64.7% of social benefits in the EU paid in cash

In 2023, the total expenditure on social protection benefits in the EU amounted to €4 607 billion. Nearly half of this amount (46.9%) was allocated to old age and survivors’ functions (largely composed of pensions). Sickness/health care function accounted for 29.6% of all benefits, 8.7% went to family and children benefits and 7.1% to disability benefits. Unemployment benefits represented 3.9 % of the total, social exclusion 2.5% and housing benefits 1.4%.

Expenditure on social protection benefits consists of payments made in cash and in kind. These benefits may be means-tested (dependent on the income levels) or non-means-tested (available to all members of a specific population group).

The majority (64.7%) of all social protection benefits in the EU were provided in the form of cash payments (58.7% non-means-tested and 6.0% means-tested). The remaining 35.3% of benefits were made in kind (30.4% non-means-tested and 4.9% means-tested).

Source dataset: spr_exp_ftm

The share of cash benefits in the overall social protection benefits was highest in Italy (76.4%), Greece (75.9%) and Poland (71.4%). In contrast, Sweden (51.6%), Ireland (52.7%) and Malta (55.4%) registered the lowest shares of cash payments, as in-kind benefits were more prominent.