Total expenditure of social security benefits at €533.7 million

Statistics published by the National Statistics Office (NSO) reveal that the benefits expenditure rose by 6.3 per cent between January and September of this year. This rise was mainly due to higher expenditure on contributory benefits, which amount to €28.1 million.

The NSO attributed the increase in contributory benefits to the €18.7 million growth in pensions, in respect of retirement which totalled €262.5 million. Pensions in respect of widowhood increased by €4.2 million, whilst pensions in respect of invalidity declined by €1.6 million.

Benefits relating to industrial injuries declined marginally.

The NSO statistics show that over the corresponding period of last year, the outlay on non-contributory benefits increase by €3.6 milion. This was attributed to a €2 million rise in social assistance and a rise of €1 million and €0.7 million is old age pension and medical assistance  respectively.

Children’s allowance and supplementary assistance declined by €0.8 million and €0.2 million respectively.

During the third quarter, social security benefits amounted to €157 million, an increase of €9.3 million compared to the same quarter last year.