The outlay on social security benefits decreased by €4.4 million in the first half of 2015, in comparison with the same period last year, mostly due to lower expenditure on non-contributory benefits.
Total social security benefits amounted to €407.8 million, reflecting a 1.1 per cent decrease compared to the corresponding period last year.
The decline in outlay was due to a €13.2 million drop in expenditure on non-contributory benefits.
On the other hand, contributory benefits expenditure rose by €8.8 million.
The outlay was €312.3 million by the end of June, 2.9 per cent higher than in 2014.
This was mainly due to an €8.1 million rise in retirement pensions due to an increase in the number of the two-thirds pension beneficiaries.
Non-contributory benefits decreased by 12.2 per cent during the first six months of 2015 and amounted to €95.5 million.
The main reason behind this decline was a drop of €9.6 million in children’s allowance, due to an extra payment being effected in the first six months of 2014.
In the second quarter, the outlay on social security benefits increased by €5 million, to €211 million. Contributory benefits advanced by €5.8 million while expenditure on non-contributory benefits decreased by €0.8 million.