Who Gets What

Compare local authorities · London and South East

Merton and Reading

220,020 and 182,809 residents (mid-2024).

Merton is higher than Reading on 7 of 22 measures per person in the age group, 12 of 21 per resident and 21 of 22 in total.

On 14 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
Merton 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

Merton is higher on 7 of 22 measures, and Reading on 15. Each row has its own scale from zero. Money is in 2026-27 prices2026-27 prices, using CPI inflationcash terms, not adjusted for inflation.1-11

Merton Reading

  1. All benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    All benefits, per resident: Merton £3,406, Reading £3,289Reading: £3,289Merton: £3,406Reading: £3,303Merton: £3,420Reading: £3,120Merton: £3,231

    £3,406£3,420£3,231Merton is higher£3,289£3,303£3,120

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

    Pensioner benefits, per person aged 66 and over: Merton £12,347, Reading £12,426Reading: £12,426Merton: £12,347Reading: £12,479Merton: £12,399Reading: £11,786Merton: £11,711

    £12,347£12,399£11,711Reading 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: Merton £1,819, Reading £1,764Reading: £1,764Merton: £1,819Reading: £1,772Merton: £1,827Reading: £1,673Merton: £1,725

    £1,819£1,827£1,725Merton is higher£1,764£1,772£1,673

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

    State Pension, per person aged 66 and over: Merton £10,821, Reading £10,862Reading: £10,862Merton: £10,821Reading: £10,909Merton: £10,867Reading: £10,303Merton: £10,264

    £10,821£10,867£10,264Reading 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: Merton £880, Reading £921Reading: £921Merton: £880Reading: £925Merton: £884Reading: £874Merton: £835

    £880£884£835Reading is higherDepends on how you count£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: Merton £612, Reading £606Reading: £606Merton: £612Reading: £608Merton: £614Reading: £575Merton: £580

    £612£614£580Merton is higher£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: Merton £34, Reading £36Reading: £36Merton: £34Reading: £36Merton: £34Reading: £34Merton: £32

    £34£34£32Reading is higherDepends on how you count£36£36£34

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per resident: Merton £260, Reading £279Reading: £279Merton: £260Reading: £280Merton: £261Reading: £265Merton: £247

    £260£261£247Reading 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: Merton £92, Reading £113Reading: £113Merton: £92Reading: £113Merton: £92Reading: £107Merton: £87

    £92£92£87Reading 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: Merton £65, Reading £75Reading: £75Merton: £65Reading: £75Merton: £66Reading: £71Merton: £62

    £65£66£62Reading is higherDepends on how you count£75£75£71

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

    Universal Credit, per person aged 16 to 64: Merton £1,586, Reading £1,505Reading: £1,505Merton: £1,586Reading: £1,512Merton: £1,593Reading: £1,428Merton: £1,504

    £1,586£1,593£1,504Merton is higher£1,505£1,512£1,428

  12. Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, per resident: Merton £283, Reading £250Reading: £250Merton: £283Reading: £251Merton: £284Reading: £237Merton: £268

    £283£284£268Merton is higher£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: Merton £155, Reading £171Reading: £171Merton: £155Reading: £172Merton: £156Reading: £162Merton: £147

    £155£156£147Reading 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: Merton £8.86, Reading £8.93Reading: £8.93Merton: £8.86Reading: £8.97Merton: £8.89Reading: £8.47Merton: £8.40

    £8.86£8.89£8.40Reading 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: Merton £4.08, Reading £4.39Reading: £4.39Merton: £4.08Reading: £4.40Merton: £4.10Reading: £4.16Merton: £3.87

    £4.08£4.10£3.87Reading is higherDepends on how you count£4.39£4.40£4.16

  16. Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Other benefits, per resident: Merton £5.78, Reading £4.84Reading: £4.84Merton: £5.78Reading: £4.86Merton: £5.80Reading: £4.59Merton: £5.48

    £5.78£5.80£5.48Merton is higher£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: Merton 989.4, Reading 963.7Reading: 963.7Merton: 989.4

    989.4Merton is higher963.7

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

    Pension Credit, per 1,000 people aged 66 and over: Merton 133.5, Reading 144.5Reading: 144.5Merton: 133.5

    133.5Reading is higherDepends on how you count144.5

  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: Merton 127.2, Reading 128.6Reading: 128.6Merton: 127.2

    127.2Reading 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: Merton 40.5, Reading 43.5Reading: 43.5Merton: 40.5

    40.5Reading 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: Merton 156.7, Reading 162.6Reading: 162.6Merton: 156.7

    156.7Reading 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: Merton 14.7, Reading 16.7Reading: 16.7Merton: 14.7

    14.7Reading is higherDepends on how you count16.7

Show the numbers
Merton and Reading, per person in the age group
MeasureMertonReadingHigher
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25£3,406£3,420£3,231£3,289£3,303£3,120Merton
Pensioner benefitsper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£12,347£12,399£11,711£12,426£12,479£11,786Reading
Working-age benefitsper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£1,819£1,827£1,725£1,764£1,772£1,673Merton
State Pensionper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£10,821£10,867£10,264£10,862£10,909£10,303Reading
Pension Creditper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£880£884£835£921£925£874Reading
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£612£614£580£606£608£575Merton
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£34£34£32£36£36£34Reading
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£260£261£247£279£280£265Reading
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£92£92£87£113£113£107Reading
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£65£66£62£75£75£71Reading
Universal Creditper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£1,586£1,593£1,504£1,505£1,512£1,428Merton
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25£283£284£268£250£251£237Merton
Employment and Support Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£155£156£147£171£172£162Reading
Jobseeker's Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£8.86£8.89£8.40£8.93£8.97£8.47Reading
Income Supportper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£4.08£4.10£3.87£4.39£4.40£4.16Reading
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25£5.78£5.80£5.48£4.84£4.86£4.59Merton
State Pensionper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026989.4963.7Merton
Pension Creditper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026133.5144.5Reading
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026127.2128.6Reading
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 202640.543.5Reading
Universal Creditper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, May 2026156.7162.6Reading
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, March 202614.716.7Reading

Per resident

Merton is higher on 12 of 21 measures, and Reading 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

Merton Reading

  1. All benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    All benefits, per resident: Merton £3,406, Reading £3,289Reading: £3,289Merton: £3,406Reading: £3,303Merton: £3,420Reading: £3,120Merton: £3,231

    £3,406£3,420£3,231Merton is higher£3,289£3,303£3,120

  2. Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Pensioner benefits, per resident: Merton £1,525, Reading £1,418Reading: £1,418Merton: £1,525Reading: £1,424Merton: £1,532Reading: £1,345Merton: £1,447

    £1,525£1,532£1,447Merton is higherDepends on how you count£1,418£1,424£1,345

  3. Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Working-age benefits, per resident: Merton £1,240, Reading £1,225Reading: £1,225Merton: £1,240Reading: £1,230Merton: £1,245Reading: £1,162Merton: £1,176

    £1,240£1,245£1,176Merton is higher£1,225£1,230£1,162

  4. State Pensionper resident, 2024-25

    State Pension, per resident: Merton £1,337, Reading £1,239Reading: £1,239Merton: £1,337Reading: £1,245Merton: £1,342Reading: £1,176Merton: £1,268

    £1,337£1,342£1,268Merton is higherDepends on how you count£1,239£1,245£1,176

  5. Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25

    Pension Credit, per resident: Merton £109, Reading £105Reading: £105Merton: £109Reading: £106Merton: £109Reading: £100Merton: £103

    £109£109£103Merton is higherDepends on how you count£105£106£100

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

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, per resident: Merton £76, Reading £69Reading: £69Merton: £76Reading: £69Merton: £76Reading: £66Merton: £72

    £76£76£72Merton is higher£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: Merton £4.20, Reading £4.14Reading: £4.14Merton: £4.20Reading: £4.16Merton: £4.21Reading: £3.93Merton: £3.98

    £4.20£4.21£3.98Merton is higherDepends on how you count£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: Merton £260, Reading £279Reading: £279Merton: £260Reading: £280Merton: £261Reading: £265Merton: £247

    £260£261£247Reading 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: Merton £92, Reading £113Reading: £113Merton: £92Reading: £113Merton: £92Reading: £107Merton: £87

    £92£92£87Reading 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: Merton £44, Reading £52Reading: £52Merton: £44Reading: £52Merton: £45Reading: £49Merton: £42

    £44£45£42Reading is higherDepends on how you count£52£52£49

  11. Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25

    Universal Credit, per resident: Merton £1,081, Reading £1,045Reading: £1,045Merton: £1,081Reading: £1,049Merton: £1,086Reading: £991Merton: £1,025

    £1,081£1,086£1,025Merton is higher£1,045£1,049£991

  12. Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, per resident: Merton £283, Reading £250Reading: £250Merton: £283Reading: £251Merton: £284Reading: £237Merton: £268

    £283£284£268Merton is higher£250£251£237

  13. Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25

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

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

  14. Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25

    Jobseeker's Allowance, per resident: Merton £6.03, Reading £6.20Reading: £6.20Merton: £6.03Reading: £6.23Merton: £6.06Reading: £5.88Merton: £5.72

    £6.03£6.06£5.72Reading is higherDepends on how you count£6.20£6.23£5.88

  15. Income Supportper resident, 2024-25

    Income Support, per resident: Merton £2.78, Reading £3.05Reading: £3.05Merton: £2.78Reading: £3.06Merton: £2.80Reading: £2.89Merton: £2.64

    £2.78£2.80£2.64Reading is higherDepends on how you count£3.05£3.06£2.89

  16. Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Other benefits, per resident: Merton £5.78, Reading £4.84Reading: £4.84Merton: £5.78Reading: £4.86Merton: £5.80Reading: £4.59Merton: £5.48

    £5.78£5.80£5.48Merton is higher£4.84£4.86£4.59

  17. State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    State Pension, per 1,000 residents: Merton 122.2, Reading 110.0Reading: 110.0Merton: 122.2

    122.2Merton is higher110.0

  18. Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    Pension Credit, per 1,000 residents: Merton 16.5, Reading 16.5Reading: 16.5Merton: 16.5

    16.5No difference to showDepends on how you count16.5

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

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, per 1,000 residents: Merton 15.7, Reading 14.7Reading: 14.7Merton: 15.7

    15.7Merton 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: Merton 40.5, Reading 43.5Reading: 43.5Merton: 40.5

    40.5Reading is higherDepends on how you count43.5

  21. Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 2026

    Universal Credit, per 1,000 residents: Merton 106.8, Reading 112.9Reading: 112.9Merton: 106.8

    106.8Reading 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: Merton 10.0, Reading 11.6Reading: 11.6Merton: 10.0

    10.0Reading is higherDepends on how you count11.6

Show the numbers
Merton and Reading, per resident
MeasureMertonReadingHigher
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25£3,406£3,420£3,231£3,289£3,303£3,120Merton
Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25£1,525£1,532£1,447£1,418£1,424£1,345Merton
Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25£1,240£1,245£1,176£1,225£1,230£1,162Merton
State Pensionper resident, 2024-25£1,337£1,342£1,268£1,239£1,245£1,176Merton
Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25£109£109£103£105£106£100Merton
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£76£76£72£69£69£66Merton
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper resident, 2024-25£4.20£4.21£3.98£4.14£4.16£3.93Merton
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£260£261£247£279£280£265Reading
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£92£92£87£113£113£107Reading
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper resident, 2024-25£44£45£42£52£52£49Reading
Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25£1,081£1,086£1,025£1,045£1,049£991Merton
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25£283£284£268£250£251£237Merton
Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25£106£106£100£119£119£113Reading
Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25£6.03£6.06£5.72£6.20£6.23£5.88Reading
Income Supportper resident, 2024-25£2.78£2.80£2.64£3.05£3.06£2.89Reading
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25£5.78£5.80£5.48£4.84£4.86£4.59Merton
State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026122.2110.0Merton
Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 202616.516.5
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 202615.714.7Merton
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 202640.543.5Reading
Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 2026106.8112.9Reading
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 202610.011.6Reading

Total

Merton is higher on 21 of 22 measures, and Reading on 1. 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

Merton Reading

  1. All benefitstotal, 2024-25

    All benefits, total: Merton £749.3m, Reading £601.3mReading: £601.3mMerton: £749.3mReading: £603.8mMerton: £752.5mReading: £570.3mMerton: £710.8m

    £749.3m£752.5m£710.8mMerton is higher£601.3m£603.8m£570.3m

  2. Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Pensioner benefits, total: Merton £335.6m, Reading £259.2mReading: £259.2mMerton: £335.6mReading: £260.3mMerton: £337.0mReading: £245.9mMerton: £318.3m

    £335.6m£337.0m£318.3mMerton is higherDepends on how you count£259.2m£260.3m£245.9m

  3. Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Working-age benefits, total: Merton £272.8m, Reading £223.9mReading: £223.9mMerton: £272.8mReading: £224.8mMerton: £274.0mReading: £212.3mMerton: £258.8m

    £272.8m£274.0m£258.8mMerton is higher£223.9m£224.8m£212.3m

  4. State Pensiontotal, 2024-25

    State Pension, total: Merton £294.1m, Reading £226.6mReading: £226.6mMerton: £294.1mReading: £227.6mMerton: £295.4mReading: £214.9mMerton: £279.0m

    £294.1m£295.4m£279.0mMerton is higherDepends on how you count£226.6m£227.6m£214.9m

  5. Pension Credittotal, 2024-25

    Pension Credit, total: Merton £23.9m, Reading £19.2mReading: £19.2mMerton: £23.9mReading: £19.3mMerton: £24.0mReading: £18.2mMerton: £22.7m

    £23.9m£24.0m£22.7mMerton is higherDepends on how you count£19.2m£19.3m£18.2m

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

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, total: Merton £16.6m, Reading £12.6mReading: £12.6mMerton: £16.6mReading: £12.7mMerton: £16.7mReading: £12.0mMerton: £15.8m

    £16.6m£16.7m£15.8mMerton is higher£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: Merton £0.92m, Reading £0.76mReading: £0.76mMerton: £0.92mReading: £0.76mMerton: £0.93mReading: £0.72mMerton: £0.88m

    £0.92m£0.93m£0.88mMerton is higherDepends on how you count£0.76m£0.76m£0.72m

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, total: Merton £57.3m, Reading £51.0mReading: £51.0mMerton: £57.3mReading: £51.3mMerton: £57.5mReading: £48.4mMerton: £54.3m

    £57.3m£57.5m£54.3mMerton 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: Merton £20.2m, Reading £20.7mReading: £20.7mMerton: £20.2mReading: £20.7mMerton: £20.3mReading: £19.6mMerton: £19.2m

    £20.2m£20.3m£19.2mReading 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: Merton £9.8m, Reading £9.5mReading: £9.5mMerton: £9.8mReading: £9.5mMerton: £9.8mReading: £9.0mMerton: £9.3m

    £9.8m£9.8m£9.3mMerton is higherDepends on how you count£9.5m£9.5m£9.0m

  11. Universal Credittotal, 2024-25

    Universal Credit, total: Merton £237.9m, Reading £191.0mReading: £191.0mMerton: £237.9mReading: £191.8mMerton: £238.9mReading: £181.2mMerton: £225.6m

    £237.9m£238.9m£225.6mMerton is higher£191.0m£191.8m£181.2m

  12. Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, total: Merton £62.2m, Reading £45.6mReading: £45.6mMerton: £62.2mReading: £45.8mMerton: £62.4mReading: £43.3mMerton: £59.0m

    £62.2m£62.4m£59.0mMerton is higher£45.6m£45.8m£43.3m

  13. Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25

    Employment and Support Allowance, total: Merton £23.2m, Reading £21.7mReading: £21.7mMerton: £23.2mReading: £21.8mMerton: £23.3mReading: £20.6mMerton: £22.0m

    £23.2m£23.3m£22.0mMerton is higherDepends on how you count£21.7m£21.8m£20.6m

  14. Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25

    Jobseeker's Allowance, total: Merton £1.3m, Reading £1.1mReading: £1.1mMerton: £1.3mReading: £1.1mMerton: £1.3mReading: £1.1mMerton: £1.3m

    £1.3mMerton is higherDepends on how you count£1.1m

  15. Income Supporttotal, 2024-25

    Income Support, total: Merton £0.61m, Reading £0.56mReading: £0.56mMerton: £0.61mReading: £0.56mMerton: £0.61mReading: £0.53mMerton: £0.58m

    £0.61m£0.61m£0.58mMerton is higherDepends on how you count£0.56m£0.56m£0.53m

  16. Other benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Other benefits, total: Merton £1.3m, Reading £0.88mReading: £0.88mMerton: £1.3mReading: £0.89mMerton: £1.3mReading: £0.84mMerton: £1.2m

    £1.3m£1.3m£1.2mMerton is higher£0.88m£0.89m£0.84m

  17. State Pensiontotal, March 2026

    State Pension, total: Merton 26,891, Reading 20,103Reading: 20,103Merton: 26,891

    26,891Merton is higher20,103

  18. Pension Credittotal, March 2026

    Pension Credit, total: Merton 3,629, Reading 3,015Reading: 3,015Merton: 3,629

    3,629Merton is higherDepends on how you count3,015

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

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, total: Merton 3,456, Reading 2,682Reading: 2,682Merton: 3,456

    3,456Merton 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: Merton 8,915, Reading 7,952Reading: 7,952Merton: 8,915

    8,915Merton is higherDepends on how you count7,952

  21. Universal Credittotal, May 2026

    Universal Credit, total: Merton 23,497, Reading 20,634Reading: 20,634Merton: 23,497

    23,497Merton 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: Merton 2,203, Reading 2,122Reading: 2,122Merton: 2,203

    2,203Merton is higherDepends on how you count2,122

Show the numbers
Merton and Reading, total
MeasureMertonReadingHigher
All benefitstotal, 2024-25£749.3m£752.5m£710.8m£601.3m£603.8m£570.3mMerton
Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25£335.6m£337.0m£318.3m£259.2m£260.3m£245.9mMerton
Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25£272.8m£274.0m£258.8m£223.9m£224.8m£212.3mMerton
State Pensiontotal, 2024-25£294.1m£295.4m£279.0m£226.6m£227.6m£214.9mMerton
Pension Credittotal, 2024-25£23.9m£24.0m£22.7m£19.2m£19.3m£18.2mMerton
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£16.6m£16.7m£15.8m£12.6m£12.7m£12.0mMerton
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymenttotal, 2024-25£0.92m£0.93m£0.88m£0.76m£0.76m£0.72mMerton
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£57.3m£57.5m£54.3m£51.0m£51.3m£48.4mMerton
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£20.2m£20.3m£19.2m£20.7m£20.7m£19.6mReading
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, 2024-25£9.8m£9.8m£9.3m£9.5m£9.5m£9.0mMerton
Universal Credittotal, 2024-25£237.9m£238.9m£225.6m£191.0m£191.8m£181.2mMerton
Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25£62.2m£62.4m£59.0m£45.6m£45.8m£43.3mMerton
Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25£23.2m£23.3m£22.0m£21.7m£21.8m£20.6mMerton
Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25£1.3m£1.1mMerton
Income Supporttotal, 2024-25£0.61m£0.61m£0.58m£0.56m£0.56m£0.53mMerton
Other benefitstotal, 2024-25£1.3m£1.3m£1.2m£0.88m£0.89m£0.84mMerton
State Pensiontotal, March 202626,89120,103Merton
Pension Credittotal, March 20263,6293,015Merton
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, March 20263,4562,682Merton
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, July 20268,9157,952Merton
Universal Credittotal, May 202623,49720,634Merton
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, March 20262,2032,122Merton

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.