Government; social benefits

Government; social benefits

Benefits Periods Social benefits (million euros)
Total social benefits 1995 66,254
Total social benefits 2000 74,094
Total social benefits 2005 95,335
Total social benefits 2010 133,994
Total social benefits 2015 147,869
Total social benefits 2019 165,372
Total social benefits 2020 169,979
Total social benefits 2021 180,576
Total social benefits 2022* 188,695
Total statutory social security benefits 1995 50,635
Total statutory social security benefits 2000 58,171
Total statutory social security benefits 2005 76,170
Total statutory social security benefits 2010 101,622
Total statutory social security benefits 2015 110,031
Total statutory social security benefits 2019 121,950
Total statutory social security benefits 2020 124,814
Total statutory social security benefits 2021 132,605
Total statutory social security benefits 2022* 138,184
Act on Work and Income based on Work ... 1995 0
Act on Work and Income based on Work ... 2000 0
Act on Work and Income based on Work ... 2005 0
Act on Work and Income based on Work ... 2010 1,362
Act on Work and Income based on Work ... 2015 3,464
Act on Work and Income based on Work ... 2019 5,672
Act on Work and Income based on Work ... 2020 6,273
Act on Work and Income based on Work ... 2021 6,756
Act on Work and Income based on Work ... 2022* 7,382
Compulsory Health Insurance Act (ZFW-vp) 1995 7,071
Compulsory Health Insurance Act (ZFW-vp) 2000 12,318
Compulsory Health Insurance Act (ZFW-vp) 2005 16,743
Compulsory Health Insurance Act (ZFW-vp) 2010 0
Compulsory Health Insurance Act (ZFW-vp) 2015 0
Compulsory Health Insurance Act (ZFW-vp) 2019 0
Compulsory Health Insurance Act (ZFW-vp) 2020 0
Compulsory Health Insurance Act (ZFW-vp) 2021 0
Compulsory Health Insurance Act (ZFW-vp) 2022* 0
Disability Benefits Act (WAO) 1995 3,290
Disability Benefits Act (WAO) 2000 8,684
Disability Benefits Act (WAO) 2005 8,709
Disability Benefits Act (WAO) 2010 7,188
Disability Benefits Act (WAO) 2015 4,892
Disability Benefits Act (WAO) 2019 3,885
Disability Benefits Act (WAO) 2020 3,628
Disability Benefits Act (WAO) 2021 3,321
Disability Benefits Act (WAO) 2022* 3,148
General Disability Benefits Act (AAW) 1995 5,735
General Disability Benefits Act (AAW) 2000 0
General Disability Benefits Act (AAW) 2005 0
General Disability Benefits Act (AAW) 2010 0
General Disability Benefits Act (AAW) 2015 0
General Disability Benefits Act (AAW) 2019 0
General Disability Benefits Act (AAW) 2020 0
General Disability Benefits Act (AAW) 2021 0
General Disability Benefits Act (AAW) 2022* 0
General Exceptional Medical Expenses Act 1995 11,221
General Exceptional Medical Expenses Act 2000 12,924
General Exceptional Medical Expenses Act 2005 19,680
General Exceptional Medical Expenses Act 2010 22,337
General Exceptional Medical Expenses Act 2015 272
General Exceptional Medical Expenses Act 2019 0
General Exceptional Medical Expenses Act 2020 -118
General Exceptional Medical Expenses Act 2021 0
General Exceptional Medical Expenses Act 2022* 0
General Old Age Pensions Act (AOW) 1995 15,180
General Old Age Pensions Act (AOW) 2000 19,098
General Old Age Pensions Act (AOW) 2005 23,369
General Old Age Pensions Act (AOW) 2010 28,618
General Old Age Pensions Act (AOW) 2015 35,814
General Old Age Pensions Act (AOW) 2019 39,484
General Old Age Pensions Act (AOW) 2020 41,235
General Old Age Pensions Act (AOW) 2021 42,956
General Old Age Pensions Act (AOW) 2022* 44,031
General Surviving Relatives Act (Anw) 1995 2,090
General Surviving Relatives Act (Anw) 2000 1,498
General Surviving Relatives Act (Anw) 2005 1,367
General Surviving Relatives Act (Anw) 2010 1,065
General Surviving Relatives Act (Anw) 2015 439
General Surviving Relatives Act (Anw) 2019 356
General Surviving Relatives Act (Anw) 2020 339
General Surviving Relatives Act (Anw) 2021 317
General Surviving Relatives Act (Anw) 2022* 308
Health Care Insurance Act (Zvw) 1995 0
Health Care Insurance Act (Zvw) 2000 0
Health Care Insurance Act (Zvw) 2005 0
Health Care Insurance Act (Zvw) 2010 33,804
Health Care Insurance Act (Zvw) 2015 38,588
Health Care Insurance Act (Zvw) 2019 43,980
Health Care Insurance Act (Zvw) 2020 43,048
Health Care Insurance Act (Zvw) 2021 46,476
Health Care Insurance Act (Zvw) 2022* 48,951
Long-term care Act (Wlz) 1995 0
Long-term care Act (Wlz) 2000 0
Long-term care Act (Wlz) 2005 0
Long-term care Act (Wlz) 2010 0
Long-term care Act (Wlz) 2015 17,367
Long-term care Act (Wlz) 2019 21,718
Long-term care Act (Wlz) 2020 22,739
Long-term care Act (Wlz) 2021 25,409
Long-term care Act (Wlz) 2022* 27,919
Self-Employed Persons Disability Bene... 1995 0
Self-Employed Persons Disability Bene... 2000 469
Self-Employed Persons Disability Bene... 2005 474
Self-Employed Persons Disability Bene... 2010 296
Self-Employed Persons Disability Bene... 2015 168
Self-Employed Persons Disability Bene... 2019 110
Self-Employed Persons Disability Bene... 2020 100
Self-Employed Persons Disability Bene... 2021 88
Self-Employed Persons Disability Bene... 2022* 80
Sickness Benefits Act (ZW) 1995 1,874
Sickness Benefits Act (ZW) 2000 0
Sickness Benefits Act (ZW) 2005 0
Sickness Benefits Act (ZW) 2010 0
Sickness Benefits Act (ZW) 2015 0
Sickness Benefits Act (ZW) 2019 0
Sickness Benefits Act (ZW) 2020 0
Sickness Benefits Act (ZW) 2021 0
Sickness Benefits Act (ZW) 2022* 0
Sickness Benefits Act safety net (ZW-... 1995 0
Sickness Benefits Act safety net (ZW-... 2000 0
Sickness Benefits Act safety net (ZW-... 2005 902
Sickness Benefits Act safety net (ZW-... 2010 1,498
Sickness Benefits Act safety net (ZW-... 2015 1,494
Sickness Benefits Act safety net (ZW-... 2019 1,746
Sickness Benefits Act safety net (ZW-... 2020 1,966
Sickness Benefits Act safety net (ZW-... 2021 1,973
Sickness Benefits Act safety net (ZW-... 2022* 1,960
Unemployment Benefits Act (WW) 1995 4,174
Unemployment Benefits Act (WW) 2000 3,180
Unemployment Benefits Act (WW) 2005 4,168
Unemployment Benefits Act (WW) 2010 4,344
Unemployment Benefits Act (WW) 2015 6,447
Unemployment Benefits Act (WW) 2019 3,760
Unemployment Benefits Act (WW) 2020 4,245
Unemployment Benefits Act (WW) 2021 3,632
Unemployment Benefits Act (WW) 2022* 2,634
Work and Care Act (WAZO) 1995 0
Work and Care Act (WAZO) 2000 0
Work and Care Act (WAZO) 2005 758
Work and Care Act (WAZO) 2010 1,110
Work and Care Act (WAZO) 2015 1,086
Work and Care Act (WAZO) 2019 1,239
Work and Care Act (WAZO) 2020 1,359
Work and Care Act (WAZO) 2021 1,677
Work and Care Act (WAZO) 2022* 1,771
Total social assistance benefits 1995 15,619
Total social assistance benefits 2000 15,923
Total social assistance benefits 2005 19,165
Total social assistance benefits 2010 32,372
Total social assistance benefits 2015 37,838
Total social assistance benefits 2019 43,422
Total social assistance benefits 2020 45,165
Total social assistance benefits 2021 47,971
Total social assistance benefits 2022* 50,511
Assistance for transport of schoolchi... 1995 91
Assistance for transport of schoolchi... 2000 98
Assistance for transport of schoolchi... 2005 169
Assistance for transport of schoolchi... 2010 236
Assistance for transport of schoolchi... 2015 193
Assistance for transport of schoolchi... 2019 275
Assistance for transport of schoolchi... 2020 239
Assistance for transport of schoolchi... 2021 309
Assistance for transport of schoolchi... 2022* 321
Assistance to older and partially dis... 1995 232
Assistance to older and partially dis... 2000 270
Assistance to older and partially dis... 2005 151
Assistance to older and partially dis... 2010 152
Assistance to older and partially dis... 2015 298
Assistance to older and partially dis... 2019 379
Assistance to older and partially dis... 2020 359
Assistance to older and partially dis... 2021 325
Assistance to older and partially dis... 2022* 289
Child benefit (kgb) 1995 0
Child benefit (kgb) 2000 0
Child benefit (kgb) 2005 0
Child benefit (kgb) 2010 896
Child benefit (kgb) 2015 1,822
Child benefit (kgb) 2019 2,065
Child benefit (kgb) 2020 2,709
Child benefit (kgb) 2021 2,648
Child benefit (kgb) 2022* 2,658
Childcare 1995 30
Childcare 2000 47
Childcare 2005 610
Childcare 2010 2,997
Childcare 2015 1,741
Childcare 2019 3,095
Childcare 2020 2,928
Childcare 2021 3,496
Childcare 2022* 3,940
Disability Assistance Act for Handica... 1995 0
Disability Assistance Act for Handica... 2000 1,024
Disability Assistance Act for Handica... 2005 1,419
Disability Assistance Act for Handica... 2010 2,230
Disability Assistance Act for Handica... 2015 3,010
Disability Assistance Act for Handica... 2019 3,237
Disability Assistance Act for Handica... 2020 3,413
Disability Assistance Act for Handica... 2021 3,500
Disability Assistance Act for Handica... 2022* 3,605
Early childhood education and care 1995 42
Early childhood education and care 2000 65
Early childhood education and care 2005 124
Early childhood education and care 2010 139
Early childhood education and care 2015 155
Early childhood education and care 2019 193
Early childhood education and care 2020 198
Early childhood education and care 2021 203
Early childhood education and care 2022* 209
General Family Allowance Act (AKW) 1995 2,955
General Family Allowance Act (AKW) 2000 2,911
General Family Allowance Act (AKW) 2005 3,191
General Family Allowance Act (AKW) 2010 3,371
General Family Allowance Act (AKW) 2015 3,216
General Family Allowance Act (AKW) 2019 3,628
General Family Allowance Act (AKW) 2020 3,657
General Family Allowance Act (AKW) 2021 3,680
General Family Allowance Act (AKW) 2022* 3,929
Health care allowance 1995 0
Health care allowance 2000 0
Health care allowance 2005 0
Health care allowance 2010 3,835
Health care allowance 2015 3,899
Health care allowance 2019 4,909
Health care allowance 2020 5,230
Health care allowance 2021 5,473
Health care allowance 2022* 5,616
Reintegration benefits 1995 39
Reintegration benefits 2000 394
Reintegration benefits 2005 635
Reintegration benefits 2010 333
Reintegration benefits 2015 163
Reintegration benefits 2019 212
Reintegration benefits 2020 194
Reintegration benefits 2021 186
Reintegration benefits 2022* 175
Rent benefit 1995 924
Rent benefit 2000 1,462
Rent benefit 2005 1,686
Rent benefit 2010 2,213
Rent benefit 2015 3,094
Rent benefit 2019 3,551
Rent benefit 2020 3,811
Rent benefit 2021 4,001
Rent benefit 2022* 3,948
Social Support Act (Wmo) 1995 0
Social Support Act (Wmo) 2000 0
Social Support Act (Wmo) 2005 0
Social Support Act (Wmo) 2010 2,340
Social Support Act (Wmo) 2015 5,265
Social Support Act (Wmo) 2019 6,341
Social Support Act (Wmo) 2020 6,552
Social Support Act (Wmo) 2021 6,226
Social Support Act (Wmo) 2022* 6,395
Student finance 1995 1,691
Student finance 2000 1,087
Student finance 2005 2,083
Student finance 2010 2,342
Student finance 2015 3,002
Student finance 2019 2,374
Student finance 2020 2,212
Student finance 2021 2,621
Student finance 2022* 2,562
Supplementary Fund (Tf) 1995 300
Supplementary Fund (Tf) 2000 289
Supplementary Fund (Tf) 2005 331
Supplementary Fund (Tf) 2010 801
Supplementary Fund (Tf) 2015 792
Supplementary Fund (Tf) 2019 754
Supplementary Fund (Tf) 2020 799
Supplementary Fund (Tf) 2021 770
Supplementary Fund (Tf) 2022* 731
Supplementary income for the elderly ... 1995 0
Supplementary income for the elderly ... 2000 0
Supplementary income for the elderly ... 2005 0
Supplementary income for the elderly ... 2010 202
Supplementary income for the elderly ... 2015 234
Supplementary income for the elderly ... 2019 308
Supplementary income for the elderly ... 2020 330
Supplementary income for the elderly ... 2021 350
Supplementary income for the elderly ... 2022* 366
Welfare 1995 4,713
Welfare 2000 4,097
Welfare 2005 4,485
Welfare 2010 4,352
Welfare 2015 5,789
Welfare 2019 5,938
Welfare 2020 6,099
Welfare 2021 6,171
Welfare 2022* 6,160
Youth Act 1995 568
Youth Act 2000 944
Youth Act 2005 871
Youth Act 2010 1,490
Youth Act 2015 2,663
Youth Act 2019 3,642
Youth Act 2020 3,803
Youth Act 2021 3,995
Youth Act 2022* 4,294
Other social assistance benefits 1995 4,034
Other social assistance benefits 2000 3,235
Other social assistance benefits 2005 3,410
Other social assistance benefits 2010 4,443
Other social assistance benefits 2015 2,502
Other social assistance benefits 2019 2,521
Other social assistance benefits 2020 2,632
Other social assistance benefits 2021 4,017
Other social assistance benefits 2022* 5,313
Source: CBS.
Explanation of symbols

Dataset is not available.


This table contains information on social benefits provided by general government. The terms and definitions used for the totals are in accordance with the framework of National Accounts. National Accounts are based on the international definitions of the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010). Small temporary differences with publications of the National Accounts may occur due to the fact that government finance statistics are sometimes more up to date. The terms used for the individual social benefits are based on national legislation. Social benefits by employers in the context of other employment related social insurance schemes are not included in this table.

Data available from:
Yearly figures from 1995.

Status of the figures:
The figures for the period 1995-2021 are final. The figures for 2022 are provisional.

Changes as of 11 July 2023:
None, this is a new table.
Figures for year 2022 are available.

When will new figures be published?
Yearly figures are published six months after the end of the year concerned.
These yearly figures are revised eighteen months after the end of the year concerned. Please note that there is a possibility that adjustments might take place at the end of March or September, in order to provide the European Commission with the most actual figures.
More information on the revision policy of National Accounts can be found under 'relevant articles' under paragraph 3.

Description topics

Social benefits
Social benefits supplied to households in order to offer financial security against several risks (such as sickness, disability, old age, the death of a relative, and unemployment) or to accommodate for certain needs (such as housing and education). This category constitutes statutory social security benefits and social assistance benefits.