Welfare recipients increase by four percent

Despite the recovering labor market, the number of people on welfare increased by 4 percent over the first two quarters of this year. This is according to figures released by Statistics Netherlands on Friday. Statistics Netherlands attributes the increase to more people reaching the statutory retirement age of 65 years and 3 months. In late June there were 447 thousand people of that age in the Netherlands, an increase of 5 thousand compared to the first quarter. The rate of the increase in welfare recipients is slowing down. In 2013 there was an average of 8 percent increase, and 6 percent in 2013. One in ten welfare recipients have a paid job - often part time jobs that pay a salary that is below the welfare level. These employees receive a supplementary social security benefit. The proportion of welfare recipients with jobs vary by municipality. Of the larger municipalities - municipalities with more than 100 thousand inhabitants - the combination of job and welfare benefit occurs most often in Apeldoorn, Emmen, Zwolle, Westland and Amersfoort. Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht and Maastricht have the smallest percentage of working welfare recipients.