Appointment of an Administrator for Pensions and Benefits (DSS)

The appointment of an administrator with the Department of Social Security allows a trusted individual to act on behalf of a person with mental or other disabilities or a person under eighteen (18) years old who require active representation. This process involves legal considerations and requires compliance with regulations in Malta.

Additionally, if a representative holding a General Power of Attorney, Guardianship Order, or Court-appointed Administrator is not registered in the department’s Social Security Benefits System (SABS) and intends to act on behalf of another individual by submitting applications or requests (excluding general information inquiries), they must present a certified copy of the General Power of Attorney, or Guardianship Order, or Letter of Administration (Court Order) to be registered as an Administrator with the Department of Social Security.

A person acts on behalf of a social security beneficiary who requires active representation.

The obligations of this administration include:

1. Understands the person’s specific needs and preferences.

2. Acts in the best interests of the person with a disability or the minor.

3. Makes decisions that align with the person’s well-being and best interests.

4. Avoids unnecessary restrictions and promote their participation in decisions affecting their life.

5. Ensures the person’s rights and freedoms are respected.

6. Maintains transparency and accountability in all decisions and actions taken on behalf of the person.

7. Informs the Department of Social Security of any change in circumstance of the Pensioner / Beneficiary in accordance to Article 117 (1) of the Social Security Act of 1987, where if the Administrator fails to report, may be penalised, jailed or both. 

8. Providing false information will be penalised as stipulated in the Criminal Code (Cap. 9.).

    

Important Note: The Administrator must present a valid Maltese Identity Card when calling in person at a servizz.gov hub, if already registered with the Department of Social Security. If the person is applying for the first time as an Administrator, both Identity Cards of the Administrator and the beneficiary need to be presented.

Fill in and submit the application online.

An individual of legal age can apply to be appointed as an administrator to act on behalf of a social security beneficiary with mental or other disabilities, or a person under eighteen (18) years old. The administrator will manage the beneficiary’s affairs and interests, ensuring their needs and rights are protected.

One can also apply to become an administrator with the Department of Social Security, by providing a Declaration for the Appointment of an Administrator, or a certified true copy of the General Power of Attorney, or a Guardianship Order, or a Letter of Administration (Court Order).

The Declaration must be authenticated by a recommender such as a Priest, a Medical Practitioner or Medical Specialist, a University Graduate, a Member of Parliament, a Bank Manager, a Public Officer not below the grade of Principal or a Police Officer not below the grade of Inspector. The recommender must be a Maltese national and have known both the pensioner / beneficiary and the person making a request for an Administrator, for two (2) years or more.

If this application is for a Disability Pension, the witness section must be filled in by a Medical Practitioner or a Medical Specialist.

Upon verification, the representative’s details will be recorded in the Social Security Benefits System as an administrator for the individual’s record.

Documentation Required

General Documentation: 

• Declaration for the Appointment of an Administrator. The Declaration must be authenticated by a recommender such as a Priest, a Medical Practitioner or Medical Specialist, a University Graduate, a Member of Parliament, a Bank Manager, a Public Officer not below the grade of Principal or a Police Officer not below the grade of Inspector. If this application is for a Disability Pension, the witness section must be filled in by a Medical Practitioner or a Specialist, or

• A certified copy of the General Power of Attorney, or 

• A Guardianship Order, or 

• A Letter of Administration (Court Order).