The Social Security Department in the first nine months of this year withdrew sickness benefits to 797 persons; unemployment benefit to 1,609; and single parent allowance to 210.

Minister Chris Said told Parliament yesterday that on the upside, energy benefits had increased from €3,991,928 in 2011 to €4,739,600 this year.

Dr Said was answering a number of questions in Parliament by Labour MP Chris Agius.

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