During the first three quarters, the outlay on social security benefits increased by €14.9 million in comparison with last year, mainly due to increases in expenditure on Pensions in respect of Retirement and Social Assistance, the National Statistics Office said today.

Total social security benefits amounted to €638.6 million during the first nine months, a 2.4 per cent rise compared to the corresponding period in 2013. The increase in outlay was due to a €9.2 million increase in expenditure on Contributory Benefits and a €5.7 million increase in Non-Contributory Benefits outlay.

Contributory Benefits expenditure totalled €480.4 million by the end of September, 2.0 per cent higher than 2013. This was mostly due to a €9.7 million rise in outlay on Pensions in respect of Retirement. An increase in expenditure was also registered under Pensions in respect of Widowhood (€2.5 million) and Invalidity (€0.1 million). On the other hand, declines in expenditure were recorded under Contributory Bonus (€2.6 million) and Other Benefits (€0.6 million).

Non-Contributory Benefits increased by 3.8 per cent in the first nine months. This was due to increases in Social Assistance (€4.2million), Old Age Pension (€1.1 million), Disability Pension/Allowance (€0.9 million), Medical Assistance (€0.4 million) and Supplementary Assistance (€0.4 million). The increase in Non-Contributory expenditure was partly offset by drops in Children’s Allowance (€0.9 million) and Bonus (€0.3 million).

In the third quarter, the outlay on social security benefits increased by €8.2 million, to €226.3 million. An increase in expenditure was recorded under Contributory Benefits (€13.3 million), while Non-Contributory benefits declined by €5.1 million during the same period.

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