Sickness Assistance (DSS)

Sickness Assistance is awarded to a person who proves to the satisfaction of the Director of Social Security that the person responsible for household or any family member living within the household is suffering from a disease listed below. and that could only be cured or alleviated by a special diet or regiment, which incurs an additional expenditure.

1. Malignant Diseases
2. Cardiovascular Diseases:
   • Congestive Cardiac Failure
   • Persistent Hypertension with a Diastolic reading above 110 if left untreated
3. Endocrine:
   • Addison’s Diseases
   • Juvenile Diabetes Mellitus
   • Enzyme Deficiency Disorders
4. Renal:
   • Nephrotic Syndrome
   • Chronic Renal Failure
5. Digestive System:
   • Chronic Peptic Ulcer
   • Coeliac Disease and Idiopathic Steatorrhea
   • Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
6. Diseases of the Liver:
   • Hepatic Cirrhosis associated with Ascites or Neurological Symptoms
   • Wilson’s Disease
7. Chronic Schizophrenia
   • Bi-Polar Disorder
   • Psychotic Depression
8. Infectious Diseases – H.I.V. positive
9. Chronic lymphedema disease
10. Fibromyalgia
11. Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)
12. Fibrous Dysplasia
13. Miscellaneous:
    • Serious Bodily or Mental Impairment arising from Diabetes Mellitus whether congenital or acquired
    • All cases of Diabetes
    • Terminal Illness

Sickness Assistance is paid every four (4) weeks in advance.

The 1st payment is issued from the 1st Saturday after the date of the application.

Please click here for a Schedule of Benefits Rates.

Once the application is received and verified by the Department of Social Security, it is then referred for the recommendation of the Medical Board, appointed in accordance to the Social Security Act (Cap. 318.). Once the Board approves the claim, the procedure for payment is initiated. If the claim is rejected, the applicant is informed accordingly in writing.

There is no need for a widow or widower, who already benefits from the Sickness Assistance, to re-apply for the assistance, in case of death of a spouse. The payment will be automatically processed and paid without interruption.

Fill in and submit the application online.

General eligibility criteria:

• Capital assets of couples do not exceed twenty-three thousand and three hundred euro (€23,300) and fourteen thousand euro (€14,000) for single persons. Those who have inherited after starting to receive the Non-Contributory Pension (AP) and Sickness Assistance (SKA) and have been receiving it for at least five (5) years, the capital means will increase to fifty thousand (€50,000) for married couples and thirty thousand (€30,000) for single persons.

• Have a medical condition as already indicated in list.

• Weekly income is not to exceed two hundred and eighteen euro and eighty eight cents (€218,88) for couples and one hundred and ninety-four euro and ninety seven cents (€194,97) for single persons.

• Patient must not be in employment and earning not more than seventeen euro and fifty cents (€17.50) per week.

• In case of a couple where one of them receiving any of the Disability Assistances and is not employed, this assistance is ignored.

• In case of a couple where one of them is receiving Increased Carers Allowance and Carers Allowance, this allowance is ignored.

• To remain eligible for Sickness Assistance, a widow or widower, are to be already patients and in receipt of the assistance in their name.

• With effect from January 2023, persons who are not in employment and who are in receipt of the Contributory Sickness Benefit (SB) or Unemployment (UB/SUB) benefit may be entitled to Sickness Assistance (SKA) if they meet the criteria of the capital means test.  In these cases the income coming from the Sickness or Unemployment Benefit will be ignored for media purposes in Medical Assistance.

Documentation required
General documentation:

• Doctor’s report – Click here to download this document which is to be signed and rubber-stamped by a doctor.

• Bank Statements (local and foreign bank accounts).

• Copy of rent receipts (if house of residence is rented).

• Copy of rent agreement if rent is derived from other properties.

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

• Market value of any vacant property (not being house of residence and/or summer residence).

• Relative statements/documents re income derived from foreign pensions.

• Separation/Divorce documents, if the case.