reading £8.93Reading: £8.93Watford: £11Reading: £8.97Watford: £11Reading: £8.47Watford: £10

    £11£11£10Watford is higherDepends on how you count£8.93£8.97£8.47

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

    Income Support, per person aged 16 to 64: Watford £3.08, Reading £4.39Reading: £4.39Watford: £3.08Reading: £4.40Watford: £3.09Reading: £4.16Watford: £2.92

    £3.08£3.09£2.92Reading is higher£4.39£4.40£4.16

  16. Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Other benefits, per resident: Watford £6.69, Reading £4.84Reading: £4.84Watford: £6.69Reading: £4.86Watford: £6.72Reading: £4.59Watford: £6.35

    £6.69£6.72£6.35Watford is higherDepends on how you count£4.84£4.86£4.59

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

    State Pension, per 1,000 people aged 66 and over: Watford 989.1, Reading 963.7Reading: 963.7Watford: 989.1

    989.1Watford is higherDepends on how you count963.7

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

    Pension Credit, per 1,000 people aged 66 and over: Watford 113.3, Reading 144.5Reading: 144.5Watford: 113.3

    113.3Reading is higher144.5

  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: Watford 150.7, Reading 128.6Reading: 128.6Watford: 150.7

    150.7Watford is higherDepends on how you count128.6

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per 1,000 residents: Watford 47.1, Reading 43.5Reading: 43.5Watford: 47.1

    47.1Watford is higherDepends on how you count43.5

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

    Universal Credit, per 1,000 people aged 16 to 64: Watford 174.9, Reading 162.6Reading: 162.6Watford: 174.9

    174.9Watford is higherDepends on how you count162.6

  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: Watford 17.3, Reading 16.7Reading: 16.7Watford: 17.3

    17.3Watford is higherDepends on how you count16.7

Show the numbers
Watford and Reading, per person in the age group
MeasureWatfordReadingHigher
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25£3,458£3,473£3,280£3,289£3,303£3,120Watford
Pensioner benefitsper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£12,493£12,546£11,850£12,426£12,479£11,786Watford
Working-age benefitsper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£1,948£1,956£1,847£1,764£1,772£1,673Watford
State Pensionper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£11,153£11,201£10,579£10,862£10,909£10,303Watford
Pension Creditper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£593£595£562£921£925£874Reading
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£720£723£683£606£608£575Watford
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£27£27£26£36£36£34Reading
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£299£301£284£279£280£265Watford
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£84£85£80£113£113£107Reading
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£73£73£69£75£75£71Reading
Universal Creditper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£1,682£1,689£1,595£1,505£1,512£1,428Watford
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25£260£261£247£250£251£237Watford
Employment and Support Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£179£180£170£171£172£162Watford
Jobseeker's Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£11£11£10£8.93£8.97£8.47Watford
Income Supportper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£3.08£3.09£2.92£4.39£4.40£4.16Reading
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25£6.69£6.72£6.35£4.84£4.86£4.59Watford
State Pensionper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026989.1963.7Watford
Pension Creditper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026113.3144.5Reading
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026150.7128.6Watford
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 202647.143.5Watford
Universal Creditper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, May 2026174.9162.6Watford
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, March 202617.316.7Watford

Per resident

Watford is higher on 15 of 22 measures, and Reading 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

Watford Reading

  1. All benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    All benefits, per resident: Watford £3,458, Reading £3,289Reading: £3,289Watford: £3,458Reading: £3,303Watford: £3,473Reading: £3,120Watford: £3,280

    £3,458£3,473£3,280Watford is higherDepends on how you count£3,289£3,303£3,120

  2. Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Pensioner benefits, per resident: Watford £1,518, Reading £1,418Reading: £1,418Watford: £1,518Reading: £1,424Watford: £1,525Reading: £1,345Watford: £1,440

    £1,518£1,525£1,440Watford is higherDepends on how you count£1,418£1,424£1,345

  3. Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Working-age benefits, per resident: Watford £1,290, Reading £1,225Reading: £1,225Watford: £1,290Reading: £1,230Watford: £1,295Reading: £1,162Watford: £1,223

    £1,290£1,295£1,223Watford is higherDepends on how you count£1,225£1,230£1,162

  4. State Pensionper resident, 2024-25

    State Pension, per resident: Watford £1,356, Reading £1,239Reading: £1,239Watford: £1,356Reading: £1,245Watford: £1,361Reading: £1,176Watford: £1,286

    £1,356£1,361£1,286Watford is higherDepends on how you count£1,239£1,245£1,176

  5. Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25

    Pension Credit, per resident: Watford £72, Reading £105Reading: £105Watford: £72Reading: £106Watford: £72Reading: £100Watford: £68

    £72£72£68Reading is higher£105£106£100

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

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, per resident: Watford £88, Reading £69Reading: £69Watford: £88Reading: £69Watford: £88Reading: £66Watford: £83

    £88£88£83Watford is higherDepends on how you count£69£69£66

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

    Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, per resident: Watford £3.31, Reading £4.14Reading: £4.14Watford: £3.31Reading: £4.16Watford: £3.32Reading: £3.93Watford: £3.14

    £3.31£3.32£3.14Reading is higher£4.14£4.16£3.93

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per resident: Watford £299, Reading £279Reading: £279Watford: £299Reading: £280Watford: £301Reading: £265Watford: £284

    £299£301£284Watford is higherDepends on how you count£279£280£265

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

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, per resident: Watford £84, Reading £113Reading: £113Watford: £84Reading: £113Watford: £85Reading: £107Watford: £80

    £84£85£80Reading is higher£113£113£107

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

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, per resident: Watford £48, Reading £52Reading: £52Watford: £48Reading: £52Watford: £49Reading: £49Watford: £46

    £48£49£46Reading is higher£52£52£49

  11. Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25

    Universal Credit, per resident: Watford £1,114, Reading £1,045Reading: £1,045Watford: £1,114Reading: £1,049Watford: £1,118Reading: £991Watford: £1,056

    £1,114£1,118£1,056Watford is higherDepends on how you count£1,045£1,049£991

  12. Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, per resident: Watford £260, Reading £250Reading: £250Watford: £260Reading: £251Watford: £261Reading: £237Watford: £247

    £260£261£247Watford is higherDepends on how you count£250£251£237

  13. Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25

    Employment and Support Allowance, per resident: Watford £119, Reading £119Reading: £119Watford: £119Reading: £119Watford: £119Reading: £113Watford: £113

    £119£119£113Watford is higherDepends on how you count£119£119£113

  14. Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25

    Jobseeker's Allowance, per resident: Watford £7.03, Reading £6.20Reading: £6.20Watford: £7.03Reading: £6.23Watford: £7.06Reading: £5.88Watford: £6.67

    £7.03£7.06£6.67Watford is higherDepends on how you count£6.20£6.23£5.88

  15. Income Supportper resident, 2024-25

    Income Support, per resident: Watford £2.03, Reading £3.05Reading: £3.05Watford: £2.03Reading: £3.06Watford: £2.04Reading: £2.89Watford: £1.93

    £2.03£2.04£1.93Reading is higher£3.05£3.06£2.89

  16. Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Other benefits, per resident: Watford £6.69, Reading £4.84Reading: £4.84Watford: £6.69Reading: £4.86Watford: £6.72Reading: £4.59Watford: £6.35

    £6.69£6.72£6.35Watford is higherDepends on how you count£4.84£4.86£4.59

  17. State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    State Pension, per 1,000 residents: Watford 120.2, Reading 110.0Reading: 110.0Watford: 120.2

    120.2Watford is higherDepends on how you count110.0

  18. Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    Pension Credit, per 1,000 residents: Watford 13.8, Reading 16.5Reading: 16.5Watford: 13.8

    13.8Reading is higher16.5

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

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, per 1,000 residents: Watford 18.3, Reading 14.7Reading: 14.7Watford: 18.3

    18.3Watford is higherDepends on how you count14.7

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per 1,000 residents: Watford 47.1, Reading 43.5Reading: 43.5Watford: 47.1

    47.1Watford is higherDepends on how you count43.5

  21. Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 2026

    Universal Credit, per 1,000 residents: Watford 115.8, Reading 112.9Reading: 112.9Watford: 115.8

    115.8Watford is higherDepends on how you count112.9

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

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, per 1,000 residents: Watford 11.4, Reading 11.6Reading: 11.6Watford: 11.4

    11.4Reading is higherDepends on how you count11.6

Show the numbers
Watford and Reading, per resident
MeasureWatfordReadingHigher
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25£3,458£3,473£3,280£3,289£3,303£3,120Watford
Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25£1,518£1,525£1,440£1,418£1,424£1,345Watford
Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25£1,290£1,295£1,223£1,225£1,230£1,162Watford
State Pensionper resident, 2024-25£1,356£1,361£1,286£1,239£1,245£1,176Watford
Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25£72£72£68£105£106£100Reading
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£88£88£83£69£69£66Watford
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper resident, 2024-25£3.31£3.32£3.14£4.14£4.16£3.93Reading
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£299£301£284£279£280£265Watford
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£84£85£80£113£113£107Reading
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper resident, 2024-25£48£49£46£52£52£49Reading
Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25£1,114£1,118£1,056£1,045£1,049£991Watford
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25£260£261£247£250£251£237Watford
Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25£119£119£113£119£119£113Watford
Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25£7.03£7.06£6.67£6.20£6.23£5.88Watford
Income Supportper resident, 2024-25£2.03£2.04£1.93£3.05£3.06£2.89Reading
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25£6.69£6.72£6.35£4.84£4.86£4.59Watford
State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026120.2110.0Watford
Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 202613.816.5Reading
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 202618.314.7Watford
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 202647.143.5Watford
Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 2026115.8112.9Watford
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 202611.411.6Reading

Total

Watford is higher on 0 of 22 measures, and Reading 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

Watford Reading

  1. All benefitstotal, 2024-25

    All benefits, total: Watford £369.4m, Reading £601.3mReading: £601.3mWatford: £369.4mReading: £603.8mWatford: £370.9mReading: £570.3mWatford: £350.3m

    £369.4m£370.9m£350.3mReading is higherDepends on how you count£601.3m£603.8m£570.3m

  2. Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Pensioner benefits, total: Watford £162.2m, Reading £259.2mReading: £259.2mWatford: £162.2mReading: £260.3mWatford: £162.9mReading: £245.9mWatford: £153.8m

    £162.2m£162.9m£153.8mReading is higherDepends on how you count£259.2m£260.3m£245.9m

  3. Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Working-age benefits, total: Watford £137.7m, Reading £223.9mReading: £223.9mWatford: £137.7mReading: £224.8mWatford: £138.3mReading: £212.3mWatford: £130.7m

    £137.7m£138.3m£130.7mReading is higherDepends on how you count£223.9m£224.8m£212.3m

  4. State Pensiontotal, 2024-25

    State Pension, total: Watford £144.8m, Reading £226.6mReading: £226.6mWatford: £144.8mReading: £227.6mWatford: £145.4mReading: £214.9mWatford: £137.3m

    £144.8m£145.4m£137.3mReading is higherDepends on how you count£226.6m£227.6m£214.9m

  5. Pension Credittotal, 2024-25

    Pension Credit, total: Watford £7.7m, Reading £19.2mReading: £19.2mWatford: £7.7mReading: £19.3mWatford: £7.7mReading: £18.2mWatford: £7.3m

    £7.7m£7.7m£7.3mReading is higher£19.2m£19.3m£18.2m

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

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, total: Watford £9.3m, Reading £12.6mReading: £12.6mWatford: £9.3mReading: £12.7mWatford: £9.4mReading: £12.0mWatford: £8.9m

    £9.3m£9.4m£8.9mReading is higherDepends on how you count£12.6m£12.7m£12.0m

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

    Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, total: Watford £0.35m, Reading £0.76mReading: £0.76mWatford: £0.35mReading: £0.76mWatford: £0.35mReading: £0.72mWatford: £0.34m

    £0.35m£0.35m£0.34mReading is higher£0.76m£0.76m£0.72m

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, total: Watford £32.0m, Reading £51.0mReading: £51.0mWatford: £32.0mReading: £51.3mWatford: £32.1mReading: £48.4mWatford: £30.3m

    £32.0m£32.1m£30.3mReading is higherDepends on how you count£51.0m£51.3m£48.4m

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

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, total: Watford £9.0m, Reading £20.7mReading: £20.7mWatford: £9.0mReading: £20.7mWatford: £9.0mReading: £19.6mWatford: £8.5m

    £9.0m£9.0m£8.5mReading is higher£20.7m£20.7m£19.6m

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

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, total: Watford £5.2m, Reading £9.5mReading: £9.5mWatford: £5.2mReading: £9.5mWatford: £5.2mReading: £9.0mWatford: £4.9m

    £5.2m£5.2m£4.9mReading is higher£9.5m£9.5m£9.0m

  11. Universal Credittotal, 2024-25

    Universal Credit, total: Watford £118.9m, Reading £191.0mReading: £191.0mWatford: £118.9mReading: £191.8mWatford: £119.4mReading: £181.2mWatford: £112.8m

    £118.9m£119.4m£112.8mReading is higherDepends on how you count£191.0m£191.8m£181.2m

  12. Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, total: Watford £27.8m, Reading £45.6mReading: £45.6mWatford: £27.8mReading: £45.8mWatford: £27.9mReading: £43.3mWatford: £26.3m

    £27.8m£27.9m£26.3mReading is higherDepends on how you count£45.6m£45.8m£43.3m

  13. Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25

    Employment and Support Allowance, total: Watford £12.7m, Reading £21.7mReading: £21.7mWatford: £12.7mReading: £21.8mWatford: £12.7mReading: £20.6mWatford: £12.0m

    £12.7m£12.7m£12.0mReading is higherDepends on how you count£21.7m£21.8m£20.6m

  14. Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25

    Jobseeker's Allowance, total: Watford £0.75m, Reading £1.1mReading: £1.1mWatford: £0.75mReading: £1.1mWatford: £0.75mReading: £1.1mWatford: £0.71m

    £0.75m£0.75m£0.71mReading is higherDepends on how you count£1.1m

  15. Income Supporttotal, 2024-25

    Income Support, total: Watford £0.22m, Reading £0.56mReading: £0.56mWatford: £0.22mReading: £0.56mWatford: £0.22mReading: £0.53mWatford: £0.21m

    £0.22m£0.22m£0.21mReading is higher£0.56m£0.56m£0.53m

  16. Other benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Other benefits, total: Watford £0.72m, Reading £0.88mReading: £0.88mWatford: £0.72mReading: £0.89mWatford: £0.72mReading: £0.84mWatford: £0.68m

    £0.72m£0.72m£0.68mReading is higherDepends on how you count£0.88m£0.89m£0.84m

  17. State Pensiontotal, March 2026

    State Pension, total: Watford 12,839, Reading 20,103Reading: 20,103Watford: 12,839

    12,839Reading is higherDepends on how you count20,103

  18. Pension Credittotal, March 2026

    Pension Credit, total: Watford 1,470, Reading 3,015Reading: 3,015Watford: 1,470

    1,470Reading is higher3,015

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

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, total: Watford 1,956, Reading 2,682Reading: 2,682Watford: 1,956

    1,956Reading is higherDepends on how you count2,682

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, total: Watford 5,029, Reading 7,952Reading: 7,952Watford: 5,029

    5,029Reading is higherDepends on how you count7,952

  21. Universal Credittotal, May 2026

    Universal Credit, total: Watford 12,368, Reading 20,634Reading: 20,634Watford: 12,368

    12,368Reading is higherDepends on how you count20,634

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

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, total: Watford 1,220, Reading 2,122Reading: 2,122Watford: 1,220

    1,220Reading is higherDepends on how you count2,122

Show the numbers
Watford and Reading, total
MeasureWatfordReadingHigher
All benefitstotal, 2024-25£369.4m£370.9m£350.3m£601.3m£603.8m£570.3mReading
Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25£162.2m£162.9m£153.8m£259.2m£260.3m£245.9mReading
Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25£137.7m£138.3m£130.7m£223.9m£224.8m£212.3mReading
State Pensiontotal, 2024-25£144.8m£145.4m£137.3m£226.6m£227.6m£214.9mReading
Pension Credittotal, 2024-25£7.7m£7.7m£7.3m£19.2m£19.3m£18.2mReading
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£9.3m£9.4m£8.9m£12.6m£12.7m£12.0mReading
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymenttotal, 2024-25£0.35m£0.35m£0.34m£0.76m£0.76m£0.72mReading
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£32.0m£32.1m£30.3m£51.0m£51.3m£48.4mReading
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£9.0m£9.0m£8.5m£20.7m£20.7m£19.6mReading
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, 2024-25£5.2m£5.2m£4.9m£9.5m£9.5m£9.0mReading
Universal Credittotal, 2024-25£118.9m£119.4m£112.8m£191.0m£191.8m£181.2mReading
Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25£27.8m£27.9m£26.3m£45.6m£45.8m£43.3mReading
Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25£12.7m£12.7m£12.0m£21.7m£21.8m£20.6mReading
Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25£0.75m£0.75m£0.71m£1.1mReading
Income Supporttotal, 2024-25£0.22m£0.22m£0.21m£0.56m£0.56m£0.53mReading
Other benefitstotal, 2024-25£0.72m£0.72m£0.68m£0.88m£0.89m£0.84mReading
State Pensiontotal, March 202612,83920,103Reading
Pension Credittotal, March 20261,4703,015Reading
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, March 20261,9562,682Reading
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, July 20265,0297,952Reading
Universal Credittotal, May 202612,36820,634Reading
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, March 20261,2202,122Reading

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.