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Scottish Borders and Orkney Islands

117,190 and 22,000 residents (mid-2024).

Scottish Borders is higher than Orkney Islands on 16 of 22 measures per person in the age group, 16 of 22 per resident and 22 of 22 in total.

On 6 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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Scottish Borders and Orkney Islands 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

Scottish Borders is higher on 16 of 22 measures, and Orkney Islands 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

Scottish Borders Orkney Islands

  1. All benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    All benefits, per resident: Scottish Borders £4,986, Orkney Islands £4,381Orkney Islands: £4,381Scottish Borders: £4,986Orkney Islands: £4,399Scottish Borders: £5,007Orkney Islands: £4,155Scottish Borders: £4,729

    £4,986£5,007£4,729Scottish Borders is higher£4,381£4,399£4,155

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

    Pensioner benefits, per person aged 66 and over: Scottish Borders £12,258, Orkney Islands £11,866Orkney Islands: £11,866Scottish Borders: £12,258Orkney Islands: £11,916Scottish Borders: £12,310Orkney Islands: £11,255Scottish Borders: £11,627

    £12,258£12,310£11,627Scottish Borders is higher£11,866£11,916£11,255

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

    Working-age benefits, per person aged 16 to 64: Scottish Borders £1,832, Orkney Islands £1,374Orkney Islands: £1,374Scottish Borders: £1,832Orkney Islands: £1,380Scottish Borders: £1,840Orkney Islands: £1,304Scottish Borders: £1,738

    £1,832£1,840£1,738Scottish Borders is higher£1,374£1,380£1,304

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

    State Pension, per person aged 66 and over: Scottish Borders £11,419, Orkney Islands £10,889Orkney Islands: £10,889Scottish Borders: £11,419Orkney Islands: £10,936Scottish Borders: £11,467Orkney Islands: £10,329Scottish Borders: £10,831

    £11,419£11,467£10,831Scottish Borders is higher£10,889£10,936£10,329

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

    Pension Credit, per person aged 66 and over: Scottish Borders £294, Orkney Islands £323Orkney Islands: £323Scottish Borders: £294Orkney Islands: £324Scottish Borders: £295Orkney Islands: £306Scottish Borders: £279

    £294£295£279Orkney Islands is higherDepends on how you count£323£324£306

  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: Scottish Borders £529, Orkney Islands £636Orkney Islands: £636Scottish Borders: £529Orkney Islands: £639Scottish Borders: £531Orkney Islands: £603Scottish Borders: £501

    £529£531£501Orkney Islands is higherDepends on how you count£636£639£603

  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: Scottish Borders £16, Orkney Islands £18Orkney Islands: £18Scottish Borders: £16Orkney Islands: £18Scottish Borders: £16Orkney Islands: £17Scottish Borders: £15

    £16£16£15Orkney Islands is higherDepends on how you count£18£18£17

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per resident: Scottish Borders £449, Orkney Islands £426Orkney Islands: £426Scottish Borders: £449Orkney Islands: £428Scottish Borders: £451Orkney Islands: £404Scottish Borders: £426

    £449£451£426Scottish Borders is higher£426£428£404

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

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, per resident: Scottish Borders £121, Orkney Islands £123Orkney Islands: £123Scottish Borders: £121Orkney Islands: £124Scottish Borders: £122Orkney Islands: £117Scottish Borders: £115

    £121£122£115Orkney Islands is higherDepends on how you count£123£124£117

  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: Scottish Borders £98, Orkney Islands £84Orkney Islands: £84Scottish Borders: £98Orkney Islands: £85Scottish Borders: £99Orkney Islands: £80Scottish Borders: £93

    £98£99£93Scottish Borders is higher£84£85£80

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

    Universal Credit, per person aged 16 to 64: Scottish Borders £1,354, Orkney Islands £956Orkney Islands: £956Scottish Borders: £1,354Orkney Islands: £960Scottish Borders: £1,359Orkney Islands: £907Scottish Borders: £1,284

    £1,354£1,359£1,284Scottish Borders is higher£956£960£907

  12. Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, per resident: Scottish Borders £192, Orkney Islands £129Orkney Islands: £129Scottish Borders: £192Orkney Islands: £130Scottish Borders: £192Orkney Islands: £123Scottish Borders: £182

    £192£192£182Scottish Borders is higher£129£130£123

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

    Employment and Support Allowance, per person aged 16 to 64: Scottish Borders £368, Orkney Islands £329Orkney Islands: £329Scottish Borders: £368Orkney Islands: £330Scottish Borders: £369Orkney Islands: £312Scottish Borders: £349

    £368£369£349Scottish Borders is higher£329£330£312

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

    Jobseeker's Allowance, per person aged 16 to 64: Scottish Borders £6.40, Orkney Islands £0.97Orkney Islands: £0.97Scottish Borders: £6.40Orkney Islands: £0.97Scottish Borders: £6.43Orkney Islands: £0.92Scottish Borders: £6.07

    £6.40£6.43£6.07Scottish Borders is higher£0.97£0.97£0.92

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

    Income Support, per person aged 16 to 64: Scottish Borders £5.74, Orkney Islands £4.01Orkney Islands: £4.01Scottish Borders: £5.74Orkney Islands: £4.02Scottish Borders: £5.76Orkney Islands: £3.80Scottish Borders: £5.44

    £5.74£5.76£5.44Scottish Borders is higher£4.01£4.02£3.80

  16. Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Other benefits, per resident: Scottish Borders £7.17, Orkney Islands £8.00Orkney Islands: £8.00Scottish Borders: £7.17Orkney Islands: £8.04Scottish Borders: £7.20Orkney Islands: £7.59Scottish Borders: £6.80

    £7.17£7.20£6.80Orkney Islands is higherDepends on how you count£8.00£8.04£7.59

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

    State Pension, per 1,000 people aged 66 and over: Scottish Borders 1,006.0, Orkney Islands 995.3Orkney Islands: 995.3Scottish Borders: 1,006.0

    1,006.0Scottish Borders is higher995.3

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

    Pension Credit, per 1,000 people aged 66 and over: Scottish Borders 82.4, Orkney Islands 74.3Orkney Islands: 74.3Scottish Borders: 82.4

    82.4Scottish Borders is higher74.3

  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: Scottish Borders 134.0, Orkney Islands 142.7Orkney Islands: 142.7Scottish Borders: 134.0

    134.0Orkney Islands is higherDepends on how you count142.7

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per 1,000 residents: Scottish Borders 71.6, Orkney Islands 63.6Orkney Islands: 63.6Scottish Borders: 71.6

    71.6Scottish Borders is higher63.6

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

    Universal Credit, per 1,000 people aged 16 to 64: Scottish Borders 178.6, Orkney Islands 128.7Orkney Islands: 128.7Scottish Borders: 178.6

    178.6Scottish Borders is higher128.7

  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: Scottish Borders 23.5, Orkney Islands 19.0Orkney Islands: 19.0Scottish Borders: 23.5

    23.5Scottish Borders is higher19.0

Show the numbers
Scottish Borders and Orkney Islands, per person in the age group
MeasureScottish BordersOrkney IslandsHigher
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25£4,986£5,007£4,729Estimated£4,381£4,399£4,155EstimatedScottish Borders
Pensioner benefitsper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£12,258£12,310£11,627Estimated£11,866£11,916£11,255EstimatedScottish Borders
Working-age benefitsper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£1,832£1,840£1,738Estimated£1,374£1,380£1,304EstimatedScottish Borders
State Pensionper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£11,419£11,467£10,831£10,889£10,936£10,329Scottish Borders
Pension Creditper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£294£295£279£323£324£306Orkney Islands
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£529£531£501Estimated£636£639£603EstimatedOrkney Islands
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£16£16£15Estimated£18£18£17EstimatedOrkney Islands
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£449£451£426Estimated£426£428£404EstimatedScottish Borders
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£121£122£115Estimated£123£124£117EstimatedOrkney Islands
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£98£99£93Estimated£84£85£80EstimatedScottish Borders
Universal Creditper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£1,354£1,359£1,284£956£960£907Scottish Borders
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25£192£192£182£129£130£123Scottish Borders
Employment and Support Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£368£369£349£329£330£312Scottish Borders
Jobseeker's Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£6.40£6.43£6.07£0.97£0.97£0.92Scottish Borders
Income Supportper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£5.74£5.76£5.44£4.01£4.02£3.80Scottish Borders
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25£7.17£7.20£6.80Estimated£8.00£8.04£7.59EstimatedOrkney Islands
State Pensionper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 20261,006.0995.3Scottish Borders
Pension Creditper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 202682.474.3Scottish Borders
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026134.0142.7Orkney Islands
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 202671.663.6Scottish Borders
Universal Creditper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, May 2026178.6128.7Scottish Borders
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, March 202623.5Estimated19.0EstimatedScottish Borders

Per resident

Scottish Borders is higher on 16 of 22 measures, and Orkney Islands 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

Scottish Borders Orkney Islands

  1. All benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    All benefits, per resident: Scottish Borders £4,986, Orkney Islands £4,381Orkney Islands: £4,381Scottish Borders: £4,986Orkney Islands: £4,399Scottish Borders: £5,007Orkney Islands: £4,155Scottish Borders: £4,729

    £4,986£5,007£4,729Scottish Borders is higher£4,381£4,399£4,155

  2. Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Pensioner benefits, per resident: Scottish Borders £3,165, Orkney Islands £2,891Orkney Islands: £2,891Scottish Borders: £3,165Orkney Islands: £2,903Scottish Borders: £3,178Orkney Islands: £2,742Scottish Borders: £3,002

    £3,165£3,178£3,002Scottish Borders is higher£2,891£2,903£2,742

  3. Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Working-age benefits, per resident: Scottish Borders £1,052, Orkney Islands £803Orkney Islands: £803Scottish Borders: £1,052Orkney Islands: £806Scottish Borders: £1,056Orkney Islands: £761Scottish Borders: £998

    £1,052£1,056£998Scottish Borders is higher£803£806£761

  4. State Pensionper resident, 2024-25

    State Pension, per resident: Scottish Borders £2,948, Orkney Islands £2,653Orkney Islands: £2,653Scottish Borders: £2,948Orkney Islands: £2,664Scottish Borders: £2,961Orkney Islands: £2,516Scottish Borders: £2,797

    £2,948£2,961£2,797Scottish Borders is higher£2,653£2,664£2,516

  5. Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25

    Pension Credit, per resident: Scottish Borders £76, Orkney Islands £79Orkney Islands: £79Scottish Borders: £76Orkney Islands: £79Scottish Borders: £76Orkney Islands: £75Scottish Borders: £72

    £76£76£72Orkney Islands is higherDepends on how you count£79£79£75

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

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, per resident: Scottish Borders £137, Orkney Islands £155Orkney Islands: £155Scottish Borders: £137Orkney Islands: £156Scottish Borders: £137Orkney Islands: £147Scottish Borders: £129

    £137£137£129Orkney Islands is higherDepends on how you count£155£156£147

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

    Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, per resident: Scottish Borders £4.15, Orkney Islands £4.30Orkney Islands: £4.30Scottish Borders: £4.15Orkney Islands: £4.32Scottish Borders: £4.17Orkney Islands: £4.08Scottish Borders: £3.94

    £4.15£4.17£3.94Orkney Islands is higherDepends on how you count£4.30£4.32£4.08

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per resident: Scottish Borders £449, Orkney Islands £426Orkney Islands: £426Scottish Borders: £449Orkney Islands: £428Scottish Borders: £451Orkney Islands: £404Scottish Borders: £426

    £449£451£426Scottish Borders is higher£426£428£404

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

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, per resident: Scottish Borders £121, Orkney Islands £123Orkney Islands: £123Scottish Borders: £121Orkney Islands: £124Scottish Borders: £122Orkney Islands: £117Scottish Borders: £115

    £121£122£115Orkney Islands is higherDepends on how you count£123£124£117

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

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, per resident: Scottish Borders £56, Orkney Islands £49Orkney Islands: £49Scottish Borders: £56Orkney Islands: £49Scottish Borders: £57Orkney Islands: £47Scottish Borders: £53

    £56£57£53Scottish Borders is higher£49£49£47

  11. Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25

    Universal Credit, per resident: Scottish Borders £777, Orkney Islands £559Orkney Islands: £559Scottish Borders: £777Orkney Islands: £561Scottish Borders: £780Orkney Islands: £530Scottish Borders: £737

    £777£780£737Scottish Borders is higher£559£561£530

  12. Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, per resident: Scottish Borders £192, Orkney Islands £129Orkney Islands: £129Scottish Borders: £192Orkney Islands: £130Scottish Borders: £192Orkney Islands: £123Scottish Borders: £182

    £192£192£182Scottish Borders is higher£129£130£123

  13. Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25

    Employment and Support Allowance, per resident: Scottish Borders £211, Orkney Islands £192Orkney Islands: £192Scottish Borders: £211Orkney Islands: £193Scottish Borders: £212Orkney Islands: £182Scottish Borders: £200

    £211£212£200Scottish Borders is higher£192£193£182

  14. Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25

    Jobseeker's Allowance, per resident: Scottish Borders £3.68, Orkney Islands £0.57Orkney Islands: £0.57Scottish Borders: £3.68Orkney Islands: £0.57Scottish Borders: £3.69Orkney Islands: £0.54Scottish Borders: £3.49

    £3.68£3.69£3.49Scottish Borders is higher£0.57£0.57£0.54

  15. Income Supportper resident, 2024-25

    Income Support, per resident: Scottish Borders £3.29, Orkney Islands £2.34Orkney Islands: £2.34Scottish Borders: £3.29Orkney Islands: £2.35Scottish Borders: £3.30Orkney Islands: £2.22Scottish Borders: £3.12

    £3.29£3.30£3.12Scottish Borders is higher£2.34£2.35£2.22

  16. Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Other benefits, per resident: Scottish Borders £7.17, Orkney Islands £8.00Orkney Islands: £8.00Scottish Borders: £7.17Orkney Islands: £8.04Scottish Borders: £7.20Orkney Islands: £7.59Scottish Borders: £6.80

    £7.17£7.20£6.80Orkney Islands is higherDepends on how you count£8.00£8.04£7.59

  17. State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    State Pension, per 1,000 residents: Scottish Borders 259.7, Orkney Islands 242.5Orkney Islands: 242.5Scottish Borders: 259.7

    259.7Scottish Borders is higher242.5

  18. Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    Pension Credit, per 1,000 residents: Scottish Borders 21.3, Orkney Islands 18.1Orkney Islands: 18.1Scottish Borders: 21.3

    21.3Scottish Borders is higher18.1

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

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, per 1,000 residents: Scottish Borders 34.6, Orkney Islands 34.8Orkney Islands: 34.8Scottish Borders: 34.6

    34.6Orkney Islands is higherDepends on how you count34.8

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per 1,000 residents: Scottish Borders 71.6, Orkney Islands 63.6Orkney Islands: 63.6Scottish Borders: 71.6

    71.6Scottish Borders is higher63.6

  21. Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 2026

    Universal Credit, per 1,000 residents: Scottish Borders 102.5, Orkney Islands 75.2Orkney Islands: 75.2Scottish Borders: 102.5

    102.5Scottish Borders is higher75.2

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

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, per 1,000 residents: Scottish Borders 13.5, Orkney Islands 11.1Orkney Islands: 11.1Scottish Borders: 13.5

    13.5Scottish Borders is higher11.1

Show the numbers
Scottish Borders and Orkney Islands, per resident
MeasureScottish BordersOrkney IslandsHigher
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25£4,986£5,007£4,729Estimated£4,381£4,399£4,155EstimatedScottish Borders
Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25£3,165£3,178£3,002Estimated£2,891£2,903£2,742EstimatedScottish Borders
Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25£1,052£1,056£998Estimated£803£806£761EstimatedScottish Borders
State Pensionper resident, 2024-25£2,948£2,961£2,797£2,653£2,664£2,516Scottish Borders
Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25£76£76£72£79£79£75Orkney Islands
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£137£137£129Estimated£155£156£147EstimatedOrkney Islands
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper resident, 2024-25£4.15£4.17£3.94Estimated£4.30£4.32£4.08EstimatedOrkney Islands
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£449£451£426Estimated£426£428£404EstimatedScottish Borders
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£121£122£115Estimated£123£124£117EstimatedOrkney Islands
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper resident, 2024-25£56£57£53Estimated£49£49£47EstimatedScottish Borders
Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25£777£780£737£559£561£530Scottish Borders
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25£192£192£182£129£130£123Scottish Borders
Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25£211£212£200£192£193£182Scottish Borders
Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25£3.68£3.69£3.49£0.57£0.57£0.54Scottish Borders
Income Supportper resident, 2024-25£3.29£3.30£3.12£2.34£2.35£2.22Scottish Borders
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25£7.17£7.20£6.80Estimated£8.00£8.04£7.59EstimatedOrkney Islands
State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026259.7242.5Scottish Borders
Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 202621.318.1Scottish Borders
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 202634.634.8Orkney Islands
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 202671.663.6Scottish Borders
Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 2026102.575.2Scottish Borders
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 202613.5Estimated11.1EstimatedScottish Borders

Total

Scottish Borders is higher on 22 of 22 measures, and Orkney Islands on 0. 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

Scottish Borders Orkney Islands

  1. All benefitstotal, 2024-25

    All benefits, total: Scottish Borders £584.3m, Orkney Islands £96.4mOrkney Islands: £96.4mScottish Borders: £584.3mOrkney Islands: £96.8mScottish Borders: £586.8mOrkney Islands: £91.4mScottish Borders: £554.2m

    £584.3m£586.8m£554.2mScottish Borders is higher£96.4m£96.8m£91.4m

  2. Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Pensioner benefits, total: Scottish Borders £370.9m, Orkney Islands £63.6mOrkney Islands: £63.6mScottish Borders: £370.9mOrkney Islands: £63.9mScottish Borders: £372.5mOrkney Islands: £60.3mScottish Borders: £351.8m

    £370.9m£372.5m£351.8mScottish Borders is higher£63.6m£63.9m£60.3m

  3. Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Working-age benefits, total: Scottish Borders £123.2m, Orkney Islands £17.7mOrkney Islands: £17.7mScottish Borders: £123.2mOrkney Islands: £17.7mScottish Borders: £123.8mOrkney Islands: £16.8mScottish Borders: £116.9m

    £123.2m£123.8m£116.9mScottish Borders is higher£17.7m£17.7m£16.8m

  4. State Pensiontotal, 2024-25

    State Pension, total: Scottish Borders £345.5m, Orkney Islands £58.4mOrkney Islands: £58.4mScottish Borders: £345.5mOrkney Islands: £58.6mScottish Borders: £347.0mOrkney Islands: £55.4mScottish Borders: £327.7m

    £345.5m£347.0m£327.7mScottish Borders is higher£58.4m£58.6m£55.4m

  5. Pension Credittotal, 2024-25

    Pension Credit, total: Scottish Borders £8.9m, Orkney Islands £1.7mOrkney Islands: £1.7mScottish Borders: £8.9mOrkney Islands: £1.7mScottish Borders: £8.9mOrkney Islands: £1.6mScottish Borders: £8.4m

    £8.9m£8.9m£8.4mScottish Borders is higherDepends on how you count£1.7m£1.7m£1.6m

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

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, total: Scottish Borders £16.0m, Orkney Islands £3.4mOrkney Islands: £3.4mScottish Borders: £16.0mOrkney Islands: £3.4mScottish Borders: £16.1mOrkney Islands: £3.2mScottish Borders: £15.2m

    £16.0m£16.1m£15.2mScottish Borders is higherDepends on how you count£3.4m£3.4m£3.2m

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

    Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, total: Scottish Borders £0.49m, Orkney Islands £0.09mOrkney Islands: £0.09mScottish Borders: £0.49mOrkney Islands: £0.10mScottish Borders: £0.49mOrkney Islands: £0.09mScottish Borders: £0.46m

    £0.49m£0.49m£0.46mScottish Borders is higherDepends on how you count£0.09m£0.10m£0.09m

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, total: Scottish Borders £52.6m, Orkney Islands £9.4mOrkney Islands: £9.4mScottish Borders: £52.6mOrkney Islands: £9.4mScottish Borders: £52.9mOrkney Islands: £8.9mScottish Borders: £49.9m

    £52.6m£52.9m£49.9mScottish Borders is higher£9.4m£9.4m£8.9m

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

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, total: Scottish Borders £14.2m, Orkney Islands £2.7mOrkney Islands: £2.7mScottish Borders: £14.2mOrkney Islands: £2.7mScottish Borders: £14.3mOrkney Islands: £2.6mScottish Borders: £13.5m

    £14.2m£14.3m£13.5mScottish Borders is higherDepends on how you count£2.7m£2.7m£2.6m

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

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, total: Scottish Borders £6.6m, Orkney Islands £1.1mOrkney Islands: £1.1mScottish Borders: £6.6mOrkney Islands: £1.1mScottish Borders: £6.6mOrkney Islands: £1.0mScottish Borders: £6.3m

    £6.6m£6.6m£6.3mScottish Borders is higher£1.1m£1.1m£1.0m

  11. Universal Credittotal, 2024-25

    Universal Credit, total: Scottish Borders £91.1m, Orkney Islands £12.3mOrkney Islands: £12.3mScottish Borders: £91.1mOrkney Islands: £12.3mScottish Borders: £91.5mOrkney Islands: £11.7mScottish Borders: £86.4m

    £91.1m£91.5m£86.4mScottish Borders is higher£12.3m£12.3m£11.7m

  12. Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, total: Scottish Borders £22.5m, Orkney Islands £2.8mOrkney Islands: £2.8mScottish Borders: £22.5mOrkney Islands: £2.9mScottish Borders: £22.6mOrkney Islands: £2.7mScottish Borders: £21.3m

    £22.5m£22.6m£21.3mScottish Borders is higher£2.8m£2.9m£2.7m

  13. Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25

    Employment and Support Allowance, total: Scottish Borders £24.8m, Orkney Islands £4.2mOrkney Islands: £4.2mScottish Borders: £24.8mOrkney Islands: £4.2mScottish Borders: £24.9mOrkney Islands: £4.0mScottish Borders: £23.5m

    £24.8m£24.9m£23.5mScottish Borders is higher£4.2m£4.2m£4.0m

  14. Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25

    Jobseeker's Allowance, total: Scottish Borders £0.43m, Orkney Islands £0.01mOrkney Islands: £0.01mScottish Borders: £0.43mOrkney Islands: £0.01mScottish Borders: £0.43mOrkney Islands: £0.01mScottish Borders: £0.41m

    £0.43m£0.43m£0.41mScottish Borders is higher£0.01m

  15. Income Supporttotal, 2024-25

    Income Support, total: Scottish Borders £0.39m, Orkney Islands £0.05mOrkney Islands: £0.05mScottish Borders: £0.39mOrkney Islands: £0.05mScottish Borders: £0.39mOrkney Islands: £0.05mScottish Borders: £0.37m

    £0.39m£0.39m£0.37mScottish Borders is higher£0.05m

  16. Other benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Other benefits, total: Scottish Borders £0.84m, Orkney Islands £0.18mOrkney Islands: £0.18mScottish Borders: £0.84mOrkney Islands: £0.18mScottish Borders: £0.84mOrkney Islands: £0.17mScottish Borders: £0.80m

    £0.84m£0.84m£0.80mScottish Borders is higherDepends on how you count£0.18m£0.18m£0.17m

  17. State Pensiontotal, March 2026

    State Pension, total: Scottish Borders 30,439, Orkney Islands 5,335Orkney Islands: 5,335Scottish Borders: 30,439

    30,439Scottish Borders is higher5,335

  18. Pension Credittotal, March 2026

    Pension Credit, total: Scottish Borders 2,493, Orkney Islands 398Orkney Islands: 398Scottish Borders: 2,493

    2,493Scottish Borders is higher398

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

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, total: Scottish Borders 4,055, Orkney Islands 765Orkney Islands: 765Scottish Borders: 4,055

    4,055Scottish Borders is higherDepends on how you count765

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, total: Scottish Borders 8,385, Orkney Islands 1,400Orkney Islands: 1,400Scottish Borders: 8,385

    8,385Scottish Borders is higher1,400

  21. Universal Credittotal, May 2026

    Universal Credit, total: Scottish Borders 12,015, Orkney Islands 1,654Orkney Islands: 1,654Scottish Borders: 12,015

    12,015Scottish Borders is higher1,654

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

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, total: Scottish Borders 1,583, Orkney Islands 244Orkney Islands: 244Scottish Borders: 1,583

    1,583Scottish Borders is higher244

Show the numbers
Scottish Borders and Orkney Islands, total
MeasureScottish BordersOrkney IslandsHigher
All benefitstotal, 2024-25£584.3m£586.8m£554.2mEstimated£96.4m£96.8m£91.4mEstimatedScottish Borders
Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25£370.9m£372.5m£351.8mEstimated£63.6m£63.9m£60.3mEstimatedScottish Borders
Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25£123.2m£123.8m£116.9mEstimated£17.7m£17.7m£16.8mEstimatedScottish Borders
State Pensiontotal, 2024-25£345.5m£347.0m£327.7m£58.4m£58.6m£55.4mScottish Borders
Pension Credittotal, 2024-25£8.9m£8.9m£8.4m£1.7m£1.7m£1.6mScottish Borders
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£16.0m£16.1m£15.2mEstimated£3.4m£3.4m£3.2mEstimatedScottish Borders
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymenttotal, 2024-25£0.49m£0.49m£0.46mEstimated£0.09m£0.10m£0.09mEstimatedScottish Borders
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£52.6m£52.9m£49.9mEstimated£9.4m£9.4m£8.9mEstimatedScottish Borders
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£14.2m£14.3m£13.5mEstimated£2.7m£2.7m£2.6mEstimatedScottish Borders
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, 2024-25£6.6m£6.6m£6.3mEstimated£1.1m£1.1m£1.0mEstimatedScottish Borders
Universal Credittotal, 2024-25£91.1m£91.5m£86.4m£12.3m£12.3m£11.7mScottish Borders
Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25£22.5m£22.6m£21.3m£2.8m£2.9m£2.7mScottish Borders
Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25£24.8m£24.9m£23.5m£4.2m£4.2m£4.0mScottish Borders
Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25£0.43m£0.43m£0.41m£0.01mScottish Borders
Income Supporttotal, 2024-25£0.39m£0.39m£0.37m£0.05mScottish Borders
Other benefitstotal, 2024-25£0.84m£0.84m£0.80mEstimated£0.18m£0.18m£0.17mEstimatedScottish Borders
State Pensiontotal, March 202630,4395,335Scottish Borders
Pension Credittotal, March 20262,493398Scottish Borders
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, March 20264,055765Scottish Borders
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, July 20268,3851,400Scottish Borders
Universal Credittotal, May 202612,0151,654Scottish Borders
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, March 20261,583Estimated244EstimatedScottish Borders

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.