Accidents at Work and Occupational Diseases
Benefits for work-related injuries or diseases are the responsibility of the country where a person is insured for social security purposes at the time of the accident or disease. More complex rules cover the determination of liability of benefits for occupational diseases.
Accidents at Work
The country where a person is insured for social security purposes is also responsible for the benefits related to an accident at work, even if this is different from the country of residence or the country where the accident occurred. A claim for benefits must be submitted in accordance with the procedures laid down by the country of insurance.
Occupational Diseases
Occupational diseases may be identified at a later stage in life. The country where the occupational disease is first diagnosed, shall make the necessary investigations to determine whether the occupational disease is due to an activity carried out in its territory or whether this is due to a previous activity carried out in another country. The country that is determined responsible for the occupational disease shall provide benefits.
In terms of the Maltese scheme, the following benefits are considered as cash benefits in respect of accidents at work and occupational diseases:
When a person’s work activity has been confined to the Maltese social security scheme only, or when the periods of insurance completed in Malta are such that the eligibility criteria are satisfied, the national procedures will apply. However, if a person’s work activity involves one or more EU Member States, the EU rules on social security coordination are applied as outlined in the following scenarios.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. I am working and living in Malta and suffered an accident at work on my first working day. Am I eligible for benefits?
Yes. In terms of the Maltese scheme, a person is insured against accidents at work and occupational diseases from the first day of employment. Unlike other benefits payable under the Maltese scheme, the benefits related to accidents at work and occupational diseases are not conditional on the periods of insurance completed in the scheme. The benefit claim should be submitted according to the national procedures.
2. I am working and living in Malta and sustained an accident at work during a period of work in Italy. How can I submit a claim for benefits?
When the accident at work is sustained in a country other than the country where the person is insured, the latter is still responsible for the payment of benefits. In order to submit the claim for benefits the person should contact the social security institution in the Member State of stay, together with the relative medical certificate as supporting evidence. The institution in the Member State of stay will compile the claim from and forward the claim to the Department of Social Security. When received the Department will contact the applicant directly to request the necessary information to process the claim. This may include:
- the social security number
- bank details
- working schedule
- civil status
- employment status of spouse or partner (where applicable)
3. I live and work in Belgium and sustained an accident at work whilst on a temporary posting in Malta. How can I submit a claim for benefits?
When a person sustains a work accident whilst performing duties in another Member State, the country where the person is insured for social security purposes is still responsible for the payment of the benefits. The person should contact the Department of Social Security in order to initiate the procedure. The claimant should provide a medical certificate and details of the Member State of insurance as well as the relative social security number. Based on this information, the claim form will be compiled and forwarded to the competent Member State who will then get in touch with the person directly.
4. I live and work in Malta and want to claim benefits for a hearing impairment that I suffered from my previous job in Romania. How can I submit a claim for benefits?
When an occupational disease is diagnosed, the Member State where the occupational disease occurred is responsible for the payment of the benefits. The person should contact the Department of Social Security in order to initiate the procedure. The claimant should provide a medical certificate and details of the Member State of insurance as well as the relative social security number. Based on this information, the claim form will be compiled and forwarded to the competent Member State who will then get in touch with the person directly.
5. I live and work in Germany and want to claim benefits for asthma disease that I suffered from my previous job in Malta. How can I submit a claim for benefits?
When an occupational disease is diagnosed, the Member State where the occupational disease occurred is responsible for the payment of the benefits. The person should get in touch with the social security institution in the Member State of residence together with the relative medical certificate as supporting evidence. The institution in the Member State of residence will compile the claim from and forward the claim to the Department of Social Security. When received the Department will contact the applicant directly to request the necessary information required to process the claim. This may include:
- the social security number
- bank details
- working schedule
- civil status
- employment status of spouse or partner (where applicable)