Today the Ministry of Work and Immigration released figures which show that social security spent 6,803 million euros on contributive pensions in September 2010 which is 5% more than in September last year.

In fact 4,580.9 million euros was spent on retirement pensions (5.6% more than in September 2009), 1,314.2 million euros was spent on widow and widowers pensions (4.1% more), 796.4 million euros was spent on incapacity pensions (3.6% more) and 94.7 million euros was spent on pensions received by orphans (4.8% more).

This money was used to pay 8,697,520 pensions (1.6% more than a year ago). Out of the total number of pensions over half were retirement pensions – 5,160,709 (2% more), 2,294,015 million pensions were paid out to widows and widowers (0.9% more); 935.288 people received pensions for permanent disability (1.5% more) and 269.849 pensions were paid out to orphans (1.8% more).

The average pension reached 782.26 euros a month (3.4% more than a year ago) and the average retirement pension was 887.

65 euros a month (3.5% more).

The average pension paid out for permanent incapacity was 851.55 euros (2.2% more); the average amount received by widows and widowers was 572.90 euros (3.2% more) and the average amount received by orphans was 351.05 euros (3% more).

During the month of August the number of people entitled to a retirement pension rose by 19,694 with an average value of 1,193.13 euros while 5,741 people joined the list of those receiving permanent incapacity benefit (an average of 880.78 euros a month).

The highest average retirement pensions were received by people living in the Basque Country (1,105.16 euros a month) followed by people living in Asturias (1,097.13 euros a month) and Madrid (1,064.34 euros a month).

On the other hand, the lowest average retirement pensions were paid to people living in Galicia, 729.

22 euros a month) followed by people living in Extremadura (747.59 euros a month) and Murcia (781.47 euros a month).

The highest incapacity pensions were also received by people living in the Basque Country (1,091.99 euros a month) as well as the highest widows and widowers pensions (676.30 euros a month).

The highest pensions received by orphans were received by those orphans living in Asturias (417.44 euros a month).