Spending on social security benefits amounted to €857.6 million during first half of 2025 – NSO

From January to June 2025, Government outlay towards Social Security Benefits rose by €85.3 million in comparison to 2024, the National Statistics Office (NSO) said.

During the first half of 2025, spending on Social Security Benefits amounted to €857.6 million, 11% higher than the €772.3 million recorded by the end of June 2024. Higher expenditure was reported for both Contributory (€63.7 million) and Non-Contributory Benefits (€21.6 million), the NSO said.

Government spending towards Contributory Benefits amounted to €668.7 million, a 10.5% increase from the previous year. Pensions in respect of Retirement recorded the largest increase of €45.1 million, following a €28 million rise in Two-Thirds Pension outlay. “Further increases were registered under Pensions in respect of Widowhood (€9.4 million), Contributory Bonus (€4.7 million), Deficiency Contributory Bonus (€3 million), Pensions in respect of Invalidity (€1.3 million) and Other Benefits (€0.3 million).”

Between January and June 2025, Non-Contributory spending reached €188.9 million, a 12.9% increase in comparison to the previous year. The largest rise was registered under Child Allowance (€9.7 million), ahead of the Additional Cost of Living Adjustment (€6.4 million) and Disability Pensions/Allowance (€3 million). In contrast, the sharpest drop was recorded under Total Social Assistance (€0.4 million), the NSO added.

Social Security Beneficiaries

“By the end of June 2025, the number of Two-Thirds pensioners totalled 60,505, resulting in an additional 605 beneficiaries than the number of persons reported in the same period of the prior year. The Increased National Minimum Pension recorded the greatest rise (1,014) among Contributory Benefits, while, conversely, the biggest drop was registered under Sickness Benefit (645).”

“The highest number of Non-Contributory beneficiaries was reported under the Additional Cost of Living Adjustment (97,115), despite reporting the biggest drop (1,179) in recipients. On the other hand, the largest increase at 2,680 claimants was recorded under Special Allowance For Post-Secondary Students.”