Government spends nearly €10m more on social benefits in Q1 – NSO
During the first quarter of 2021, Government outlay towards Social Security Benefits rose by €9.7 million, the NSO said today.
Between January and March 2021, spending on Social Security Benefits totalled €252.7 million, a 4.0 per cent rise from the previous year. An €11.1 million rise in Contributory expenditure largely explains the increase in spending, partially offset by a €1.5 million drop in Non-Contributory outlay.
Government spending towards Contributory Benefits amounted to €205.4 million, 5.7 per cent higher than 2020. Pensions in respect of Retirement recorded the largest increase of €9.3 million, primarily the result of a rise in the number of Two-Thirds pensioners (1,581).
Further increases were registered under Contributory Bonus (€1.3 million), Pensions in respect of Widowhood (€0.7 million) and Other Benefits (€0.2 million). In contrast, lower expenditure was reported under Pensions in respect of Invalidity (€0.2 million) and Benefits in respect of Industrial Injuries and Gratuities (€0.1 million).
By the end of the first quarter of 2021, €47.3 million went towards Non-Contributory Benefits, a 3.0 per cent drop in comparison to 2020. The largest decrease was reported under Old Age Pension (€1.7 million), with additional drops reported under Disability Pensions/Allowance (€0.8 million), Total Social Assistance (€0.4 million), Non-Contributory Bonus (€0.3 million), Total In
Work Benefit and Medical Assistance (both €0.1 million).
Conversely, spending towards Child Allowance and Supplementary Allowance rose by €1.3 million and €0.7 million, respectively.
Social Security Beneficiaries
In the first quarter of 2021, the largest number of Contributory beneficiaries was reported under the Two-Thirds Pension (51,804). Furthermore, the 1,581 increase in the number of Two-Thirds Pension beneficiaries was the highest registered among the Contributory Benefits.
On the other hand, the biggest drop in recipients was witnessed under the Sickness Benefit (1,289). Children’s Allowance reported the highest share of Non-Contributory recipients, with 41,329 families in receipt of the benefit. The same benefit recorded the largest increase (999) in beneficiaries, while the highest drop in recipients was witnessed under Supplementary Allowance (612).