Expenditure on social welfare increased significantly in Germany last year, according to official figures released on Friday. The Federal Statistical Office says total payments rose to €17.6 billion ($19 billion), which represents a year-on-year increase of 18%. According to the data, the reasons for the development include the effects of the care reform on January 1, 2022, as a result of which expenditure on care assistance initially fell sharply in 2022. As a result, social expenditure was lower overall in that year. In 2023, the statisticians recorded a 27.4% increase in expenditure on care…