The overall social security caseload in September stood at 291,276, down 389 cases or  0.1% over August, the Social Welfare Department says.

The overall caseload involved 499,767 recipients.

Unemployment cases showed a continued month-on-month decrease of 1.1%, to 34,611. Single parent cases registered a month-to-month decrease of 0.3%, to 37,838. Low earning cases also showed a month-to-month decrease of 0.2%, to 17,638.

Total government expenditure on social security payments was about $17.6 billion for 2006-07.