Spending on social security benefits rose 3.2 per cent over the first three quarters of the year to reach €726 million, new data published on Wednesday shows.

The vast majority of that - €584.9 million – was spent on contributory benefits, with spending there 4.1 per cent (€23 million) higher than the corresponding nine months of 2017.

That increase was primarily down to a €19 million rise in spending on retirement pensions. Further increases were recorded in spending on widowhood pensions (€3.4 million) and contributory bonus (€1.6 million).

On the other hand, drops in outlay of €0.5 million and €0.3 million were reported under other benefits and invalidity pensions spending.

Non-Contributory outlay amounted to €141.1 million, €0.4 million lower than 2017. This followed a €5 million decrease reported under Total Social Assistance, which was directly correlated to a lower number of beneficiaries.

There were further drops in expenditure in Medical Assistance (€0.4 million),
Child Allowance and Non-Contributory Bonus (both €0.1 million). The largest increase was reported in spending on the Old Age Pension (€2.2 million), followed by Disability Pension/Allowance (€2.0 million) and In-Work Benefit (€1 million).

By the end of September 2018, 48,440 people were receiving the Two-Thirds Pension – 1,231 more than in the same period of 2017.

On the other hand, 639 fewer people received a Retirement Pension.

43,093 people received a children’s allowance – the largest cohort of non-contributory beneficiaries - followed by Supplementary Assistance (24,587). The In-Work Benefit recorded the largest increase in beneficiaries with 941 more recipients while, conversely, the biggest drop was reported by the Unemployment
Assistance (548).