Expenditure on social security benefits rose by 19.2 per cent in the first three months of this year, driven mainly by outlays on retirement and widow's pensions and children's allowances, the National Statistics Office said yesterday.

Total expenditure on social security benefits amounted to €174 million, up by €28 million over the same period last year. This reflected mainly higher expenditure on contributory benefits amounting to €18.1 million. Non-contributory benefits increased by €9.9 million.

The increase in contributory benefits was essentially the result of a €7.6 million growth in retirement pensions, which amounted to €82.7 million. This hike was primarily underpinned by outlays on the two-thirds pension, in part reflecting a rise in the number of beneficiaries.

Pensions in respect of invalidity declined marginally while benefits connected to industrial injuries edged up.

Widow's pensions rose by €7.3 million because four payments (instead of three) were made.

The contributory bonus went up by €3.3 million reflecting the introduction of a one-time payment of €3 million as a cost of living adjustment. Non-contributory benefits increased by €9.9 million over the same period last year. Within this category there was a rise of €6.8 million in children's allowances resulting from a one-time payment of €5.3 million to new beneficiaries.

Other increases were recorded under medical assistance, up by €1.3 million, and the non-contributory bonus, which stepped up by €1.1 million.

This increase included a one-time payment of €0.4 million as cost of living adjustment.