Total expenditure on social security benefits amounted to €814.5 million in 2013, a €31.9 million rise compared to the previous year.

This 4.1 per cent increase was mostly due to increases in retirement pensions, social assistance and children’s allowance, according to the National Statistics Office.

Contributory benefits – which went up by €20 million to €625 million – showed rises in pensions through retirement costing €411 million, marking in increase of €15.2 million. Two-thirds pensions increased by €23.1 million and reached €313 million.

A total of €189.5 million was spent on non-contributory benefits last year, 6.7 per cent more than 2012. This was mainly due to increases under social assistance (up €6.1 million to €75.3 million) and children’s allowance (up €3.4 million to €43 million).

Last year the outlay on social security benefits made up 11.3 per cent of the GDP, the NSO said.

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