Definition: Pensions

Category: SNA

Social benefits may be divided into two main classes: pensions and all other social benefits, described in the SNA as non-pension benefits.

The most important type of pension is one paid to an individual when they cease employment on retirement. Pensions may also be payable to other individuals, for example a bereaved spouse or someone suffering from a permanent disability. Payments made while a person is temporarily unemployed or suffering a medical condition that prevents them from working for a period are treated as non-pension benefits (§ 8.67). http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/ramon/statmanuals/files/SNA2008.pdf