Who Gets What

Compare local authorities · Wales and South East

Cardiff and Reading

382,028 and 182,809 residents (mid-2024).

Cardiff is higher than Reading on 17 of 22 measures per person in the age group, 19 of 22 per resident and 22 of 22 in total.

On 5 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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Cardiff 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

Cardiff is higher on 17 of 22 measures, and Reading 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

Cardiff Reading

  1. All benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    All benefits, per resident: Cardiff £4,242, Reading £3,289Reading: £3,289Cardiff: £4,242Reading: £3,303Cardiff: £4,260Reading: £3,120Cardiff: £4,024

    £4,242£4,260£4,024Cardiff 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: Cardiff £13,010, Reading £12,426Reading: £12,426Cardiff: £13,010Reading: £12,479Cardiff: £13,065Reading: £11,786Cardiff: £12,341

    £13,010£13,065£12,341Cardiff is higher£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: Cardiff £2,204, Reading £1,764Reading: £1,764Cardiff: £2,204Reading: £1,772Cardiff: £2,213Reading: £1,673Cardiff: £2,090

    £2,204£2,213£2,090Cardiff 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: Cardiff £11,392, Reading £10,862Reading: £10,862Cardiff: £11,392Reading: £10,909Cardiff: £11,441Reading: £10,303Cardiff: £10,806

    £11,392£11,441£10,806Cardiff is higher£10,862£10,909£10,303

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

    Pension Credit, per person aged 66 and over: Cardiff £682, Reading £921Reading: £921Cardiff: £682Reading: £925Cardiff: £685Reading: £874Cardiff: £647

    £682£685£647Reading 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: Cardiff £900, Reading £606Reading: £606Cardiff: £900Reading: £608Cardiff: £904Reading: £575Cardiff: £854

    £900£904£854Cardiff 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: Cardiff £36, Reading £36Reading: £36Cardiff: £36Reading: £36Cardiff: £36Reading: £34Cardiff: £34

    £36£36£34Reading 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: Cardiff £537, Reading £279Reading: £279Cardiff: £537Reading: £280Cardiff: £539Reading: £265Cardiff: £509

    £537£539£509Cardiff is higher£279£280£265

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

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, per resident: Cardiff £112, Reading £113Reading: £113Cardiff: £112Reading: £113Cardiff: £113Reading: £107Cardiff: £107

    £112£113£107Reading is higherDepends on how you count£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: Cardiff £109, Reading £75Reading: £75Cardiff: £109Reading: £75Cardiff: £109Reading: £71Cardiff: £103

    £109£109£103Cardiff is higher£75£75£71

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

    Universal Credit, per person aged 16 to 64: Cardiff £1,730, Reading £1,505Reading: £1,505Cardiff: £1,730Reading: £1,512Cardiff: £1,737Reading: £1,428Cardiff: £1,641

    £1,730£1,737£1,641Cardiff is higher£1,505£1,512£1,428

  12. Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, per resident: Cardiff £297, Reading £250Reading: £250Cardiff: £297Reading: £251Cardiff: £298Reading: £237Cardiff: £281

    £297£298£281Cardiff 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: Cardiff £351, Reading £171Reading: £171Cardiff: £351Reading: £172Cardiff: £352Reading: £162Cardiff: £333

    £351£352£333Cardiff is higher£171£172£162

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

    Jobseeker's Allowance, per person aged 16 to 64: Cardiff £6.56, Reading £8.93Reading: £8.93Cardiff: £6.56Reading: £8.97Cardiff: £6.59Reading: £8.47Cardiff: £6.22

    £6.56£6.59£6.22Reading 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: Cardiff £7.66, Reading £4.39Reading: £4.39Cardiff: £7.66Reading: £4.40Cardiff: £7.70Reading: £4.16Cardiff: £7.27

    £7.66£7.70£7.27Cardiff is higher£4.39£4.40£4.16

  16. Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Other benefits, per resident: Cardiff £5.33, Reading £4.84Reading: £4.84Cardiff: £5.33Reading: £4.86Cardiff: £5.36Reading: £4.59Cardiff: £5.06

    £5.33£5.36£5.06Cardiff 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: Cardiff 1,021.2, Reading 963.7Reading: 963.7Cardiff: 1,021.2

    1,021.2Cardiff 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: Cardiff 139.9, Reading 144.5Reading: 144.5Cardiff: 139.9

    139.9Reading 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: Cardiff 182.4, Reading 128.6Reading: 128.6Cardiff: 182.4

    182.4Cardiff is higher128.6

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per 1,000 residents: Cardiff 75.6, Reading 43.5Reading: 43.5Cardiff: 75.6

    75.6Cardiff is higher43.5

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

    Universal Credit, per 1,000 people aged 16 to 64: Cardiff 196.1, Reading 162.6Reading: 162.6Cardiff: 196.1

    196.1Cardiff is higher162.6

  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: Cardiff 23.7, Reading 16.7Reading: 16.7Cardiff: 23.7

    23.7Cardiff is higher16.7

Show the numbers
Cardiff and Reading, per person in the age group
MeasureCardiffReadingHigher
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25£4,242£4,260£4,024£3,289£3,303£3,120Cardiff
Pensioner benefitsper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£13,010£13,065£12,341£12,426£12,479£11,786Cardiff
Working-age benefitsper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£2,204£2,213£2,090£1,764£1,772£1,673Cardiff
State Pensionper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£11,392£11,441£10,806£10,862£10,909£10,303Cardiff
Pension Creditper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£682£685£647£921£925£874Reading
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£900£904£854£606£608£575Cardiff
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£36£36£34£36£36£34Reading
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£537£539£509£279£280£265Cardiff
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£112£113£107£113£113£107Reading
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£109£109£103£75£75£71Cardiff
Universal Creditper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£1,730£1,737£1,641£1,505£1,512£1,428Cardiff
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25£297£298£281£250£251£237Cardiff
Employment and Support Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£351£352£333£171£172£162Cardiff
Jobseeker's Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£6.56£6.59£6.22£8.93£8.97£8.47Reading
Income Supportper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£7.66£7.70£7.27£4.39£4.40£4.16Cardiff
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25£5.33£5.36£5.06£4.84£4.86£4.59Cardiff
State Pensionper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 20261,021.2963.7Cardiff
Pension Creditper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026139.9144.5Reading
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026182.4128.6Cardiff
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 202675.643.5Cardiff
Universal Creditper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, May 2026196.1162.6Cardiff
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, March 202623.716.7Cardiff

Per resident

Cardiff is higher on 19 of 22 measures, and Reading on 3. 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

Cardiff Reading

  1. All benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    All benefits, per resident: Cardiff £4,242, Reading £3,289Reading: £3,289Cardiff: £4,242Reading: £3,303Cardiff: £4,260Reading: £3,120Cardiff: £4,024

    £4,242£4,260£4,024Cardiff is higher£3,289£3,303£3,120

  2. Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Pensioner benefits, per resident: Cardiff £1,791, Reading £1,418Reading: £1,418Cardiff: £1,791Reading: £1,424Cardiff: £1,798Reading: £1,345Cardiff: £1,698

    £1,791£1,798£1,698Cardiff is higher£1,418£1,424£1,345

  3. Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Working-age benefits, per resident: Cardiff £1,500, Reading £1,225Reading: £1,225Cardiff: £1,500Reading: £1,230Cardiff: £1,507Reading: £1,162Cardiff: £1,423

    £1,500£1,507£1,423Cardiff is higher£1,225£1,230£1,162

  4. State Pensionper resident, 2024-25

    State Pension, per resident: Cardiff £1,568, Reading £1,239Reading: £1,239Cardiff: £1,568Reading: £1,245Cardiff: £1,575Reading: £1,176Cardiff: £1,487

    £1,568£1,575£1,487Cardiff is higher£1,239£1,245£1,176

  5. Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25

    Pension Credit, per resident: Cardiff £94, Reading £105Reading: £105Cardiff: £94Reading: £106Cardiff: £94Reading: £100Cardiff: £89

    £94£94£89Reading 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: Cardiff £124, Reading £69Reading: £69Cardiff: £124Reading: £69Cardiff: £124Reading: £66Cardiff: £118

    £124£124£118Cardiff 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: Cardiff £4.92, Reading £4.14Reading: £4.14Cardiff: £4.92Reading: £4.16Cardiff: £4.94Reading: £3.93Cardiff: £4.67

    £4.92£4.94£4.67Cardiff 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: Cardiff £537, Reading £279Reading: £279Cardiff: £537Reading: £280Cardiff: £539Reading: £265Cardiff: £509

    £537£539£509Cardiff is higher£279£280£265

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

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, per resident: Cardiff £112, Reading £113Reading: £113Cardiff: £112Reading: £113Cardiff: £113Reading: £107Cardiff: £107

    £112£113£107Reading is higherDepends on how you count£113£113£107

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

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, per resident: Cardiff £74, Reading £52Reading: £52Cardiff: £74Reading: £52Cardiff: £74Reading: £49Cardiff: £70

    £74£74£70Cardiff is higher£52£52£49

  11. Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25

    Universal Credit, per resident: Cardiff £1,178, Reading £1,045Reading: £1,045Cardiff: £1,178Reading: £1,049Cardiff: £1,183Reading: £991Cardiff: £1,117

    £1,178£1,183£1,117Cardiff is higher£1,045£1,049£991

  12. Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, per resident: Cardiff £297, Reading £250Reading: £250Cardiff: £297Reading: £251Cardiff: £298Reading: £237Cardiff: £281

    £297£298£281Cardiff is higher£250£251£237

  13. Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25

    Employment and Support Allowance, per resident: Cardiff £239, Reading £119Reading: £119Cardiff: £239Reading: £119Cardiff: £240Reading: £113Cardiff: £226

    £239£240£226Cardiff is higher£119£119£113

  14. Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25

    Jobseeker's Allowance, per resident: Cardiff £4.47, Reading £6.20Reading: £6.20Cardiff: £4.47Reading: £6.23Cardiff: £4.49Reading: £5.88Cardiff: £4.24

    £4.47£4.49£4.24Reading is higherDepends on how you count£6.20£6.23£5.88

  15. Income Supportper resident, 2024-25

    Income Support, per resident: Cardiff £5.22, Reading £3.05Reading: £3.05Cardiff: £5.22Reading: £3.06Cardiff: £5.24Reading: £2.89Cardiff: £4.95

    £5.22£5.24£4.95Cardiff is higher£3.05£3.06£2.89

  16. Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Other benefits, per resident: Cardiff £5.33, Reading £4.84Reading: £4.84Cardiff: £5.33Reading: £4.86Cardiff: £5.36Reading: £4.59Cardiff: £5.06

    £5.33£5.36£5.06Cardiff is higher£4.84£4.86£4.59

  17. State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    State Pension, per 1,000 residents: Cardiff 140.5, Reading 110.0Reading: 110.0Cardiff: 140.5

    140.5Cardiff is higher110.0

  18. Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    Pension Credit, per 1,000 residents: Cardiff 19.3, Reading 16.5Reading: 16.5Cardiff: 19.3

    19.3Cardiff is higherDepends 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: Cardiff 25.1, Reading 14.7Reading: 14.7Cardiff: 25.1

    25.1Cardiff is higher14.7

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per 1,000 residents: Cardiff 75.6, Reading 43.5Reading: 43.5Cardiff: 75.6

    75.6Cardiff is higher43.5

  21. Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 2026

    Universal Credit, per 1,000 residents: Cardiff 133.5, Reading 112.9Reading: 112.9Cardiff: 133.5

    133.5Cardiff is higher112.9

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

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, per 1,000 residents: Cardiff 16.2, Reading 11.6Reading: 11.6Cardiff: 16.2

    16.2Cardiff is higher11.6

Show the numbers
Cardiff and Reading, per resident
MeasureCardiffReadingHigher
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25£4,242£4,260£4,024£3,289£3,303£3,120Cardiff
Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25£1,791£1,798£1,698£1,418£1,424£1,345Cardiff
Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25£1,500£1,507£1,423£1,225£1,230£1,162Cardiff
State Pensionper resident, 2024-25£1,568£1,575£1,487£1,239£1,245£1,176Cardiff
Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25£94£94£89£105£106£100Reading
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£124£124£118£69£69£66Cardiff
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper resident, 2024-25£4.92£4.94£4.67£4.14£4.16£3.93Cardiff
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£537£539£509£279£280£265Cardiff
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£112£113£107£113£113£107Reading
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper resident, 2024-25£74£74£70£52£52£49Cardiff
Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25£1,178£1,183£1,117£1,045£1,049£991Cardiff
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25£297£298£281£250£251£237Cardiff
Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25£239£240£226£119£119£113Cardiff
Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25£4.47£4.49£4.24£6.20£6.23£5.88Reading
Income Supportper resident, 2024-25£5.22£5.24£4.95£3.05£3.06£2.89Cardiff
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25£5.33£5.36£5.06£4.84£4.86£4.59Cardiff
State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026140.5110.0Cardiff
Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 202619.316.5Cardiff
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 202625.114.7Cardiff
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 202675.643.5Cardiff
Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 2026133.5112.9Cardiff
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 202616.211.6Cardiff

Total

Cardiff is higher on 22 of 22 measures, and Reading 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

Cardiff Reading

  1. All benefitstotal, 2024-25

    All benefits, total: Cardiff £1.6bn, Reading £601.3mReading: £601.3mCardiff: £1.6bnReading: £603.8mCardiff: £1.6bnReading: £570.3mCardiff: £1.5bn

    £1.6bn£1.6bn£1.5bnCardiff is higher£601.3m£603.8m£570.3m

  2. Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Pensioner benefits, total: Cardiff £684.0m, Reading £259.2mReading: £259.2mCardiff: £684.0mReading: £260.3mCardiff: £687.0mReading: £245.9mCardiff: £648.8m

    £684.0m£687.0m£648.8mCardiff is higher£259.2m£260.3m£245.9m

  3. Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Working-age benefits, total: Cardiff £573.2m, Reading £223.9mReading: £223.9mCardiff: £573.2mReading: £224.8mCardiff: £575.6mReading: £212.3mCardiff: £543.7m

    £573.2m£575.6m£543.7mCardiff is higher£223.9m£224.8m£212.3m

  4. State Pensiontotal, 2024-25

    State Pension, total: Cardiff £599.0m, Reading £226.6mReading: £226.6mCardiff: £599.0mReading: £227.6mCardiff: £601.5mReading: £214.9mCardiff: £568.2m

    £599.0m£601.5m£568.2mCardiff is higher£226.6m£227.6m£214.9m

  5. Pension Credittotal, 2024-25

    Pension Credit, total: Cardiff £35.8m, Reading £19.2mReading: £19.2mCardiff: £35.8mReading: £19.3mCardiff: £36.0mReading: £18.2mCardiff: £34.0m

    £35.8m£36.0m£34.0mCardiff 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: Cardiff £47.3m, Reading £12.6mReading: £12.6mCardiff: £47.3mReading: £12.7mCardiff: £47.5mReading: £12.0mCardiff: £44.9m

    £47.3m£47.5m£44.9mCardiff 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: Cardiff £1.9m, Reading £0.76mReading: £0.76mCardiff: £1.9mReading: £0.76mCardiff: £1.9mReading: £0.72mCardiff: £1.8m

    £1.9m£1.9m£1.8mCardiff 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: Cardiff £205.0m, Reading £51.0mReading: £51.0mCardiff: £205.0mReading: £51.3mCardiff: £205.9mReading: £48.4mCardiff: £194.4m

    £205.0m£205.9m£194.4mCardiff is higher£51.0m£51.3m£48.4m

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

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, total: Cardiff £42.9m, Reading £20.7mReading: £20.7mCardiff: £42.9mReading: £20.7mCardiff: £43.1mReading: £19.6mCardiff: £40.7m

    £42.9m£43.1m£40.7mCardiff is higherDepends on how you count£20.7m£20.7m£19.6m

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

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, total: Cardiff £28.3m, Reading £9.5mReading: £9.5mCardiff: £28.3mReading: £9.5mCardiff: £28.4mReading: £9.0mCardiff: £26.8m

    £28.3m£28.4m£26.8mCardiff is higher£9.5m£9.5m£9.0m

  11. Universal Credittotal, 2024-25

    Universal Credit, total: Cardiff £450.0m, Reading £191.0mReading: £191.0mCardiff: £450.0mReading: £191.8mCardiff: £451.9mReading: £181.2mCardiff: £426.8m

    £450.0m£451.9m£426.8mCardiff is higher£191.0m£191.8m£181.2m

  12. Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, total: Cardiff £113.3m, Reading £45.6mReading: £45.6mCardiff: £113.3mReading: £45.8mCardiff: £113.8mReading: £43.3mCardiff: £107.5m

    £113.3m£113.8m£107.5mCardiff is higher£45.6m£45.8m£43.3m

  13. Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25

    Employment and Support Allowance, total: Cardiff £91.2m, Reading £21.7mReading: £21.7mCardiff: £91.2mReading: £21.8mCardiff: £91.6mReading: £20.6mCardiff: £86.5m

    £91.2m£91.6m£86.5mCardiff is higher£21.7m£21.8m£20.6m

  14. Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25

    Jobseeker's Allowance, total: Cardiff £1.7m, Reading £1.1mReading: £1.1mCardiff: £1.7mReading: £1.1mCardiff: £1.7mReading: £1.1mCardiff: £1.6m

    £1.7m£1.7m£1.6mCardiff is higherDepends on how you count£1.1m

  15. Income Supporttotal, 2024-25

    Income Support, total: Cardiff £2.0m, Reading £0.56mReading: £0.56mCardiff: £2.0mReading: £0.56mCardiff: £2.0mReading: £0.53mCardiff: £1.9m

    £2.0m£2.0m£1.9mCardiff is higher£0.56m£0.56m£0.53m

  16. Other benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Other benefits, total: Cardiff £2.0m, Reading £0.88mReading: £0.88mCardiff: £2.0mReading: £0.89mCardiff: £2.0mReading: £0.84mCardiff: £1.9m

    £2.0m£2.0m£1.9mCardiff is higher£0.88m£0.89m£0.84m

  17. State Pensiontotal, March 2026

    State Pension, total: Cardiff 53,692, Reading 20,103Reading: 20,103Cardiff: 53,692

    53,692Cardiff is higher20,103

  18. Pension Credittotal, March 2026

    Pension Credit, total: Cardiff 7,358, Reading 3,015Reading: 3,015Cardiff: 7,358

    7,358Cardiff 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: Cardiff 9,592, Reading 2,682Reading: 2,682Cardiff: 9,592

    9,592Cardiff is higher2,682

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

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, total: Cardiff 28,870, Reading 7,952Reading: 7,952Cardiff: 28,870

    28,870Cardiff is higher7,952

  21. Universal Credittotal, May 2026

    Universal Credit, total: Cardiff 51,000, Reading 20,634Reading: 20,634Cardiff: 51,000

    51,000Cardiff is higher20,634

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

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, total: Cardiff 6,171, Reading 2,122Reading: 2,122Cardiff: 6,171

    6,171Cardiff is higher2,122

Show the numbers
Cardiff and Reading, total
MeasureCardiffReadingHigher
All benefitstotal, 2024-25£1.6bn£1.6bn£1.5bn£601.3m£603.8m£570.3mCardiff
Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25£684.0m£687.0m£648.8m£259.2m£260.3m£245.9mCardiff
Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25£573.2m£575.6m£543.7m£223.9m£224.8m£212.3mCardiff
State Pensiontotal, 2024-25£599.0m£601.5m£568.2m£226.6m£227.6m£214.9mCardiff
Pension Credittotal, 2024-25£35.8m£36.0m£34.0m£19.2m£19.3m£18.2mCardiff
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£47.3m£47.5m£44.9m£12.6m£12.7m£12.0mCardiff
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymenttotal, 2024-25£1.9m£1.9m£1.8m£0.76m£0.76m£0.72mCardiff
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£205.0m£205.9m£194.4m£51.0m£51.3m£48.4mCardiff
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£42.9m£43.1m£40.7m£20.7m£20.7m£19.6mCardiff
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, 2024-25£28.3m£28.4m£26.8m£9.5m£9.5m£9.0mCardiff
Universal Credittotal, 2024-25£450.0m£451.9m£426.8m£191.0m£191.8m£181.2mCardiff
Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25£113.3m£113.8m£107.5m£45.6m£45.8m£43.3mCardiff
Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25£91.2m£91.6m£86.5m£21.7m£21.8m£20.6mCardiff
Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25£1.7m£1.7m£1.6m£1.1mCardiff
Income Supporttotal, 2024-25£2.0m£2.0m£1.9m£0.56m£0.56m£0.53mCardiff
Other benefitstotal, 2024-25£2.0m£2.0m£1.9m£0.88m£0.89m£0.84mCardiff
State Pensiontotal, March 202653,69220,103Cardiff
Pension Credittotal, March 20267,3583,015Cardiff
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, March 20269,5922,682Cardiff
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, July 202628,8707,952Cardiff
Universal Credittotal, May 202651,00020,634Cardiff
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, March 20266,1712,122Cardiff

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.