According to the Social Security Institute (ISS), the number of early pensions granted between January and September this year fell by 8.2% compared to the same period last year, amounting to 15.6 thousand, with an average cost of 748 euros. . According to the institute, “90% of pensions requested in 2023 have already been allocated and awarded (data as of September 31, 2023), with an average grant time of 23 days, which corresponds to a 90% reduction compared to 2019 (average time amounted to 218 days). Generally, early retirement is subject to double cuts due to the sustainability factor, which this year equates to a penalty of 13.8% of the value of the pension, as well as a 0.5% reduction for each month of retirement. legal or personal retirement age. In 2022, the number of early pensions granted this year increased by 14.2% compared to 2021, to almost 22 thousand, according to the report on the sustainability of the social security system, which accompanies the draft state budget for 2024 presented to parliament. The increase was mainly due to an increase in the number of pensions assigned after long-term unemployment (more than 12 months of unemployment), which increased in 2022 by almost 45% compared to the previous year, to 10.6 thousand. Social security spending on pensions last year amounted to 12.2 billion euros, an increase of 4.5% compared to the previous year.