Compare local authorities · South East and East of England

Ashford and Bedford

140,812 and 194,881 residents (mid-2024).

Ashford is higher than Bedford on 15 of 22 measures per person in the age group, 17 of 22 per resident and 3 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.

Ashford 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

Ashford 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

Ashford Bedford

  1. All benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    All benefits, per resident: Ashford £4,227, Bedford £3,927Bedford: £3,927Ashford: £4,227Bedford: £3,944Ashford: £4,245Bedford: £3,725Ashford: £4,010

    £4,227£4,245£4,010Ashford is higherDepends on how you count£3,927£3,944£3,725

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

    Pensioner benefits, per person aged 66 and over: Ashford £12,584, Bedford £12,590Bedford: £12,590Ashford: £12,584Bedford: £12,644Ashford: £12,638Bedford: £11,943Ashford: £11,937

    £12,584£12,638£11,937Bedford is higherDepends on how you count£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: Ashford £1,920, Bedford £1,880Bedford: £1,880Ashford: £1,920Bedford: £1,888Ashford: £1,929Bedford: £1,783Ashford: £1,822

    £1,920£1,929£1,822Ashford is higherDepends on how you count£1,880£1,888£1,783

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

    State Pension, per person aged 66 and over: Ashford £11,306, Bedford £11,470Bedford: £11,470Ashford: £11,306Bedford: £11,519Ashford: £11,354Bedford: £10,880Ashford: £10,724

    £11,306£11,354£10,724Bedford is higherDepends on how you count£11,470£11,519£10,880

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

    Pension Credit, per person aged 66 and over: Ashford £560, Bedford £450Bedford: £450Ashford: £560Bedford: £452Ashford: £562Bedford: £426Ashford: £531

    £560£562£531Ashford 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: Ashford £693, Bedford £648Bedford: £648Ashford: £693Bedford: £651Ashford: £696Bedford: £614Ashford: £657

    £693£696£657Ashford is higherDepends on how you count£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: Ashford £26, Bedford £23Bedford: £23Ashford: £26Bedford: £23Ashford: £26Bedford: £22Ashford: £24

    £26£26£24Ashford 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: Ashford £365, Bedford £350Bedford: £350Ashford: £365Bedford: £351Ashford: £367Bedford: £332Ashford: £346

    £365£367£346Ashford is higherDepends on how you count£350£351£332

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

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, per resident: Ashford £161, Bedford £114Bedford: £114Ashford: £161Bedford: £114Ashford: £162Bedford: £108Ashford: £153

    £161£162£153Ashford 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: Ashford £121, Bedford £88Bedford: £88Ashford: £121Bedford: £88Ashford: £121Bedford: £83Ashford: £115

    £121£121£115Ashford is higherDepends on how you count£88£88£83

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

    Universal Credit, per person aged 16 to 64: Ashford £1,559, Bedford £1,572Bedford: £1,572Ashford: £1,559Bedford: £1,579Ashford: £1,566Bedford: £1,491Ashford: £1,479

    £1,559£1,566£1,479Bedford is higher£1,572£1,579£1,491

  12. Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, per resident: Ashford £174, Bedford £246Bedford: £246Ashford: £174Bedford: £247Ashford: £175Bedford: £233Ashford: £165

    £174£175£165Bedford 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: Ashford £226, Bedford £206Bedford: £206Ashford: £226Bedford: £207Ashford: £227Bedford: £196Ashford: £215

    £226£227£215Ashford is higherDepends on how you count£206£207£196

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

    Jobseeker's Allowance, per person aged 16 to 64: Ashford £6.53, Bedford £9.49Bedford: £9.49Ashford: £6.53Bedford: £9.53Ashford: £6.55Bedford: £9.00Ashford: £6.19

    £6.53£6.55£6.19Bedford 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: Ashford £7.66, Bedford £4.51Bedford: £4.51Ashford: £7.66Bedford: £4.53Ashford: £7.70Bedford: £4.28Ashford: £7.27

    £7.66£7.70£7.27Ashford is higher£4.51£4.53£4.28

  16. Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Other benefits, per resident: Ashford £6.46, Bedford £5.97Bedford: £5.97Ashford: £6.46Bedford: £5.99Ashford: £6.49Bedford: £5.66Ashford: £6.13

    £6.46£6.49£6.13Ashford is higherDepends on how you count£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: Ashford 992.6, Bedford 1,001.2Bedford: 1,001.2Ashford: 992.6

    992.6Bedford is higherDepends on how you count1,001.2

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

    Pension Credit, per 1,000 people aged 66 and over: Ashford 103.7, Bedford 93.5Bedford: 93.5Ashford: 103.7

    103.7Ashford 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: Ashford 142.8, Bedford 137.8Bedford: 137.8Ashford: 142.8

    142.8Ashford is higherDepends on how you count137.8

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per 1,000 residents: Ashford 57.3, Bedford 55.2Bedford: 55.2Ashford: 57.3

    57.3Ashford is higherDepends on how you count55.2

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

    Universal Credit, per 1,000 people aged 16 to 64: Ashford 170.7, Bedford 181.8Bedford: 181.8Ashford: 170.7

    170.7Bedford 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: Ashford 27.6, Bedford 20.6Bedford: 20.6Ashford: 27.6

    27.6Ashford is higherDepends on how you count20.6

Show the numbers
Ashford and Bedford, per person in the age group
MeasureAshfordBedfordHigher
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25£4,227£4,245£4,010£3,927£3,944£3,725Ashford
Pensioner benefitsper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£12,584£12,638£11,937£12,590£12,644£11,943Bedford
Working-age benefitsper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£1,920£1,929£1,822£1,880£1,888£1,783Ashford
State Pensionper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£11,306£11,354£10,724£11,470£11,519£10,880Bedford
Pension Creditper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£560£562£531£450£452£426Ashford
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£693£696£657£648£651£614Ashford
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£26£26£24£23£23£22Ashford
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£365£367£346£350£351£332Ashford
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£161£162£153£114£114£108Ashford
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£121£121£115£88£88£83Ashford
Universal Creditper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£1,559£1,566£1,479£1,572£1,579£1,491Bedford
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25£174£175£165£246£247£233Bedford
Employment and Support Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£226£227£215£206£207£196Ashford
Jobseeker's Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£6.53£6.55£6.19£9.49£9.53£9.00Bedford
Income Supportper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£7.66£7.70£7.27£4.51£4.53£4.28Ashford
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25£6.46£6.49£6.13£5.97£5.99£5.66Ashford
State Pensionper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026992.61,001.2Bedford
Pension Creditper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026103.793.5Ashford
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026142.8137.8Ashford
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 202657.355.2Ashford
Universal Creditper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, May 2026170.7181.8Bedford
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, March 202627.620.6Ashford

Per resident

Ashford is higher on 17 of 22 measures, and Bedford on 5. 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

Ashford Bedford

  1. All benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    All benefits, per resident: Ashford £4,227, Bedford £3,927Bedford: £3,927Ashford: £4,227Bedford: £3,944Ashford: £4,245Bedford: £3,725Ashford: £4,010

    £4,227£4,245£4,010Ashford is higherDepends on how you count£3,927£3,944£3,725

  2. Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Pensioner benefits, per resident: Ashford £2,350, Bedford £2,029Bedford: £2,029Ashford: £2,350Bedford: £2,038Ashford: £2,360Bedford: £1,925Ashford: £2,229

    £2,350£2,360£2,229Ashford is higherDepends on how you count£2,029£2,038£1,925

  3. Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Working-age benefits, per resident: Ashford £1,169, Bedford £1,184Bedford: £1,184Ashford: £1,169Bedford: £1,189Ashford: £1,174Bedford: £1,123Ashford: £1,109

    £1,169£1,174£1,109Bedford is higherDepends on how you count£1,184£1,189£1,123

  4. State Pensionper resident, 2024-25

    State Pension, per resident: Ashford £2,112, Bedford £1,848Bedford: £1,848Ashford: £2,112Bedford: £1,856Ashford: £2,121Bedford: £1,753Ashford: £2,003

    £2,112£2,121£2,003Ashford is higherDepends on how you count£1,848£1,856£1,753

  5. Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25

    Pension Credit, per resident: Ashford £105, Bedford £72Bedford: £72Ashford: £105Bedford: £73Ashford: £105Bedford: £69Ashford: £99

    £105£105£99Ashford 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: Ashford £129, Bedford £104Bedford: £104Ashford: £129Bedford: £105Ashford: £130Bedford: £99Ashford: £123

    £129£130£123Ashford is higherDepends on how you count£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: Ashford £4.79, Bedford £3.73Bedford: £3.73Ashford: £4.79Bedford: £3.75Ashford: £4.81Bedford: £3.54Ashford: £4.54

    £4.79£4.81£4.54Ashford 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: Ashford £365, Bedford £350Bedford: £350Ashford: £365Bedford: £351Ashford: £367Bedford: £332Ashford: £346

    £365£367£346Ashford is higherDepends on how you count£350£351£332

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

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, per resident: Ashford £161, Bedford £114Bedford: £114Ashford: £161Bedford: £114Ashford: £162Bedford: £108Ashford: £153

    £161£162£153Ashford 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: Ashford £74, Bedford £55Bedford: £55Ashford: £74Bedford: £56Ashford: £74Bedford: £53Ashford: £70

    £74£74£70Ashford is higherDepends on how you count£55£56£53

  11. Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25

    Universal Credit, per resident: Ashford £949, Bedford £990Bedford: £990Ashford: £949Bedford: £994Ashford: £953Bedford: £939Ashford: £900

    £949£953£900Bedford is higher£990£994£939

  12. Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, per resident: Ashford £174, Bedford £246Bedford: £246Ashford: £174Bedford: £247Ashford: £175Bedford: £233Ashford: £165

    £174£175£165Bedford is higher£246£247£233

  13. Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25

    Employment and Support Allowance, per resident: Ashford £138, Bedford £130Bedford: £130Ashford: £138Bedford: £130Ashford: £138Bedford: £123Ashford: £131

    £138£138£131Ashford is higherDepends on how you count£130£130£123

  14. Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25

    Jobseeker's Allowance, per resident: Ashford £3.97, Bedford £5.97Bedford: £5.97Ashford: £3.97Bedford: £5.99Ashford: £3.99Bedford: £5.66Ashford: £3.77

    £3.97£3.99£3.77Bedford is higher£5.97£5.99£5.66

  15. Income Supportper resident, 2024-25

    Income Support, per resident: Ashford £4.66, Bedford £2.84Bedford: £2.84Ashford: £4.66Bedford: £2.85Ashford: £4.68Bedford: £2.69Ashford: £4.42

    £4.66£4.68£4.42Ashford is higher£2.84£2.85£2.69

  16. Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Other benefits, per resident: Ashford £6.46, Bedford £5.97Bedford: £5.97Ashford: £6.46Bedford: £5.99Ashford: £6.49Bedford: £5.66Ashford: £6.13

    £6.46£6.49£6.13Ashford is higherDepends on how you count£5.97£5.99£5.66

  17. State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    State Pension, per 1,000 residents: Ashford 185.4, Bedford 161.3Bedford: 161.3Ashford: 185.4

    185.4Ashford is higherDepends on how you count161.3

  18. Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    Pension Credit, per 1,000 residents: Ashford 19.4, Bedford 15.1Bedford: 15.1Ashford: 19.4

    19.4Ashford 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: Ashford 26.7, Bedford 22.2Bedford: 22.2Ashford: 26.7

    26.7Ashford is higherDepends on how you count22.2

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per 1,000 residents: Ashford 57.3, Bedford 55.2Bedford: 55.2Ashford: 57.3

    57.3Ashford is higherDepends on how you count55.2

  21. Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 2026

    Universal Credit, per 1,000 residents: Ashford 103.9, Bedford 114.4Bedford: 114.4Ashford: 103.9

    103.9Bedford 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: Ashford 16.8, Bedford 13.0Bedford: 13.0Ashford: 16.8

    16.8Ashford is higherDepends on how you count13.0

Show the numbers
Ashford and Bedford, per resident
MeasureAshfordBedfordHigher
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25£4,227£4,245£4,010£3,927£3,944£3,725Ashford
Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25£2,350£2,360£2,229£2,029£2,038£1,925Ashford
Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25£1,169£1,174£1,109£1,184£1,189£1,123Bedford
State Pensionper resident, 2024-25£2,112£2,121£2,003£1,848£1,856£1,753Ashford
Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25£105£105£99£72£73£69Ashford
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£129£130£123£104£105£99Ashford
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper resident, 2024-25£4.79£4.81£4.54£3.73£3.75£3.54Ashford
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£365£367£346£350£351£332Ashford
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£161£162£153£114£114£108Ashford
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper resident, 2024-25£74£74£70£55£56£53Ashford
Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25£949£953£900£990£994£939Bedford
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25£174£175£165£246£247£233Bedford
Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25£138£138£131£130£130£123Ashford
Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25£3.97£3.99£3.77£5.97£5.99£5.66Bedford
Income Supportper resident, 2024-25£4.66£4.68£4.42£2.84£2.85£2.69Ashford
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25£6.46£6.49£6.13£5.97£5.99£5.66Ashford
State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026185.4161.3Ashford
Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 202619.415.1Ashford
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 202626.722.2Ashford
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 202657.355.2Ashford
Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 2026103.9114.4Bedford
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 202616.813.0Ashford

Total

Ashford is higher on 3 of 22 measures, and Bedford on 19. 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

Ashford Bedford

  1. All benefitstotal, 2024-25

    All benefits, total: Ashford £595.2m, Bedford £765.4mBedford: £765.4mAshford: £595.2mBedford: £768.6mAshford: £597.8mBedford: £726.0mAshford: £564.6m

    £595.2m£597.8m£564.6mBedford is higherDepends on how you count£765.4m£768.6m£726.0m

  2. Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Pensioner benefits, total: Ashford £331.0m, Bedford £395.4mBedford: £395.4mAshford: £331.0mBedford: £397.1mAshford: £332.4mBedford: £375.1mAshford: £313.9m

    £331.0m£332.4m£313.9mBedford is higherDepends on how you count£395.4m£397.1m£375.1m

  3. Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Working-age benefits, total: Ashford £164.7m, Bedford £230.7mBedford: £230.7mAshford: £164.7mBedford: £231.6mAshford: £165.4mBedford: £218.8mAshford: £156.2m

    £164.7m£165.4m£156.2mBedford is higherDepends on how you count£230.7m£231.6m£218.8m

  4. State Pensiontotal, 2024-25

    State Pension, total: Ashford £297.3m, Bedford £360.2mBedford: £360.2mAshford: £297.3mBedford: £361.8mAshford: £298.6mBedford: £341.7mAshford: £282.0m

    £297.3m£298.6m£282.0mBedford is higherDepends on how you count£360.2m£361.8m£341.7m

  5. Pension Credittotal, 2024-25

    Pension Credit, total: Ashford £14.7m, Bedford £14.1mBedford: £14.1mAshford: £14.7mBedford: £14.2mAshford: £14.8mBedford: £13.4mAshford: £14.0m

    £14.7m£14.8m£14.0mAshford 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: Ashford £18.2m, Bedford £20.3mBedford: £20.3mAshford: £18.2mBedford: £20.4mAshford: £18.3mBedford: £19.3mAshford: £17.3m

    £18.2m£18.3m£17.3mBedford is higherDepends on how you count£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: Ashford £0.67m, Bedford £0.73mBedford: £0.73mAshford: £0.67mBedford: £0.73mAshford: £0.68mBedford: £0.69mAshford: £0.64m

    £0.67m£0.68m£0.64mBedford 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: Ashford £51.4m, Bedford £68.1mBedford: £68.1mAshford: £51.4mBedford: £68.4mAshford: £51.7mBedford: £64.6mAshford: £48.8m

    £51.4m£51.7m£48.8mBedford is higherDepends on how you count£68.1m£68.4m£64.6m

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

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, total: Ashford £22.7m, Bedford £22.2mBedford: £22.2mAshford: £22.7mBedford: £22.3mAshford: £22.8mBedford: £21.0mAshford: £21.6m

    £22.7m£22.8m£21.6mAshford 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: Ashford £10.4m, Bedford £10.8mBedford: £10.8mAshford: £10.4mBedford: £10.8mAshford: £10.4mBedford: £10.2mAshford: £9.8m

    £10.4m£10.4m£9.8mBedford is higherDepends on how you count£10.8m£10.8m£10.2m

  11. Universal Credittotal, 2024-25

    Universal Credit, total: Ashford £133.7m, Bedford £192.8mBedford: £192.8mAshford: £133.7mBedford: £193.7mAshford: £134.2mBedford: £182.9mAshford: £126.8m

    £133.7m£134.2m£126.8mBedford is higher£192.8m£193.7m£182.9m

  12. Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, total: Ashford £24.5m, Bedford £47.9mBedford: £47.9mAshford: £24.5mBedford: £48.1mAshford: £24.6mBedford: £45.4mAshford: £23.3m

    £24.5m£24.6m£23.3mBedford is higher£47.9m£48.1m£45.4m

  13. Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25

    Employment and Support Allowance, total: Ashford £19.4m, Bedford £25.3mBedford: £25.3mAshford: £19.4mBedford: £25.4mAshford: £19.5mBedford: £24.0mAshford: £18.4m

    £19.4m£19.5m£18.4mBedford is higherDepends on how you count£25.3m£25.4m£24.0m

  14. Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25

    Jobseeker's Allowance, total: Ashford £0.56m, Bedford £1.2mBedford: £1.2mAshford: £0.56mBedford: £1.2mAshford: £0.56mBedford: £1.1mAshford: £0.53m

    £0.56m£0.56m£0.53mBedford is higher£1.2m£1.2m£1.1m

  15. Income Supporttotal, 2024-25

    Income Support, total: Ashford £0.66m, Bedford £0.55mBedford: £0.55mAshford: £0.66mBedford: £0.56mAshford: £0.66mBedford: £0.53mAshford: £0.62m

    £0.66m£0.66m£0.62mAshford is higher£0.55m£0.56m£0.53m

  16. Other benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Other benefits, total: Ashford £0.91m, Bedford £1.2mBedford: £1.2mAshford: £0.91mBedford: £1.2mAshford: £0.91mBedford: £1.1mAshford: £0.86m

    £0.91m£0.91m£0.86mBedford is higherDepends on how you count£1.2m£1.2m£1.1m

  17. State Pensiontotal, March 2026

    State Pension, total: Ashford 26,104, Bedford 31,443Bedford: 31,443Ashford: 26,104

    26,104Bedford is higherDepends on how you count31,443

  18. Pension Credittotal, March 2026

    Pension Credit, total: Ashford 2,726, Bedford 2,936Bedford: 2,936Ashford: 2,726

    2,726Bedford 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: Ashford 3,756, Bedford 4,327Bedford: 4,327Ashford: 3,756

    3,756Bedford is higherDepends on how you count4,327

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, total: Ashford 8,068, Bedford 10,748Bedford: 10,748Ashford: 8,068

    8,068Bedford is higherDepends on how you count10,748

  21. Universal Credittotal, May 2026

    Universal Credit, total: Ashford 14,634, Bedford 22,297Bedford: 22,297Ashford: 14,634

    14,634Bedford is higher22,297

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

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, total: Ashford 2,366, Bedford 2,527Bedford: 2,527Ashford: 2,366

    2,366Bedford is higherDepends on how you count2,527

Show the numbers
Ashford and Bedford, total
MeasureAshfordBedfordHigher
All benefitstotal, 2024-25£595.2m£597.8m£564.6m£765.4m£768.6m£726.0mBedford
Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25£331.0m£332.4m£313.9m£395.4m£397.1m£375.1mBedford
Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25£164.7m£165.4m£156.2m£230.7m£231.6m£218.8mBedford
State Pensiontotal, 2024-25£297.3m£298.6m£282.0m£360.2m£361.8m£341.7mBedford
Pension Credittotal, 2024-25£14.7m£14.8m£14.0m£14.1m£14.2m£13.4mAshford
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£18.2m£18.3m£17.3m£20.3m£20.4m£19.3mBedford
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymenttotal, 2024-25£0.67m£0.68m£0.64m£0.73m£0.73m£0.69mBedford
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£51.4m£51.7m£48.8m£68.1m£68.4m£64.6mBedford
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£22.7m£22.8m£21.6m£22.2m£22.3m£21.0mAshford
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, 2024-25£10.4m£10.4m£9.8m£10.8m£10.8m£10.2mBedford
Universal Credittotal, 2024-25£133.7m£134.2m£126.8m£192.8m£193.7m£182.9mBedford
Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25£24.5m£24.6m£23.3m£47.9m£48.1m£45.4mBedford
Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25£19.4m£19.5m£18.4m£25.3m£25.4m£24.0mBedford
Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25£0.56m£0.56m£0.53m£1.2m£1.2m£1.1mBedford
Income Supporttotal, 2024-25£0.66m£0.66m£0.62m£0.55m£0.56m£0.53mAshford
Other benefitstotal, 2024-25£0.91m£0.91m£0.86m£1.2m£1.2m£1.1mBedford
State Pensiontotal, March 202626,10431,443Bedford
Pension Credittotal, March 20262,7262,936Bedford
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, March 20263,7564,327Bedford
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, July 20268,06810,748Bedford
Universal Credittotal, May 202614,63422,297Bedford
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, March 20262,3662,527Bedford

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.