Social benefits to households reflect the support provided by governments and non-profit institutions to assist individuals in meeting specific needs.
These benefits are divided into two main categories: social benefits other than social transfers in kind, which are typically provided in cash and can be used at the household’s discretion; and social transfers in kind, which are linked to the direct provision of goods and services such as health care and education. Social benefits other than social transfers in kind can be further broken down into pensions and non-pensions benefits, the latter covering cash support for circumstances such as sickness, unemployment, housing, education, or family needs.
All OECD countries compile their data according to the 2008 System of National Accounts (SNA).
This indicator is presented as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) or as a percentage of general government expenditure.
