Government; social benefits

Government; social benefits

Benefits Periods Social benefits (million euros)
Total social benefits 2022* 188,695
Total statutory social security benefits 2022* 138,184
Act on Work and Income based on Work ... 2022* 7,382
Compulsory Health Insurance Act (ZFW-vp) 2022* 0
Disability Benefits Act (WAO) 2022* 3,148
General Disability Benefits Act (AAW) 2022* 0
General Exceptional Medical Expenses Act 2022* 0
General Old Age Pensions Act (AOW) 2022* 44,031
General Surviving Relatives Act (Anw) 2022* 308
Health Care Insurance Act (Zvw) 2022* 48,951
Long-term care Act (Wlz) 2022* 27,919
Self-Employed Persons Disability Bene... 2022* 80
Sickness Benefits Act (ZW) 2022* 0
Sickness Benefits Act safety net (ZW-... 2022* 1,960
Unemployment Benefits Act (WW) 2022* 2,634
Work and Care Act (WAZO) 2022* 1,771
Total social assistance benefits 2022* 50,511
Assistance for transport of schoolchi... 2022* 321
Assistance to older and partially dis... 2022* 289
Child benefit (kgb) 2022* 2,658
Childcare 2022* 3,940
Disability Assistance Act for Handica... 2022* 3,605
Early childhood education and care 2022* 209
General Family Allowance Act (AKW) 2022* 3,929
Health care allowance 2022* 5,616
Reintegration benefits 2022* 175
Rent benefit 2022* 3,948
Social Support Act (Wmo) 2022* 6,395
Student finance 2022* 2,562
Supplementary Fund (Tf) 2022* 731
Supplementary income for the elderly ... 2022* 366
Welfare 2022* 6,160
Youth Act 2022* 4,294
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.