Social Protection outlay for 2021 totalled €2,721.2 million, a €120.0 million or 4.6% increase from 2020, the National Statistics Office said today.

Higher social outlay was reported for thirteen of Malta’s nineteen schemes.

The largest increase was witnessed under Hospitals and Other Health Care Facilities (€69.0 million), followed by Social Security Contributory Benefits (€50.7 million) and Sickness Days – Employers’ Expenditure (€29.4 million).

The data shows that Old Age and Sickness/Health care benefits accounted for 69.5% of the total.

From the remaining six schemes, the highest decline was recorded under the Covid-19 Support Measures (€64.1 million).

The NSO said that in 2021, 56.6% of social protection was provided in the form of non means-tested cash benefits.

File photo: Gozo News/Alain Salvary

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