Social spending up by €15m over 2014, drop in unemployment beneficiaries

Total social security benefits amounted to €868.4 million in 2015, reflecting a 1.8 per cent increase when compared to 2014.

The increase in expenditure was due to a €22.6 million rise in Contributory Benefits outlay. On the other hand, Non-Contributory Benefits expenditure decreased by €7.1 million.

Contributory Benefits outlay amounted to €668.2 million, 3.5 per cent higher than 2014. The rise in outlay was mainly due to a €20.4 million rise in Pensions in respect of Retirement. Conversely, Non-Contributory Benefits decreased by 3.4 per cent during 2015, totalling €200.2 million.

A €9.7 million decline in Children’s Allowance was the main reason behind such decrease, due to an extra payment being effected in 2014.

In the fourth quarter of 2015, the outlay on social security benefits increased by €6 million, to €220.4 million. A rise in outlay was recorded for Contributory Benefits (€7 million) due to a €6.3 million increase in retirement pensions.

On the other hand, Non-Contributory Benefits expenditure declined by €1 million following a similar decline in social assistance outlay.

Social Security Beneficiaries

In 2015, Social Security Contributory beneficiaries consisted mainly of people earning two-thirds pensions (43,432) and sickness benefit (19,346).

When compared to 2014, Two-Thirds Pension beneficiaries increased by 2,109, while Unemployment Benefit recorded the highest decline in beneficiaries by 663.

In the Non-Contributory Benefits category Children Allowance and Supplementary Allowance registered the largest cohorts of beneficiaries in 2015 with 43,246 and 24,891 respectively. The largest increase in beneficiaries was recorded under Unemployment Assistance Taper (1,513), while the biggest drop was in Social Assistance (3,044). The one-time Child Supplement Benefit was disbursed to 13,976 beneficiaries, whereas the new In-Work Benefit was paid out to 1,359 persons.