Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Is an e-ID account required to lodge an appeal against a decision by the Department of Social Security?
Answer: An e-ID account issued by Identity Malta is required to lodge an appeal against a decision by the Department of Social Security. Click here to create your e-ID account.

Question: Why is it necessary to appeal against a decision taken by the Department of Social Security?
Answer: An appeal may be lodged by a Maltese or non-Maltese citizen against a decision taken by the Department of Social Security before the Social Security Office of the Umpire. An appeal may be made only on a point of law or principle of importance arising from the decision taken by the Department of Social Security under the Social Security Act (Cap. 318.).

Question: What is required to lodge an appeal?
Answer: To lodge an appeal you need to send the request online, where you have to provide an explanation why you are not in agreement with the decision taken by the Department of Social Security. You must attach a scanned copy of the decision letter sent to you by the Department of Social Security, as well any related documents you will need during the hearing before the Arbiter to further prove your point.

Question: Is there a deadline to appeal to the Office of the Umpire?
Answer: Yes, you have a time-window of thirty (30) days from the date of the decision letter sent to you by the Department of Social Security to appeal to the Office of the Umpire.

Question: Can anyone else apply on my behalf?
Answer: Yes, an appeal may also be lodged on your behalf by a person of trust or by visiting one of the servizz.gov hubs.

Question: Which are the social security benefits that I can lodge an appeal for?
Answer: An appeal may be lodged for any benefit under the Social Security Act (Cap. 318.) of the laws of Malta. There are non-appealable benefits which include those listed in the Government Gazette or otherwise determined by the medical board.

Question: What do I expect after the appeal is submitted online?
Answer: After the appeal is submitted online, you will automatically receive an email notification with the Office of the Umpire’s reference number and a link to guide you through the whole process. The Office of the Umpire will be automatically informed of this appeal and it will be verified. Subsequently, throughout the process, you will be notified by email of the dates of the Board meetings and the final decision.

Question: Am I required to appear in person at Board meetings?
Answer: Yes, you are obliged to appear in person for the hearing of the Board because the case belongs to the person who made the appeal. However, a trusted person may be present, which in this case, a power of attorney should be supplied since this person will be communicating on your behalf as appellant.

Question: If the case is reviewed, can the appeal be dropped before it is heard?
Answer: If the Department of Social Security has reviewed the case and decided to revoke it, you as the appellant, are obliged to inform the Secretary of the Office of the Umpire, so that the case is stopped from being heard.

Question: Who will be present at the hearing?
Answer: The Arbiter, who is a lawyer with at least a seven-year warrant, will be present at the hearing. There will also be a representative of the Department of Social Security to present the case for the original decision taken. You or your representative will also be present at this hearing.

Question: How is the appeal decided?
Answer: The appeal will be decided by forwarding the evidence of both the appellant and that of the Office of the Arbiter, whereby a final decision is taken and communicated via registered mail sent to the appellant. An email notification will also be sent showing the same final decision.

Question: What can be done once the appeal has been decided?
Answer: After the appeal has been decided, if you, as the appellant, do not accept the decision of the Arbiter, you can refer the case to the Court of Appeal (lower jurisdiction) within thirty (30) days, to confirm or change the decision of the Arbiter. However new evidence cannot be presented at this stage.

Question: What else can be done after the Court of Appeal (lower jurisdiction)?
Answer: The Court of Appeal is the last step and therefore no other action can be taken.

Question: How do I access this online appeal service?
Answer: You can access this service by clicking here.

Question: Is an e-ID required to access one’s banking details held by the Department of Social Security?
Answer: An e-ID account issued by Identity Malta is required to access your banking details held by the Department of Social Security. Click here on how to create your e-ID account.

Question: Can one change the banking details online of how social security benefits are paid?
Answer: If you are currently receiving benefit payments by cheque, you may change your details to start receiving payments by direct deposit in a bank.

Question: If one is are already receiving payments by bank deposits, can one change the banking details online?
Answer: The bank name and IBAN number can be amended.

Question: Can one opt to receive a payment notification via SMS?
Answer: You can opt to receive notification via SMS when your benefit has been deposited.

Question: Can one opt to change back the banking details to start receiving cheque payments from this service?
Answer: From this service you cannot change back your banking details to start receiving cheque payments.

Question: Can an Administrator or an Agent appointed by an Administrator of a beneficiary registered with the Department of Social Security change the bank details of the beneficiary by authenticating with their own e-ID?.
Answer: An Administrator or an Agent appointed by an Administrator of a beneficiary can change the bank details of the beneficiary online by authenticating with their own e-ID.

Question: What happens if a deposit in the bank is not received?
Answer: If a deposit in the bank account is not finalised because of a wrong account number or closure of account, the claimant is to notify the Department of Social Security immediately online. The procedure is the following:

• The Department of Social Security will notify the Bank regarding the transaction.
• The Bank carries out the necessary checks to specify the reason why the bank deposit was not finalised.
• If transaction is cleared, a refund is effected by means of a cheque unless an alternative Bank account number is supplied through another request. However cheque replacements can only be made where the amount is over €20, else a bank account number is to be provided.

This procedure normally takes from 10 to 15 days to be finalised.

Question: What is the procedure if one has a garnishee order?
Answer: If you have a garnishee order, please inform your preferred bank about the amendment to Article 381 of the Code of Organisation and Civil Procedure (Cap. 12.), to have a bank account issued in your name accordingly.

Question: What type of bank account should be indicated for benefit payments to be deposited in?
Answer: Benefit payments should be deposited in a Savings or Current Account, but not a Loan Account. The indicated account has to be in the name of the beneficiary. The bank account details provided will also be used for all benefits that you may be currently receiving.

Question: How can one access the online service?
Answer: You must authenticate to access Banking Details service.

Question: Is an e-ID required to submit and monitor one’s blue medical certifcates submitted to the Department of Social Security?
Answer: An e-ID account issued by Identity Malta is required to submit and monitor one’s blue medical certifcates submitted to the Department of Social Security. Click here on how to create your e-ID account.

Question: What is the minimum amount of time one must be ill before submitting a blue medical certificate?
Answer: You are not required to submit the blue medical certificate to the Department of Social Security if the period of illness is 3 days or less. However, your employer may request a copy of your blue medical certificate even if sickness is less than 3 days. 

Question: By when and how often should I submit a blue medical certificate?
Answer:  A blue medical certificate must be submitted to the Department of Social Security within 10 days from the 1st day of sickness. The only exceptions accepted are due to hospitalisation or treatment abroad. A blue medical certificate may be submitted every 14 days for a long-term sickness.

Question: How can I submit a copy of a blue medical certificate online?
Answer:  A blue medical certificate can be submitted online by clicking here. You must attach a scanned copy of the blue medical certificate from both sides with the eform. You must also provide an IBAN for any payment of Sickness Benefit claim that you may be entitled to.

Question: Can I view my blue medical certificates submitted to the Department of Social Security?
Answer: You can view your blue medical certificates presented at the Department of Social Security even if these were not submitted online. Only those blue medical certificates which have been vetted by the back-office section for the past 5 years under Medical Certificate Monitoring service can be viewed. The certificates are listed according to year and presented chronologically. A certificate of 3 days or less will not be listed in this service.

Question: Can I monitor my sickness benefit claims?
Answer: Whilst the blue medical certificates themselves are no indication of Sickness Benefit claim, once your blue medical certificate is processed by the backoffice section, you will also be able to view your sickness benefit claim under the Application Monitoring service. From this service you can view your claims for the past 12 months.

Question: Is an e-ID required to access one’s contact details held by the Department of Social Security?
Answer: An e-ID account issued by Identity Malta is required to access your contact details held by the Department of Social Security. Click here on how to create or manage your e-ID account.

Question: Can one change their own contact details online for any communication from Social Security?
Answer: If you are registered with the Department of Social Security, you may change your contact details by which the Department makes contact with you.

Question: What are the contact details that the Department of Social Security hold about me?
Answer: The contact details that are held about you include the postal address, email address, landline number, mobile number and if you require to receive an SMS notification upon a benefit payment.

Question: Can one opt to receive a payment notification via SMS from this service?
Answer: You can opt to receive notification via SMS when your benefit has been deposited from this service.

Question: What are the details that I can change from this service?
Answer: The details that you can change from this service are the postal address, so as to reflect the one on your current Identity Card, your email address, your landline number, your mobile number and whether you want to start receiving an SMS notification upon deposit of a benefit that you might have.

Question: If I am residing abroad and the Department is aware, can I change my address to a foreign one?
Answer: If you are residing abroad and you already have a foreign postal address already registered with the Department of Social Security, you can change your foreign address, as long as you don’t change your address to a different country. Changes from a maltese address to a foreign address and vice-versa are not allowed from this service.

Question: If I want to change my postal address from one country to another what do I need to do?
Answer: You can change your address from one country to another by clicking here. You would need to provide your new full address that you want to change to. You would also need to provide your Pension Number and Identity Card number. This information will not be instant as it would need to be vetted first.

Question: How can one access the online service?
Answer: You must authenticate to access Contact Details service.

1. DOES THE EU HAVE PROVISIONS ON SOCIAL SECURITY?

Yes.  But the EU provisions on social security do not replace the different national social security systems by a single European system.  Such harmonisation would not be possible because of the wide divergence in standards of living among the Member States belonging to the European Union and those states forming the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.

Rather than harmonising the national social security systems, the Community provisions on social security provide for simple co-ordination of the Union's Member States' systems.

In other words, every Member State is free to decide who is to be insured under its legislation, which benefits are granted and under what conditions, and how these benefits are calculated and how many contributions should be paid.

2. WHAT DO EU PROVISIONS ON SOCIAL SECURITY ESTABLISH?

The Community provisions on social security establish common rules and principles which have to be observed by all national authorities, social security institutions, courts and tribunals when applying national laws.  By doing so, they ensure that the application of the different national legislations does not adversely affect persons exercising their right to move and to stay within the EU, the EEA and Switzerland.

In simple terms, the basic principle is that a person who has exercised the right to move within the EU may not be placed in a worse position than a person who has always resided and worked in one single Member State.

3. HOW DOES THE EU PROTECT PEOPLE FROM BEING INSURED TWICE?

In some Member States, social security is based on residence, while in others only persons exercising an occupational activity and the members of their families are insured.  In order to avoid a situation where migrant workers are either insured twice or not at all, the EU provisions on social security determine which national legislation applies to a migrant worker in each particular case.

In this context, the EU provisions on social security provide for "aggregation of periods". This means that periods of insurance, employment or residence completed under the legislation of one Member State are taken into consideration, where necessary, for entitlement to benefit under the legislation of another Member State.

4. DOES THE EU PROVIDE NEW TYPES OF SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS?

No. The EU neither introduces new types of benefit, nor does it abolish national legislation.  The only purpose of the EU provisions on social security is to protect European citizens working, residing or staying in another Member State.

For example, whenever the legislation of several countries is involved, the EU provisions on social security determine which country has to pay benefits.

The EU provisions on social security provide also detailed rules which will determine in every single case which country's national legislation is applicable.  There are two basic principles.  A worker is subject to the legislation of only one Member State at a time.

A second basic principle is that an employee is insured in the country where he or she exercises his/her occupational activity.

5. WHAT IS THE U1 FORM AND ITS USE?

The U1 Form

The U1 form certifies your periods of insurance and employment or self-employment in another EU country that will be taken into account for the award of unemployment benefits.

Where and when to obtain your U1 form

If you are going to work in another EU Country, then before you leave you can request a U1 form from the employment service or the social security institution you are currently insured with for unemployment benefits. This is your right but not an obligation. A full list of institutions can be found at http://ec.europa.eu/social-security-directory.

Use of the U1 form

If you become unemployed after working in the country you have moved to and claim unemployment benefit there, the record shown on the U1 may need to be used to establish your entitlement to unemployment benefit. The same applies if you claim unemployment benefit in your country of residence after working in another country. When you claim unemployment benefit in such circumstances, therefore, you may have to present your U1 form to the unemployment service when you make your claim. If you do not present the U1, the institutions will exchange necessary information electronically.

Example:

You move from France to the UK and work there for 1 year, but then you lose your job and claim unemployment benefit in the UK. Under UK national law to be entitled to unemployment benefit you would normally have to have been insured for 2 years. You have only 1 year's insurance in the UK but, under the EU rules the UK will take into account the insurance in France during the relevant period as shown on the U1. They will add this to the UK insurance to enable you to satisfy its two year test.

Special rules for self-employed schemes

When you move to another EU country, it is recommended to contact the competent institution to receive the correct information whenever needed, as not all EU Countries have a specific self-employed scheme.

I am employed and going to look for work in another country, do I need to take a U1 form?

No. You will receive a form U2 which enables your employment benefit to be paid for a limited period in another country.

Online Application

6. E104/S041 FORM

The E104/S041 form is a record which certifies insurance periods for sickness benefit purposes.

Unlike the U1, the E104/S041 are not a portable document in terms of Regulation (EC) 883/2004 and 987/2009.  This means that such document is not issued upon request of the person him/herself.

If the institution of your Member State of residence or Member State where you are insured, requires a certification of your periods of insurance in Malta for sickness benefits purposes (E104/S041) the institution should make a direct request to the Department of Social Security.

For issues related to benefits in kind (healthcare) the institution responsible is the Health Entitlement Unit.

7. HOW TO LODGE A CLAIM FOR THESE BENEFITS?

Except for Sickness Benefit in kind, claims for all other benefits listed above, are to be lodged through online applications.

8. WHAT IS THE A1 FORM AND ITS USE?

Request for Entitlement to remain insured in Malta under Articles 11-16 of EU Regulation 883/2004 (Form A1)

The A1 form

The A1 form certifies which social security legislation applies to the holder of the form. It will generally be needed in situations where you, as an employed or self-employed person, have a connection through your employment or self-employment with more than one EU country. Under the EU rules a person is only subject to the legislation of one country at any one time. The A1 is issued by the country to whose legislation you are subject and confirms that you are not subject to the legislation of any other country you are connected with – in other words you will have no obligation to pay social security (including health insurance) contributions in the other countries. The A1 remains valid until the date of expiry, indicated at the form or until it is withdrawn by the issuing institution.

Where and when to obtain your A1 form?

If you are an employed person who goes to work temporarily in another EU country, your employer will normally apply for the A1 on your behalf to the relevant institution in your country. Employed persons who normally pursue activities in more than one EU country and self-employed persons apply in their own right. Please check with your employer the procedure to be applied. Whenever possible, the application should be made before the activity begins in the other country.

Use of the A1 form

The A1 should be kept available to be presented by you or your employer to the institution in the country you are working in, to confirm your social security position and to indicate in which country the security contributions will have to be paid.

Which situations does the A1 form cover?

• When you are sent by your employer to work temporarily in another EU country on his behalf for a maximum period of 24 months. This is known as a “posting”.
  • The conditions for posting are explained in the Practical Guide on applicable legislation, which can be found here. If all the conditions for posting are fulfilled, the A1 form will be automatically issued and confirm that, you will remain subject to the legislation of the state you were posted from.
• When you are normally self-employed in an EU country and go to pursue a similar activity in another country for a maximum period of 24 months.
  • Also here, if all the conditions for posting are fulfilled, the A1 form will confirm that you will remain subject to the legislation of the state you were posted from.
• When you are normally employed in more than one EU country at the same time or in alternation.
  • Depending on your situation, you may be subject to the legislation of either your country of residence or the country in which the registered office or place of business of your employer is situated.
• When you are normally self-employed in more than one EU country at the same time or in alternation.
  • Depending on your situation, you may be subject to the legislation of either your country of residence or the country where your centre of interest is situated.
• When you pursue both an employed and self-employed activity in different EU countries.
  • In this situation, the A1 form will confirm that the legislation of the country of your employed activities prevails.
• When you are a civil servant pursuing activities in more than one EU country.
  • In this situation, the A1 form will confirm that you remain under the legislation of the administration for which you are working.
• When it is your interest to derogate from any of the above rules,
  • Two or more EU states may, on the request of your employer, agree that you will be subject to the legislation of a state other than that provided by the normal rules. The A1 form will confirm to which legislation you are subject.

Online Application 

9. PROCEEDING ABROAD

Whether you are going abroad for work or for a temporary stay in one of the EU Member States, EFTA states and Switzerland, you must notify the Entitlement Unit within the Health Department prior to your departure.

If you are going to work in one of these States, you must also notify, apart from the Entitlement Unit within the Health Department:

• The Department of Social Security
• The Inland Revenue Department
• Jobsplus

If you are going to work abroad but outside the above-mentioned States, you do not need to notify the Entitlement Unit within the Health Department but you must still notify the other Departments prior to your departure.

10. LIFE CERTIFICATION

If you receive a pension or benefit from the Department of Social Security and decide to relocate outside of Malta, the Department needs to be informed immediately. When resident outside of Malta the Department of Social Security requests a life certification on a regular basis from its beneficiaries. A Life Certificate form is sent to every person in receipt of a pension or benefit. This form requires a declaration from the beneficiary, from a nominated next of kin and from a witness with a professional background. The information provided in the life certificate ensures that the information held by Department is accurate and updated.

1. WHAT IS THE IN-WORK BENEFIT?

The In-Work Benefit is intended to support couples and single parents who are in employment and have children under the age of twenty-three (23) years, who are still dependent and living in the same household.

2. WHY AM I ELIGIBLE FOR THE IN-WORK BENEFIT?

Since you, or in the case of a couple, your spouse/partner, or both of you, are in employment and have children under twenty-three (23) years of age who are still dependent/living in the same household.

Your income from employment falls within the threshold as indicated further below.

3. WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA TO QUALIFY FOR THE IN-WORK BENEFIT?

To qualify for the In-Work Benefit, you need to be engaged in an employment, with children under 23 years of age who are still dependent and living in the same household. If there are children under the age of 23 years living in the same household who receive the Single Unmarried Parent Allowance, you are still entitled for the In-Work Benefit.

Single parents earning more than €6,600 and less than €35,000.

A couple who together earn more than €10,000 but less than €50,000. – net income of one of the parents may not be less than €3,000.

A couple of whom only one is in gainful employment need to earn more than €6,600 and less than €35,000.

Notes: Income from employment incorporates all income from gainful occupations including: salary, overtime, commission, fringe benefits etc. National insurance paid is deducted from the gross income. In-Work Benefit is calculated on the income of the previous year.

4. WHAT ARE THE THRESHOLDS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE IN-WORK BENEFIT?

A Single parent in gainful employment earning more than €6,600 and less than €35,000 can be eligible for a maximum payable rate of up to €1,500 yearly per child. Those earning between €23,000 and €35,000 will be eligible for the rate of €200 yearly per child.

A couple in gainful employment whose collective net income from employment is greater than €10,000 and is less than €50,000 and where the net income of one of the parents does not fall below €3,000, can be eligible for a maximum payable rate of up to €1,500 yearly per child. Those earning between €35,000 and €50,000 will be eligible for the rate of €200 yearly per child.

A couple of whom only one is in gainful employment and whose net income from employment is greater than €6,600 and less than €35,000 can be eligible for a maximum payable rate of up to €730 yearly per child. Those earning between €26,000 and €35,000 will be eligible for the rate of €200 yearly per child.

5. WHAT ARE THE PAYMENT DATES AND THE PAYMENT METHOD FOR THIS BENEFIT?

This benefit is paid on the first Saturday of April, July, October, and January. Each payment covers the previous quarter.

Payments are deposited directly to the claimant’s bank account. To provide or amend your banking details, please click here by authenticating with your e-ID.

6. FROM WHERE CAN I CHECK THE PAYMENT RATES?

Click here to check the Payment rates.

7. HOW CAN I CHECK IF MY PERSONAL DETAILS AS HELD BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION ARE CORRECT?

To check your personal details as held with the Department of Social Security, please click here by authenticating with your e-ID.

8. IS THERE A MEANS OF HOW I CAN CHECK IF I AM ELIGIBLE FOR THIS BENEFIT AND HOW MUCH I AM ENTITLED TO RECEIVE AS PAYMENTS IF I AM ELIGIBLE?

Yes. You can click here to check if you are eligible and the rate that you would be entitled to. This calculator is a tool that allows you to enter data to calculate an unofficial projection of your benefit. This is not an official estimate and there is no guarantee that you will receive these amounts. The accuracy of the benefit projection will depend on how closely the data you enter matches your actual data in the future. The calculator uses the data you input and does not compare that data against your actual account. The actual social security benefit that you receive must be calculated under the provisions of the Social Security Act (Cap. 318.).

9. WHAT DOCUMENTATION DO I NEED TO APPLY FOR THE IN-WORK BENEFIT?

Income of applicants of the year prior to current year from any full-time or part-time employment. FS3s are required in the case of employed persons and a Profit and Loss Accounts in the case of self-occupied persons.

10. DO I NEED TO RE-APPLY EACH YEAR TO CONTINUE RECEIVING THE IN-WORK BENEFIT?

If you are entitled to the In-Work Benefit and there were no change in circumstance from your end, you do not need to re-apply for this benefit.

11. IF I HAD A CHANGE OF CIRCUMSTANCES, DO I NEED TO INFORM THE DEPARTMENT?

Yes, if you had change in circumstances, such as separation, marriage, cohabitation, loss of employment, increase in income from employment or the children that you were receiving the benefit from have left the household, it is important that the Department is informed accordingly. If the department is not informed in time, as this may result in an overpayment which would need to be returned.

12. HOW CAN I APPLY FOR THE IN-WORK BENEFIT?

Click here to apply online.

If you encounter difficulties, you may visit any servizz.gov hub or call on freephone 153.

Question: What is an e-ID account?
Answer: When a Maltese resident is issued with an Identity card, they can sign up for an e-ID account, giving them access to all government online services.. The Identity Card Unit is the authority responsible for issuing e-ID accounts for an individual residing in Malta.

Question: How do I register for an e-ID account?
Answer: You must contact Identity Malta at infoeid@gov.mt or by phone at (+356) 25904300 in order to register for an e-ID account and have your email address and Identity Card number verified. You can log in to any online government service after being authenticated.

Question: How do I log in with my e-ID account to submit a Social Security benefit application or access a service online?
Answer: To log in with your e-ID to submit a Social Security benefit application or access a service online, you must key in your Identity Card Number and password as indicated below. You will automatically be redirected to the application or service of your choice. It is of utmost importance that your e-ID password is never shared with other persons, as it holds the key to all your details and requests throughout all government departments and entities. It is adviceable to always log out once you have completed your online submissions.

Question: What should I do if I forget my e-ID password and need to log in?
Answer: If you have forgotten your e-ID password, click 'Forgot Password,' as indicated by the arrow below. You will be prompted to enter a new password, and an email will be sent to your email address or mobile number to confirm your identity.

Question: What should I do if I discover that my personal information is incorrect after logging in with my e-ID to submit an application?
Answer: If upon logging in with your e-ID account you notice that the information showing on screen is not correct, there are two things that you need to identify.

• If it is the Name, Surname or Address that are incorrect, then you need to contact Identity Malta on infoeid@gov.mt or call (+356) 25904300.
• If the incorrect information is about your email address or contact number then you must update this information by logging in to the site https://eid.gov.mt with your e-ID credentials and change the details from under the Contact Settings section. This is an instant change with the information provided. From this site you can also change your own e-ID password.

Question:Why should I use my e-ID for submitting an application or access a service?
Answer: There are various benefits when using your e-ID account to submit an application or to access a service online. Such advantages include faster, more convenient, and immediate access to services without the hassle of physically attending while waiting in line at a servizz.gov hub. Aside from that, it is a safe way to submit an application or access personal information.

Question:What will I gain by submitting an application online using my e-ID account?
Answer: When submitting an online application through your e-ID account, you will receive an automatic email notification upon submission of the application including a Reference Number related to the application, if you opt to insert your preferred email address during the process. This would be an acknowledgement that the application has been received at the Department of Social Security.

Question:What will I gain by accessing online services using my e-ID account?
Answer: If you are accessing online services by authenticating with your e-ID account, you will be provided with realtime information regarding personal details as held by the Department of Social Security. Changes to your other personal information held by the Department of Social Security can be made using these online services, which can be accessed via mySocialSecurity web app. Also, through the Application Monitoring service, you can also view the status of your application requests.

A new Central Bank directive that came into force on 01/01/2022 will eliminate the use of cheque payments of €20 or less. The new Central Bank regulations on cheques are intended to govern the use of this means of payment while incentivizing people to make use of electronic payment methods.

Question: Will a cheque issued by the Department of Social Security by the 31/12/2021 in the amount of €20 or less be redeemable?
Answer: A cheque issued in the amount of €20 or less with a date up to the end of 2021 will be redeemable. For example, a cheque dated 28/12/2021 has a six-month period up to when it may be cashed, i.e. the bank is obliged to cash that cheque of €20 or less.

Question: Will a payment issued by the Department of Social Security after 31/12/2021 of €20 or less made by direct payment to the bank be affected?
Answer: If a beneficiary is already being paid by the Department of Social Security by direct bank deposit or the banking details held with the Department of Social Security are updated so that a payment can be made by direct bank deposit, a payment issued by the Department of Social Security after 31/12/2021 of €20 or less will not be affected.

Question: Can I verify that my banking details held with the Department of Social Security are up to date?
Answer: You can verify your banking details held with the Department of Social Security through the Web App mysocialsecurity.gov.mt or by visiting one of service.gov hubs.

Question: Can I change my banking details held with the Department of Social Security online or by visiting one of the servizz.gov hubs?
Answer: Through the Web App mysocialsecurity.gov.mt you can change the details of how you are paid. If payments are currently being paid by the Department of Social Security by cheque, you can change the details in order to start receiving the payment by a direct bank deposit. If you are already being paid by a bank deposit, you can change both the bank and the account number, which account must always be a Savings or Current Account, but not a Loan Account. The indicated account must be in the name of the beneficiary. The bank account details provided will also be used for all benefits that you may be currently receiving. You can also choose to receive an SMS notification with the date of the deposit of your benefit.

You can also visit one of servizz.gov hubs to change your banking details held with the Department of Social Security.

Question: What happens, if my banking details held with the Department of Social Security are not updated to receive a social security payment due by direct bank deposit after 01/01/2022 if the payment is €20 or less?
Answer: If your banking details held with the Department of Social Security are not up to date to receive payment by direct bank deposit, a payment which is of €20 or less will not be issued. Thereafter, you will receive a notification letter by post requesting you to update your banking details, online or by visiting one of servizz.gov hubs to change your banking details held with the Department of Social Security. Once the banking details are updated, the department will issue the payment due by a direct bank deposit.

Question: What are the details required for a payment to be made by a direct bank deposit?
Answer: The requested details are the bank branch of your choice in which you prefer that the payment by direct bank deposit, as well as your International Bank Account Number (IBAN), which account, must always be a Savings or Current Account, but not a Loan Account. The indicated account must be in the name of the beneficiary.

By virtue of the amendment to Article 381 of the Code of Organisation and Civil Procedure, Cap.12. of the Laws of Malta, it was established that a garnishee order may not be issued not only on any benefit, pension, allowance or aid referred to in the Social Security Act (Cap.318.) or private pension or any other pension, benefit or allowance issued by the Government or another foreign government, but also on bank accounts which are used in order for beneficiaries to receive the said benefits.

By virtue of this amendment, it has also been established that local banks must ensure that the social benefits received in the beneficiaries’ accounts are not affected by the effect of a garnishee order. In addition, the amendment also stipulates that local banks must open separate bank accounts in which each beneficiary can receive social benefits.

Accordingly, any individual benefiting from a social benefit listed above must, in the event of an garnishee order being issued on his bank accounts, immediately contact his bank in order to release such benefits from the effect of the garnishee order.

Question: Since when did the amendment to the law governing a garnishee order on social benefits come into force?
Answer: As of 29/10/2021, Article 381 of the Code of Organization and Civil Procedure (Cap.12.) has been amended so as not to withhold any benefits against garnishee order. If you have a garnishee order, please inform your preferred bank of the amendment to Article 318 of the Code of Organization and Civil Procedure, so that you can have a bank account issued in your name as required.

Question: What should I do if I receive a garnishee order and am receving a social benefit?
Answer: If you receive garnishee order,  you contact your local bank immediately so that your benefits will not be adversely affected by the effect of the garnishee order?

Question: Do I need proof or documentation to be provided to the bank?
Answer: The Department of Social Security will take care to provide the individual with the required documentation so that he can provide it to a bank. It is therefore in your best interest to request the documentation from the Department so that you can provide it to your local bank by calling Freephone 153 or visiting one of the servizz.gov hubs.

Question: What should I do if a garnishee order was issued before this amendment was introduced?
Answer: This amendment will apply to those garnishee orders that have entered into force after the amendment was introduced. In the case of garnishee orders issued before the introduction of this amendment, the individual may still contact the bank so that from the date on which the contact is made, the benefits will cease to be affected by the effect of the garnishee order.

Question: I have money in my personal account other than social benefits, how will these be affected?
Answer: If you have non-social benefits in your bank account, they will be affected by the garnishee order. Only social benefits as stated in the law will not be affected by the effect of the garnishee order.

Question: If I have a bank account in which I receive social benefits and I receive a garnishee order, what will the bank do?
Answer: After contacting the bank, the social benefits should not be affected by the effect of the garnishee order. The law also stipulates that the bank may open another separate account in your name that is used exclusively for social benefit deposits. In this case, you must immediately inform the Department of Social Security regarding the IBAN number of this new account.

Question: Can I receive the benefit by check instead?
Answer: The amendment to the law has been introduced so that any benefit, allowance, allowance or pension paid under the Social Security Act (Cap. 318.), is not seized under a garnishee order. Therefore, the Department of Social Security encourages you to receive your payments in a bank account.

Question: So far, I receive the benefit by cheque. If I have a garnishee order, what should I do?
Answer: If payments are currently being made by the Department of Social Security and you receive a garnishee order, you should immediately contact your local bank so that, as required by law, the bank may open an account in your name that is used exclusively for social benefit deposits.

Question: Will I still receive the benefit by cheque?
Answer: If payments are currently being made by the Department of Social Security by cheque, you can update the details so that you can start receiving the payment by direct deposit at the bank. It is planned that cheque payments will no longer be issued in the near future.

Question: Should the bank withhold my payment, what should I do?
Answer: A garnishee order cannot be issued on any benefit, pension, allowance or assistance referred to in the Social Security Act (Cap.318.), as well as on bank accounts that are used for beneficiaries to receive the said benefits. Hence, you must contact your local bank immediately so that such benefits are released from the effect of the garnishee order. If for any reason after contacting the bank they still withhold your payment, you should immediately notify the Department of Social Security by calling Freephone 153 or visiting one of the servizz.gov hubs.

Question: Why does an overpayment occur with the Department of Social Security?
Answer: Overpayments can happen when the Department of Social Security pays a beneficiary more social security benefits than was due, often because one's income, resources, marital status, change in living situation or through an administrative error.

Question: What can a beneficiary do to avert that an overpayment occurs with the Department of Social Security?
Answer: Beneficiaries of social security benefits are required to inform Director General (Social Security) of any change in circumstances such as in income, employment, living situation or marital status amongst others. A great number of overpayments are caused by beneficiaries who fail to do so. Be sure to keep the DSS informed on these changes, so as to avoid incurring inconvenient and potentially costly overpayments.

Question: What happens when the Department of Social Security discovers that an overpayment occurred?
Answer: When the Department of Social Security discovers that an overpayment has been made, it sends a Notice of Overpayment to the beneficiary or his/her agent/administrator to be inform about:

• The amount of improperly paid social security benefits,
• The reason(s) for the overpayment, and
• The way the Department of Social Security proposes to recover the amount that has been overpaid.

Question: What are the deciding factors that the Department of Social Security considers when deciding the rate of repayment when an overpayment occurs?
Answer:  When deciding the rate of repayment, the Department of Social Security will look at the following factors:

• The beneficiary’s ability to repay;
• Any relevant facts or circumstances that have raised by the beneficiary; and
• The amount of the overpayment and how it happened.

Question: What are the general criteria considered by the Department of Social Security when requesting the beneficiary to repay an overpayment when this occurs?
Answer: General criteria as to how the Department of Social Security asks the beneficiary to repay the overpayment by either:

• Making a single payment to repay the full overpayment in one instance; or
• Making weekly or monthly cash repayments until the overpayment is paid off; or
• If you are still receiving a social security benefit payment, by deductions from your entitlement.

Question: What general documentation details are required to repay an overpayment when this occurs?
Answer: General documentation details required to repay an overpayment online when this occurs include:

• Have a valid e-ID issued by Identity Malta to make an online repayment.
or
• Overpayment beneficiary details (Identity Card Number, Name and Surname and Original Amount of overpayment) to make an online repayment. Only digits in the amounts section are to be inputted in the amount field.

Question: How can an overpayment be repaid, once the beneficiary receives a Notice of Overpayment from the Department of Social Security?
Answer: Once the beneficiary receives a Notice of Overpayment from the Department of Social Security, the overpayment may be settled by repaying an overpayment due to the Department of Social Security online.

One can also make a repayment on behalf of another person. For this service, the user is to provide the beneficiary overpayment details including the Name and Surname, Identity Card Number and the Original Amount (€) of the overpayment.

Only digits are to be inputted in the amount field. This information can be found on the notification letter that is sent to the beneficiary or the agent/administrator. A confirmation email is sent as a receipt to the person making the payment.

Question: Is an e-ID required to access one’s Social Security Contributions postings record sheet?
Answer: An e-ID account issued by Identity Malta is required to access your Social Security Contributions Postings Record Sheet. Click here on how to create your e-ID account.

Question: What information does my Social Security Contributions Postings Record Sheet show?
Answer: Your Social Security Contributions postings record sheet shows classified postings of Class 1 Social Security Contributions and Credits for employees, as well as Class 2 / Class 3 Social Security Contributions and Credits for self-occupied / self-employed individuals.

Question: When will the previous year's Social Security contributions be made available?
Answer: The previous year's Social Security contributions will be displayed in December of the following year.

Question: Is it normal to have unpaid Social Security contributions?
Answer: If you were not gainfully employed, did not reside in Malta, or were officially exempted from paying Social Security Contributions after the age of 16, it is normal to have missing Social Security Contributions and/or credits during these periods.

Question: Is it possible to print or save a copy of my Social Security Contributions postings record sheet?
Answer: You can print or save a copy of your Social Security Contributions postings record sheet in PDF format.

Question: Is it possible to access my Social Security Contributions Postings Record Sheet online?
Answer: To view your Social Security Contributions postings record sheet online, click here.

Question: Is an e-ID required to issue a Statement of Earnings (FS3) for Social Security payments?
Answer: An e-ID account issued by Identity Malta is required to issue a Statement of Earnings (FS3), for Social Security payments. Click here on how to create your e-ID account.

Question: Who can issue a Statement of Earnings (FS3) for Social Security payments?
Answer: This online service is intended for Social Security beneficiaries who would like to issue a Statement of Earnings (FS3) for Social Security payments paid for a specific year in the past 5 years.

Question: Does the Statement of Earnings (FS3) for Social Security payments require a signature?
Answer: Since this is an electronic document, the Statement of Earnings (FS3) for Social Security payments does not require a signature.

Question: Can I receive a Statement of Earnings (FS3) for Social Security payments by email?
Answer: If you opt to receive the Statement of Earnings (FS3) for Social Security payments by email and this is the first time that you are making use of this service, you must specify an email address and decide whether to make this email address as a default for the Department of Social Security to make contact with. If you opt to enter a different email address from the one held by the department, you will be asked whether you wish to change the email address by which the Department of Social Security can make contact with you. On subsequent use of the service, this saved email address will be automatically displayed.

Question: Can I generate a Statement of Earnings (FS3) for Social Security payments, if I have no payments from the Department of Social Security for a specific year indicated?
Answer: If you do not have taxable payments from the Department of Social Security for a specific year, you can still generate a Statement of Earnings (FS3) which will indicate that you had no taxable income for the specific year indicated. This statement can then either be downloaded in PDF format or sent to you by email.

Question: How do I issue a Statement of Earnings (FS3) for Social Security payments paid for a specific year in the past 5 years?
Answer:  Click here to issue a Statement of Earnings (FS3) for a specific year chosen from the past 5 years, whereby you can opt to download the Statement of Earnings issued in PDF format or else receive the statement by email.