Single Unmarried Parent Allowance (DSS)

The Single Unmarried Parent Allowance may be awarded to a single unmarried parent who is not engaged in a gainful occupation.

A Single Unmarried Parent Allowance is paid every four (4) weeks.

The Single Unmarried Parent Allowance is awarded in full if the applicant is single, residing solely with own child/children of whom he/she has care and custody of. However, if the applicant is living with  parent/s or corroborating with any other relative, the applicant becomes entitled to 75% of the Single Unmarried Parent Allowance rate.

As from 1st January 2022 the applicant receiving Social Assistance is eligible for the full cost of living.

Please click here for a Schedule of Benefits Rates.

Fill in and submit the application online.

General eligibility criteria:

• The applicant is the person responsible for household and is not in a gainful occupation.

• The applicant must be single and having care and custody of one or more children.

• The applicant must satisfy the Capital Means Test. Capital resources for a single person must not exceed fourteen-thousand (€14,000).

• Any income deriving from Rents, Bank Interest from Capital, Stocks and Shares, Alimony / Child Maintenance and any other Income derived, must not exceed the maximum Social Assistance rate as per household.

Documentation required
General documentation (if applicable):

• Latest Water and Electricity bill, showing the number of members in the household.

• Recent Bank Statements of all local and foreign bank accounts.

• Relative documents regarding value of any Stocks/Shares/Bonds and the income derived thereof.

• Market value of any vacant property in Malta and/or abroad (not being House of Residence and/or Summer Residence).

• Recent rent receipt/rent agreement if applicant’s house of residence is rented, showing details of who is making the rent payments; or filling in of the Annex 2 – Rent Declaration form by the landlord. Click here to download this document.

• Rent agreement if rent is derived from other properties.

• Filling in of the Corroboration document (Annex 3) if the applicant resides with third parties. Click here to download this document.

• Documents of any vehicle (land and sea) in possession.

• Legal document by the claiming parent’s legal representative, naming the parent who has effective care and custody (de facto) of the child/children with full children’s details, providing also effective date of care and custody. This declaration must also include certification on whether maintenance is being paid to the same parent claiming the effective care and custody of the child/children. 

• Document showing stipend being received and acceptance letter, in the case of applicant is enrolled at a University or MCAST course.