Higher retirement pensions accounted for most of the €28.3 million increase in the government’s social security spending in 2018.

The 3 per cent rise brought the total to €965.2 million, according to the National Statistics Office.

Contributory benefits rose by €29.3 million while non-contributory benefits dropped by €0.9 million.

In 2018, the largest cohort of contributory beneficiaries was reported under the two-thirds pension (48,987), with 645 more recipients than 2017. However, there was a drop of 763 receiving retirement pensions.

The majority of non-contributory recipients consisted of children’s allowance (43,917), followed by supplementary assistance (24,967). The in-work benefit recorded the largest increase in recipients with 1,143 more than 2017.
Conversely, the biggest drop was reported in those receiving unemployment assistance (562).