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

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

Total social protection expenditure
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. The social protection benefits are drawn up within the framework of ESSPROS and are established in the ESSPROS manual.
Functions
The functional classification of social protection expenditure classifies the benefits of social protection schemes according to their respective risks and needs (functions). A scheme can cover several functions, the expenditure is then distributed over several functions, but double counting does not occur. The sum of expenditure from all functions therefore always gives the total amounts paid out from all social protection schemes in the selected year.
Sickness/Health care
Income maintenance and support in cash in connection with physical or mental illness, excluding disability. Health care intended to maintain, restore or improve the health of the people protected irrespective of the origin of the disorder.
Disability
Income maintenance and support in cash or kind (except health care) in connection with the inability of physically or mentally disabled people to engage in economic and social activities.
Old age
Income maintenance and support in cash or kind (except health care) in connection with old age.
Survivors’
Income maintenance and support in cash or kind in connection with the death of a family member.
Family/children
Support in cash or kind (except health care) in connection with the costs of pregnancy, childbirth and adoption, bringing up children and caring for other family members.
Unemployment
Income maintenance and support in cash or kind in connection with unemployment.
Housing
Help towards the cost of housing, such as rent benefits.
Social exclusion not elsewhere classif..
Social exclusion not elsewhere classified.
Benefits in cash or kind (except health care) specifically intended to combat social exclusion where they are not covered by one of the other functions.
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.