THE average Social Security pension in the Balearics was 583.54 euros in August, some 5.8 percent more than the same month last year but still 61 euros below the average national pension, which was 644.98 euros a month. This is according to figures published yesterday by the Spanish Ministry of Work and Social Affairs.
By autonomous regions, only Extremadura (546.36 euros), Galicia (537.00 euros) and Murcia (569.36 euros) have an average monthly pension below that of the Balearics. On the other hand, the Basque region (with 809.99 euros), Asturias (781.98 euros) and Madrid (766.90 euros) are the highest.
In October the Balearics had 156'448 pensions to pay, 1.9 percent of the national total and 1.2 percent more than in October last year.
At the same time, the average retirement pension which the majority of Balearic pensioners (91'657) receive is 651.28 euros, also the fourth lowest in the country, ahead of Extremadura, Murcia and Galicia, and lower than the national average of 726.59 euros. The widow's pension, the second most important with 41'194 pensioners, is 429.99 euros, the second lowest in the country behind Galicia with 400.75 euros.
Average Balearic pension is fourth lowest in Spain