- Between January and March 2023, spending on Social Security Benefits totalled €359.2 million, 7.5 per cent higher than the previous year.
- Contributory Benefits outlay totalled €287.4 million by the end of March 2023, a 5.9 per cent increase from 2022.
- Non-Contributory expenditure amounted to €71.8 million, 14.7 per cent higher than 2022.
- The principal catalyst for the reported increase in Contributory Benefits were an additional 735 Two-Thirds pensioners. In fact, the largest cohort of Contributory beneficiaries was reported under the Two-Thirds Pension (56,332).
- A total of 41,760 families received Children’s Allowance during the first quarter of 2023.
Social Security Benefits Expenditure
Between January and March 2023, spending on Social Security Benefits totalled €359.2 million, 7.5 per cent higher than the previous year. Higher expenditure was reported for both Contributory (€15.9 million) and Non-Contributory Benefits (€9.2 million) (Table 1).
Government spending towards Contributory Benefits amounted to €287.4 million, a 5.9 per cent rise from 2022. Pensions in respect of Retirement recorded the largest increase of €8.8 million, a result of 735 more persons in receipt of the Two-Thirds Pension. Further increases were registered under Contributory Bonus (€4.3 million) and Pensions in respect of Widowhood (€2.8 million). The rise in outlay was marginally offset by a €0.1 million drop witnessed under Pensions in respect of Invalidity (Table 2).
By the end of March 2023, €71.8 million went towards Non-Contributory Benefits, a 14.7 per cent increase in comparison to the previous year. Increases were recorded under all benefit categories, which consisted of Total In-Work Benefit (€2.3 million), Total Social Assistance (€1.6 million), Child Allowance (€1.3 million), Total Supplementary Allowance (€1.2 million), Disability Pensions/Allowance (€1.0 million), Assistance to help the Elderly Live Independently (€0.9 million), Non-Contributory Bonus (€0.3 million), Age Pension (€0.3 million), Medical Assistance (€0.2 million) and Carers Allowances/Grants (€0.1 million) (Table 3).
Social Security Beneficiaries
During the first quarter of 2023, the largest number of Contributory beneficiaries was recorded under the Two-Thirds Pension (56,332). Survivors Pension reported the highest increase among recipients, with 988 additional beneficiaries when compared to 2022. On the other hand, the biggest drop in recipients was registered under Retirement Pension (984) (Table 2).
Children’s Allowance reported the highest number of Non-Contributory recipients, with 41,760 families in receipt of the benefit. In-Work Benefit recorded the largest increase in beneficiaries at 16,285,1 while the largest decline in recipients was witnessed under Sickness Assistance (348) (Table 3).
1 Refer to methodological note 3.
Chart 1. Social Security Benefits Expenditure
January-March in euro
No Data Found
Chart 2. Social Security Benefits Expenditure by ESSPROS functions
Contributory Benefits (%)
January-March 2023
No Data Found
Non-Contributory Benefits (%)
January-March 2023
No Data Found
