Social security benefits increased by €56.6 million in the first six months of 2017, when compared to the same period last year, according to official figures.

Social security benefits expenditure amounted to €479.8 million during the first half of 2017, resulting in a 13.4 per cent rise from the same period in 2016. A €53.4 million increase in contributory benefits outlay was the catalyst for the rise in benefits.

Contributory benefits outlay totalled €383.5 million, a 16.2 per cent increase from the corresponding six months in 2016. The main reason for the rise in such expenditure was a €46.7 million increase registered under pensions in respect of retirement, following a double payment in June 2017.

Further increases were recorded by pensions in respect of widowhood and contributory bonus.

On the other hand, declines in outlay were registered under pensions in respect
of invalidity and other benefits.

During the first half of 2017, the two-thirds pension contained the largest cohort of contributory beneficiaries (45,738), also recording the biggest rise in beneficiaries with 1,844 more recipients in comparison to the same six month period in 2016.

On the other hand, the sickness benefit and the unemployment benefit registered the largest declines in recipients.