Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1422707
2 NEWS 28.10.2021 Government outlay towards social security benefits rose by €27.2 million in Q1-Q3 BETWEEN January and September 2021, spending on Social Security Ben- efits totalled €843.7 million, 3.3 per cent higher than in 2020. A €23.1 million rise in Contributory expenditure was the primary reason behind the increase in spending, together with a €4.1 million increase in Non-Contributory outlay. Government spending towards Con- tributory Benefits amounted to €693.6 million, a 3.4 per cent rise from the pre- vious year. Pensions in respect of Re- tirement recorded the largest increase of €32.9 million, following a rise in the number of Two-irds pensioners (2,280). Further increases were regis- tered under Pensions in respect of Wid- owhood (€4.1 million) and Contribu- tory Bonus (€2.4 million). In contrast, lower expenditure was reported under COVID-19 Benefits (€13.9 million), Other Benefits (€1.8 million), Pensions in respect of Invalidity (€0.5 million) and Benefits in respect of Industrial In- juries and Gratuities (€0.1 million). During the first nine months of 2021, €150.1 million went towards Non-Con- tributory Benefits, a 2.8 per cent rise in comparison to 2020. Increases were reported under Disability Pensions/Al- lowance (€2.3 million), Supplementary Allowance (€1.8 million), Child Allow- ance (€1.6 million) and Total In-Work Benefit (€0.6 million). Conversely, low- er outlay was recorded under Old Age Pension (€1.3 million), Total Social As- sistance (€0.6 million), Non-Contribu- tory Bonus (€0.3 million) and Medical Assistance (€0.1 million). In the third quarter of 2021, social benefits expenditure totalled €261.0 million, 82.3 per cent of which went towards Contributory Benefits (€214.8 million). In comparison to the previous year, minor changes were reported un- der both Contributory (+€1.4 million) and Non-Contributory Benefits (-€1.6 million). Social Security Beneficiaries Between January and September 2021, the largest number of Contributory beneficiaries was recorded under the Two-irds Pension (54,870). Further- more, the 2,280 increase in Two-irds pensioners was the highest reported among the Contributory benefits. On the other hand, the biggest drop in re- cipients was registered under the COV- ID-19 Parent Benefit (3,418). Children's Allowance reported the highest number of Non-Contributory recipients, with 43,587 families in re- ceipt of the benefit. e In-Work Ben- efit recorded the largest increase in beneficiaries of 1,306, while the highest drop in recipients was witnessed under Children's Allowance (819). Similar developments were recorded during the third quarter of 2021, with the Two-irds Pension (53,663 per- sons, 3,315 higher than in 2020) and Children's Allowance (41,520 persons, 524 more than 2020) reporting the largest number of Contributory and Non-Contributory beneficiaries, re- spectively. Contributory Benefits 611,196 670,542 693,609 23,067 3.4 Non-Contributory Benefits 141,750 145,991 150,138 4,147 2.8 Total Social Security Benefits 752,947 816,533 843,747 27,214 3.3 Chart 2. Social Security Benefits Expenditure by ESSPROS functions for January-September 2021 Table 1. Social Security Benefits Expenditure by period and description Jan-Sep 2021 / Jan-Sep 2020 Description Jan-Sep 2019 Jan-Sep 2020 Jan-Sep 2021 Change % change € 000 34.9 22.3 16.0 14.8 6.0 6.0 Non-Contributory Benefits (%) Family and Children Sickness Disability Old Age Social Exclusion n.e.c Unemployment €150.1 million 78.0 18.6 2.1 0.7 0.6 Contributory Benefits (%) Old Age Survivors Disability Sickness Other €693.6 million 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 € millions period Chart 1. Social Security Benefits Expenditure: January-September 2012-2021 Non-Contributory Benefits Contributory Benefits Contributory Benefits 611,196 670,542 693,609 23,067 3.4 Non-Contributory Benefits 141,750 145,991 150,138 4,147 2.8 Total Social Security Benefits 752,947 816,533 843,747 27,214 3.3 Chart 2. Social Security Benefits Expenditure by ESSPROS functions for January-September 2021 Table 1. Social Security Benefits Expenditure by period and description Jan-Sep 2021 / Jan-Sep 2020 Description Jan-Sep 2019 Jan-Sep 2020 Jan-Sep 2021 Change % change € 000 34.9 22.3 16.0 14.8 6.0 6.0 Non-Contributory Benefits (%) Family and Children Sickness Disability Old Age Social Exclusion n.e.c Unemployment €150.1 million 78.0 18.6 2.1 0.7 0.6 Contributory Benefits (%) Old Age Survivors Disability Sickness Other €693.6 million 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 € millions period Chart 1. Social Security Benefits Expenditure: January-September 2012-2021 Non-Contributory Benefits Contributory Benefits Contributory Benefits 611,196 670,542 693,609 23,067 3.4 Non-Contributory Benefits 141,750 145,991 150,138 4,147 2.8 Total Social Security Benefits 752,947 816,533 843,747 27,214 3.3 Chart 2. Social Security Benefits Expenditure by ESSPROS functions for January-September 2021 Table 1. Social Security Benefits Expenditure by period and description Jan-Sep 2021 / Jan-Sep 2020 Description Jan-Sep 2019 Jan-Sep 2020 Jan-Sep 2021 Change % change € 000 34.9 22.3 16.0 14.8 6.0 6.0 Non-Contributory Benefits (%) Family and Children Sickness Disability Old Age Social Exclusion n.e.c Unemployment €150.1 million 78.0 18.6 2.1 0.7 0.6 Contributory Benefits (%) Old Age Survivors Disability Sickness Other €693.6 million 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 € millions period Chart 1. Social Security Benefits Expenditure: January-September 2012-2021 Non-Contributory Benefits Contributory Benefits Social Security Benefits Expenditure by period and description Social Security Benefits Expenditure: January-September 2012-2021 Social Security Benefits Expenditure by ESSPROS functions for January-September 2021