Social protection expenditure; functions, in kind or cash, means-test

Social protection expenditure; functions, in kind or cash, means-test

Periods Benefits in cash or in kind Benefits in cash (million euros) Benefits in cash or in kind Benefits in kind (million euros)
2021* 148,582 94,594
Source: CBS.
Explanation of symbols

Dataset is not available.


This table provides an overview of social protection expenditure in the Netherlands. Social protection encompasses all interventions from public or private bodies intended to relieve households and individuals of the burden of a defined set of risks or needs, provided that there is neither a simultaneous reciprocal nor an individual arrangement involved. This includes benefits provided by social assistance schemes, social insurance funds, pension funds, benefits directly paid by employers, and direct service provision to households. Benefits can be provided in kind or in cash, and benefits can be means-tested or non means-tested.

The defined set of risks and needs within social protection can be classified in eight functions according to the European System of Integrated Social PROtection Statistics (ESSPROS). In addition, social protection expenditure is classified as provided in cash or in kind, or provided as means-tested or non means-tested benefits. Social protection expenditure is allocated to the period in which the rights for the transaction arose (transaction basis), and not to the period in which the transaction actually took place (cash basis).

Data available from:
Yearly figures from 1995

Status of the figures:
The figures in this table are provisional at the time of first publication. Upon the second publication one year later, the figures will become definitive.

Changes as of 20 December 2022:
Provisional figures for 2021 have been published.
In the context of the revision policy of the National accounts the annual figures have been revised.
The figures for 2020 have become final.

When will new figures be published?
New figures will be published 20 months after the respective calendar year ends. Previous provisional figures will then become final.
More information on the revision policy of National Accounts can be found under 'relevant articles' under paragraph 3.

Description topics

Benefits in cash or in kind
Social protection benefits can be classified as cash benefits or benefits in kind. The sum of both cash and in-kind benefits always gives the total amounts paid out from all social protection schemes in the selected year.
Benefits in cash
Persons entitled to benefits receive support in the form of cash that is paid out to the beneficiaries.
Benefits in kind
Benefits are provided directly to the beneficiary in the form of services or goods, but not in the form of money.