The number of people who depend on social benefits for a living declined to 7,000 last year from 10,000 in 2014, according to figures issued by the National Statistics Office.

The government welcomed the figures, saying the 30% decline had come in a year when Malta had record economic growth and the lowest registered unemployment.

The government observed that those who receive unemployment benefits or social assistance because they are unemployed had dropped to 2,200 and to less than 490 respectively from 3,250 and 960 respectively in 2013.

As a result of these declines, new social benefits could be introduced without impacting the deficit, including the child supplementary benefit given to 14,000 people last year and the work benefit given to 1,400 people.

Some 2,100 people who were previously registering for work now had a job and were still receiving part of the benefit they had before.

More action would be taken to wean people away from social benefits and into employment, the government said.

 

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