Who Gets What

Compare local authorities · East of England and London

Watford and Merton

106,799 and 220,020 residents (mid-2024).

Watford is higher than Merton on 15 of 22 measures per person in the age group, 14 of 22 per resident and 0 of 22 in total.

On 15 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.

Swap the two areas
Watford and Merton 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 15 of 22 measures, and Merton 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 Merton

  1. All benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    All benefits, per resident: Watford £3,458, Merton £3,406Merton: £3,406Watford: £3,458Merton: £3,420Watford: £3,473Merton: £3,231Watford: £3,280

    £3,458£3,473£3,280Watford is higherDepends on how you count£3,406£3,420£3,231

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

    Pensioner benefits, per person aged 66 and over: Watford £12,493, Merton £12,347Merton: £12,347Watford: £12,493Merton: £12,399Watford: £12,546Merton: £11,711Watford: £11,850

    £12,493£12,546£11,850Watford is higherDepends on how you count£12,347£12,399£11,711

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

    Working-age benefits, per person aged 16 to 64: Watford £1,948, Merton £1,819Merton: £1,819Watford: £1,948Merton: £1,827Watford: £1,956Merton: £1,725Watford: £1,847

    £1,948£1,956£1,847Watford is higherDepends on how you count£1,819£1,827£1,725

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

    State Pension, per person aged 66 and over: Watford £11,153, Merton £10,821Merton: £10,821Watford: £11,153Merton: £10,867Watford: £11,201Merton: £10,264Watford: £10,579

    £11,153£11,201£10,579Watford is higherDepends on how you count£10,821£10,867£10,264

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

    Pension Credit, per person aged 66 and over: Watford £593, Merton £880Merton: £880Watford: £593Merton: £884Watford: £595Merton: £835Watford: £562

    £593£595£562Merton is higher£880£884£835

  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, Merton £612Merton: £612Watford: £720Merton: £614Watford: £723Merton: £580Watford: £683

    £720£723£683Watford is higherDepends on how you count£612£614£580

  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, Merton £34Merton: £34Watford: £27Merton: £34Watford: £27Merton: £32Watford: £26

    £27£27£26Merton is higher£34£34£32

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per resident: Watford £299, Merton £260Merton: £260Watford: £299Merton: £261Watford: £301Merton: £247Watford: £284

    £299£301£284Watford is higherDepends on how you count£260£261£247

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

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, per resident: Watford £84, Merton £92Merton: £92Watford: £84Merton: £92Watford: £85Merton: £87Watford: £80

    £84£85£80Merton is higher£92£92£87

  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, Merton £65Merton: £65Watford: £73Merton: £66Watford: £73Merton: £62Watford: £69

    £73£73£69Watford is higherDepends on how you count£65£66£62

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

    Universal Credit, per person aged 16 to 64: Watford £1,682, Merton £1,586Merton: £1,586Watford: £1,682Merton: £1,593Watford: £1,689Merton: £1,504Watford: £1,595

    £1,682£1,689£1,595Watford is higherDepends on how you count£1,586£1,593£1,504

  12. Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, per resident: Watford £260, Merton £283Merton: £283Watford: £260Merton: £284Watford: £261Merton: £268Watford: £247

    £260£261£247Merton is higher£283£284£268

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

    Employment and Support Allowance, per person aged 16 to 64: Watford £179, Merton £155Merton: £155Watford: £179Merton: £156Watford: £180Merton: £147Watford: £170

    £179£180£170Watford is higherDepends on how you count£155£156£147

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

    Jobseeker's Allowance, per person aged 16 to 64: Watford £11, Merton £8.86Merton: £8.86Watford: £11Merton: £8.89Watford: £11Merton: £8.40Watford: £10

    £11£11£10Watford is higherDepends on how you count£8.86£8.89£8.40

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

    Income Support, per person aged 16 to 64: Watford £3.08, Merton £4.08Merton: £4.08Watford: £3.08Merton: £4.10Watford: £3.09Merton: £3.87Watford: £2.92

    £3.08£3.09£2.92Merton is higher£4.08£4.10£3.87

  16. Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Other benefits, per resident: Watford £6.69, Merton £5.78Merton: £5.78Watford: £6.69Merton: £5.80Watford: £6.72Merton: £5.48Watford: £6.35

    £6.69£6.72£6.35Watford is higherDepends on how you count£5.78£5.80£5.48

  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, Merton 989.4Merton: 989.4Watford: 989.1

    989.1Merton is higher989.4

  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, Merton 133.5Merton: 133.5Watford: 113.3

    113.3Merton is higher133.5

  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, Merton 127.2Merton: 127.2Watford: 150.7

    150.7Watford is higherDepends on how you count127.2

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per 1,000 residents: Watford 47.1, Merton 40.5Merton: 40.5Watford: 47.1

    47.1Watford is higherDepends on how you count40.5

  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, Merton 156.7Merton: 156.7Watford: 174.9

    174.9Watford is higherDepends on how you count156.7

  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, Merton 14.7Merton: 14.7Watford: 17.3

    17.3Watford is higherDepends on how you count14.7

Show the numbers
Watford and Merton, per person in the age group
MeasureWatfordMertonHigher
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25£3,458£3,473£3,280£3,406£3,420£3,231Watford
Pensioner benefitsper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£12,493£12,546£11,850£12,347£12,399£11,711Watford
Working-age benefitsper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£1,948£1,956£1,847£1,819£1,827£1,725Watford
State Pensionper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£11,153£11,201£10,579£10,821£10,867£10,264Watford
Pension Creditper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£593£595£562£880£884£835Merton
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£720£723£683£612£614£580Watford
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£27£27£26£34£34£32Merton
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£299£301£284£260£261£247Watford
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£84£85£80£92£92£87Merton
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£73£73£69£65£66£62Watford
Universal Creditper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£1,682£1,689£1,595£1,586£1,593£1,504Watford
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25£260£261£247£283£284£268Merton
Employment and Support Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£179£180£170£155£156£147Watford
Jobseeker's Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£11£11£10£8.86£8.89£8.40Watford
Income Supportper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£3.08£3.09£2.92£4.08£4.10£3.87Merton
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25£6.69£6.72£6.35£5.78£5.80£5.48Watford
State Pensionper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026989.1989.4Merton
Pension Creditper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026113.3133.5Merton
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026150.7127.2Watford
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 202647.140.5Watford
Universal Creditper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, May 2026174.9156.7Watford
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, March 202617.314.7Watford

Per resident

Watford is higher on 14 of 22 measures, and Merton on 8. 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 Merton

  1. All benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    All benefits, per resident: Watford £3,458, Merton £3,406Merton: £3,406Watford: £3,458Merton: £3,420Watford: £3,473Merton: £3,231Watford: £3,280

    £3,458£3,473£3,280Watford is higherDepends on how you count£3,406£3,420£3,231

  2. Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Pensioner benefits, per resident: Watford £1,518, Merton £1,525Merton: £1,525Watford: £1,518Merton: £1,532Watford: £1,525Merton: £1,447Watford: £1,440

    £1,518£1,525£1,440Merton is higherDepends on how you count£1,525£1,532£1,447

  3. Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Working-age benefits, per resident: Watford £1,290, Merton £1,240Merton: £1,240Watford: £1,290Merton: £1,245Watford: £1,295Merton: £1,176Watford: £1,223

    £1,290£1,295£1,223Watford is higherDepends on how you count£1,240£1,245£1,176

  4. State Pensionper resident, 2024-25

    State Pension, per resident: Watford £1,356, Merton £1,337Merton: £1,337Watford: £1,356Merton: £1,342Watford: £1,361Merton: £1,268Watford: £1,286

    £1,356£1,361£1,286Watford is higherDepends on how you count£1,337£1,342£1,268

  5. Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25

    Pension Credit, per resident: Watford £72, Merton £109Merton: £109Watford: £72Merton: £109Watford: £72Merton: £103Watford: £68

    £72£72£68Merton is higher£109£109£103

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

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, per resident: Watford £88, Merton £76Merton: £76Watford: £88Merton: £76Watford: £88Merton: £72Watford: £83

    £88£88£83Watford is higherDepends on how you count£76£76£72

  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, Merton £4.20Merton: £4.20Watford: £3.31Merton: £4.21Watford: £3.32Merton: £3.98Watford: £3.14

    £3.31£3.32£3.14Merton is higher£4.20£4.21£3.98

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per resident: Watford £299, Merton £260Merton: £260Watford: £299Merton: £261Watford: £301Merton: £247Watford: £284

    £299£301£284Watford is higherDepends on how you count£260£261£247

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

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, per resident: Watford £84, Merton £92Merton: £92Watford: £84Merton: £92Watford: £85Merton: £87Watford: £80

    £84£85£80Merton is higher£92£92£87

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

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, per resident: Watford £48, Merton £44Merton: £44Watford: £48Merton: £45Watford: £49Merton: £42Watford: £46

    £48£49£46Watford is higherDepends on how you count£44£45£42

  11. Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25

    Universal Credit, per resident: Watford £1,114, Merton £1,081Merton: £1,081Watford: £1,114Merton: £1,086Watford: £1,118Merton: £1,025Watford: £1,056

    £1,114£1,118£1,056Watford is higherDepends on how you count£1,081£1,086£1,025

  12. Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, per resident: Watford £260, Merton £283Merton: £283Watford: £260Merton: £284Watford: £261Merton: £268Watford: £247

    £260£261£247Merton is higher£283£284£268

  13. Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25

    Employment and Support Allowance, per resident: Watford £119, Merton £106Merton: £106Watford: £119Merton: £106Watford: £119Merton: £100Watford: £113

    £119£119£113Watford is higherDepends on how you count£106£106£100

  14. Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25

    Jobseeker's Allowance, per resident: Watford £7.03, Merton £6.03Merton: £6.03Watford: £7.03Merton: £6.06Watford: £7.06Merton: £5.72Watford: £6.67

    £7.03£7.06£6.67Watford is higherDepends on how you count£6.03£6.06£5.72

  15. Income Supportper resident, 2024-25

    Income Support, per resident: Watford £2.03, Merton £2.78Merton: £2.78Watford: £2.03Merton: £2.80Watford: £2.04Merton: £2.64Watford: £1.93

    £2.03£2.04£1.93Merton is higher£2.78£2.80£2.64

  16. Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Other benefits, per resident: Watford £6.69, Merton £5.78Merton: £5.78Watford: £6.69Merton: £5.80Watford: £6.72Merton: £5.48Watford: £6.35

    £6.69£6.72£6.35Watford is higherDepends on how you count£5.78£5.80£5.48

  17. State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    State Pension, per 1,000 residents: Watford 120.2, Merton 122.2Merton: 122.2Watford: 120.2

    120.2Merton is higher122.2

  18. Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 2026

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

    13.8Merton 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, Merton 15.7Merton: 15.7Watford: 18.3

    18.3Watford is higherDepends on how you count15.7

  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, Merton 40.5Merton: 40.5Watford: 47.1

    47.1Watford is higherDepends on how you count40.5

  21. Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 2026

    Universal Credit, per 1,000 residents: Watford 115.8, Merton 106.8Merton: 106.8Watford: 115.8

    115.8Watford is higherDepends on how you count106.8

  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, Merton 10.0Merton: 10.0Watford: 11.4

    11.4Watford is higherDepends on how you count10.0

Show the numbers
Watford and Merton, per resident
MeasureWatfordMertonHigher
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25£3,458£3,473£3,280£3,406£3,420£3,231Watford
Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25£1,518£1,525£1,440£1,525£1,532£1,447Merton
Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25£1,290£1,295£1,223£1,240£1,245£1,176Watford
State Pensionper resident, 2024-25£1,356£1,361£1,286£1,337£1,342£1,268Watford
Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25£72£72£68£109£109£103Merton
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£88£88£83£76£76£72Watford
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper resident, 2024-25£3.31£3.32£3.14£4.20£4.21£3.98Merton
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£299£301£284£260£261£247Watford
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£84£85£80£92£92£87Merton
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper resident, 2024-25£48£49£46£44£45£42Watford
Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25£1,114£1,118£1,056£1,081£1,086£1,025Watford
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25£260£261£247£283£284£268Merton
Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25£119£119£113£106£106£100Watford
Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25£7.03£7.06£6.67£6.03£6.06£5.72Watford
Income Supportper resident, 2024-25£2.03£2.04£1.93£2.78£2.80£2.64Merton
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25£6.69£6.72£6.35£5.78£5.80£5.48Watford
State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026120.2122.2Merton
Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 202613.816.5Merton
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 202618.315.7Watford
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 202647.140.5Watford
Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 2026115.8106.8Watford
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 202611.410.0Watford

Total

Watford is higher on 0 of 22 measures, and Merton 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 Merton

  1. All benefitstotal, 2024-25

    All benefits, total: Watford £369.4m, Merton £749.3mMerton: £749.3mWatford: £369.4mMerton: £752.5mWatford: £370.9mMerton: £710.8mWatford: £350.3m

    £369.4m£370.9m£350.3mMerton is higherDepends on how you count£749.3m£752.5m£710.8m

  2. Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Pensioner benefits, total: Watford £162.2m, Merton £335.6mMerton: £335.6mWatford: £162.2mMerton: £337.0mWatford: £162.9mMerton: £318.3mWatford: £153.8m

    £162.2m£162.9m£153.8mMerton is higherDepends on how you count£335.6m£337.0m£318.3m

  3. Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Working-age benefits, total: Watford £137.7m, Merton £272.8mMerton: £272.8mWatford: £137.7mMerton: £274.0mWatford: £138.3mMerton: £258.8mWatford: £130.7m

    £137.7m£138.3m£130.7mMerton is higherDepends on how you count£272.8m£274.0m£258.8m

  4. State Pensiontotal, 2024-25

    State Pension, total: Watford £144.8m, Merton £294.1mMerton: £294.1mWatford: £144.8mMerton: £295.4mWatford: £145.4mMerton: £279.0mWatford: £137.3m

    £144.8m£145.4m£137.3mMerton is higherDepends on how you count£294.1m£295.4m£279.0m

  5. Pension Credittotal, 2024-25

    Pension Credit, total: Watford £7.7m, Merton £23.9mMerton: £23.9mWatford: £7.7mMerton: £24.0mWatford: £7.7mMerton: £22.7mWatford: £7.3m

    £7.7m£7.7m£7.3mMerton is higher£23.9m£24.0m£22.7m

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

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, total: Watford £9.3m, Merton £16.6mMerton: £16.6mWatford: £9.3mMerton: £16.7mWatford: £9.4mMerton: £15.8mWatford: £8.9m

    £9.3m£9.4m£8.9mMerton is higherDepends on how you count£16.6m£16.7m£15.8m

  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, Merton £0.92mMerton: £0.92mWatford: £0.35mMerton: £0.93mWatford: £0.35mMerton: £0.88mWatford: £0.34m

    £0.35m£0.35m£0.34mMerton is higher£0.92m£0.93m£0.88m

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, total: Watford £32.0m, Merton £57.3mMerton: £57.3mWatford: £32.0mMerton: £57.5mWatford: £32.1mMerton: £54.3mWatford: £30.3m

    £32.0m£32.1m£30.3mMerton is higherDepends on how you count£57.3m£57.5m£54.3m

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

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, total: Watford £9.0m, Merton £20.2mMerton: £20.2mWatford: £9.0mMerton: £20.3mWatford: £9.0mMerton: £19.2mWatford: £8.5m

    £9.0m£9.0m£8.5mMerton is higher£20.2m£20.3m£19.2m

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

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, total: Watford £5.2m, Merton £9.8mMerton: £9.8mWatford: £5.2mMerton: £9.8mWatford: £5.2mMerton: £9.3mWatford: £4.9m

    £5.2m£5.2m£4.9mMerton is higherDepends on how you count£9.8m£9.8m£9.3m

  11. Universal Credittotal, 2024-25

    Universal Credit, total: Watford £118.9m, Merton £237.9mMerton: £237.9mWatford: £118.9mMerton: £238.9mWatford: £119.4mMerton: £225.6mWatford: £112.8m

    £118.9m£119.4m£112.8mMerton is higherDepends on how you count£237.9m£238.9m£225.6m

  12. Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, total: Watford £27.8m, Merton £62.2mMerton: £62.2mWatford: £27.8mMerton: £62.4mWatford: £27.9mMerton: £59.0mWatford: £26.3m

    £27.8m£27.9m£26.3mMerton is higher£62.2m£62.4m£59.0m

  13. Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25

    Employment and Support Allowance, total: Watford £12.7m, Merton £23.2mMerton: £23.2mWatford: £12.7mMerton: £23.3mWatford: £12.7mMerton: £22.0mWatford: £12.0m

    £12.7m£12.7m£12.0mMerton is higherDepends on how you count£23.2m£23.3m£22.0m

  14. Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25

    Jobseeker's Allowance, total: Watford £0.75m, Merton £1.3mMerton: £1.3mWatford: £0.75mMerton: £1.3mWatford: £0.75mMerton: £1.3mWatford: £0.71m

    £0.75m£0.75m£0.71mMerton is higherDepends on how you count£1.3m

  15. Income Supporttotal, 2024-25

    Income Support, total: Watford £0.22m, Merton £0.61mMerton: £0.61mWatford: £0.22mMerton: £0.61mWatford: £0.22mMerton: £0.58mWatford: £0.21m

    £0.22m£0.22m£0.21mMerton is higher£0.61m£0.61m£0.58m

  16. Other benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Other benefits, total: Watford £0.72m, Merton £1.3mMerton: £1.3mWatford: £0.72mMerton: £1.3mWatford: £0.72mMerton: £1.2mWatford: £0.68m

    £0.72m£0.72m£0.68mMerton is higherDepends on how you count£1.3m£1.3m£1.2m

  17. State Pensiontotal, March 2026

    State Pension, total: Watford 12,839, Merton 26,891Merton: 26,891Watford: 12,839

    12,839Merton is higher26,891

  18. Pension Credittotal, March 2026

    Pension Credit, total: Watford 1,470, Merton 3,629Merton: 3,629Watford: 1,470

    1,470Merton is higher3,629

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

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, total: Watford 1,956, Merton 3,456Merton: 3,456Watford: 1,956

    1,956Merton is higherDepends on how you count3,456

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, total: Watford 5,029, Merton 8,915Merton: 8,915Watford: 5,029

    5,029Merton is higherDepends on how you count8,915

  21. Universal Credittotal, May 2026

    Universal Credit, total: Watford 12,368, Merton 23,497Merton: 23,497Watford: 12,368

    12,368Merton is higherDepends on how you count23,497

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

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, total: Watford 1,220, Merton 2,203Merton: 2,203Watford: 1,220

    1,220Merton is higherDepends on how you count2,203

Show the numbers
Watford and Merton, total
MeasureWatfordMertonHigher
All benefitstotal, 2024-25£369.4m£370.9m£350.3m£749.3m£752.5m£710.8mMerton
Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25£162.2m£162.9m£153.8m£335.6m£337.0m£318.3mMerton
Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25£137.7m£138.3m£130.7m£272.8m£274.0m£258.8mMerton
State Pensiontotal, 2024-25£144.8m£145.4m£137.3m£294.1m£295.4m£279.0mMerton
Pension Credittotal, 2024-25£7.7m£7.7m£7.3m£23.9m£24.0m£22.7mMerton
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£9.3m£9.4m£8.9m£16.6m£16.7m£15.8mMerton
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymenttotal, 2024-25£0.35m£0.35m£0.34m£0.92m£0.93m£0.88mMerton
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£32.0m£32.1m£30.3m£57.3m£57.5m£54.3mMerton
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£9.0m£9.0m£8.5m£20.2m£20.3m£19.2mMerton
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, 2024-25£5.2m£5.2m£4.9m£9.8m£9.8m£9.3mMerton
Universal Credittotal, 2024-25£118.9m£119.4m£112.8m£237.9m£238.9m£225.6mMerton
Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25£27.8m£27.9m£26.3m£62.2m£62.4m£59.0mMerton
Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25£12.7m£12.7m£12.0m£23.2m£23.3m£22.0mMerton
Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25£0.75m£0.75m£0.71m£1.3mMerton
Income Supporttotal, 2024-25£0.22m£0.22m£0.21m£0.61m£0.61m£0.58mMerton
Other benefitstotal, 2024-25£0.72m£0.72m£0.68m£1.3m£1.3m£1.2mMerton
State Pensiontotal, March 202612,83926,891Merton
Pension Credittotal, March 20261,4703,629Merton
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, March 20261,9563,456Merton
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, July 20265,0298,915Merton
Universal Credittotal, May 202612,36823,497Merton
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, March 20261,2202,203Merton

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.