Number of social security recipients stable

  • 402 thousand people on social security
  • Further increase among over-27s
  • Fewer young social security recipients

According to the latest figures released by Statistics Netherlands, 402 thousand people under AOW (old age pension) entitlement age received social security benefits by the end of September, i.e. as many as in the second quarter.

In the third quarter, the number of people on social security aged 27 years or older grew by nearly 4 thousand. At the same time, the number of young social security recipients declined by nearly 4 thousand. The growth among over-27s is less substantial than in the first two quarters of 2013, when the number of recipients in this age category rose by an average of 9 thousand each quarter. In the third quarter of 2011 and 2012, the number of young recipients had also decreased.

Within twenty-four months, the number of social security recipients has grown by 40 thousand. The increase was only found among people older than 27. The number of young people under the age of 27 living on social security is approximately the same as two years ago. Municipal authorities try hard to restrict the inflow into the social security scheme and stimulate the outflow, for example by helping young people to find paid jobs.