400 thousand people on social security
- Increase much more substantial than in 2012
- Number of young social security recipients back at level 2011
According to the latest figures released by Statistics Netherlands, 400 thousand people who had not yet reached old age pension (AOW) entitlement age were living on social security by the end of June, i.e. 6 thousand more than in the first quarter.
In the first six months of 2013, the number of social security recipients increased by over 21 thousand, more than over the entire year 2012. Last year, the number of social security recipients rose by nearly 12 thousand.
Since the fourth quarter of 2012, the number of social security recipients under the age of 27 has risen further, to 39 thousand at the end of June 2013, whereas the number of young social security recipients still marginally declined in 2012. Currently, there are as many young social security recipients as at the end of June 2011. The number is affected by the government policy aimed at containing the inflow of young people into the social security scheme.
The increase in the number of people on social security tallies with the poor situation on the labour market: fewer jobs and more unemployment (WW) benefits.
In 2013, the AOW-entitlement age was raised to 65 years plus one month. As a result of this policy measure, the number of people not entitled to AOW has risen by nearly one thousand.