Government spending towards Contributory Benefits amounted to €355.3 million, a 12.0 per cent increase from the previous year. Pensions in respect of Retirement recorded the largest increase of €27.0 million, following the surge in Increased National Minimum pensioners (1,379). Further increases were registered under Pensions in respect of Widowhood (€3.7 million), Deficiency Contributory Bonus (€3.0 million), Contributory Bonus (€3.0 million), Pensions in respect of Invalidity (€1.3 million) and Other Benefits (€0.1 million) (Table 2).

In the opening three months of 2025, Non-Contributory spending reached €86.4 million, a 7.1 per cent increase in comparison to the previous year. The largest rise was registered under Child Allowance (€4.1 million), ahead of Assistance to Help the Elderly Live Independently (€1.6 million) and Disability Pensions/Allowance (€1.2 million). In contrast, the sharpest drop was recorded under Additional Cost of Living Adjustment (€1.2 million) (Table 3).

Social Security Beneficiaries

By the end of March 2025, the number of Two-Thirds pensioners totalled 58,616 that was 77 additional beneficiaries than the number of persons reported the prior year. The Increased National Minimum Pension recorded the greatest rise (1,379) among Contributory Benefits, while, conversely, the biggest drop was registered under Sickness Benefit (705) (Table 2).

The highest number of Non-Contributory beneficiaries was reported under the Children’s Allowance (42,787), 278 more than the previous year. The largest increase at 290 claimants was recorded under Children’s Allowance Supplement. On the other hand, the biggest decline in recipients was witnessed under Additional Cost of Living Adjustment (3,511) (Table 3).