€843.7 million spent on social security benefits since January
Some €843.7 million were spent on social security benefits between January and September of this year, an increase of 3.3% or €27.2 million when compared to the same period last year, data by the National Statistics Office shows.
The Government has spent €693.6 million on contributory benefits this year, an increase of 3.4% from 2020, the NSO said.
Pensions saw the largest increase at €32.9 million, as the number of people receiving the two-thirds pensioner rose by 2,280 this year while those who receive a widow’s pension have seen an additional € 4.1 million added to the spend.
Lower spending was reported on COVID-19 benefits, with €13.9 million paid out last year.
Spending on non-contributory benefits rose by 2.8 per cent when compared to 2020, with the disability pensions/allowance increasing by €2.3 million, supplementary allowance by €1.8 million, child allowance by €1.6 million and the total in-work benefit by €0.6 million.
A lower outlay was recorded on the old-age pension, which decreased by €1.3 million, total social assistance by €0.6 million, non-contributory bonus by €0.3 million and medical assistance by €0.1 million.
Between January and September, the largest...