Social Assistance – Medical

Overview

A Social Assistance – Medical may be awarded to a person who is responsible for the household who may be incapable of working due to medical reasons.

What you’ll get

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

This Social Assistance – Medical is awarded to the person responsible for the household who suffers from a medical condition that impedes this person from participating in an employment and cannot be entitled to another contributory benefit. This assistance is paid to the person responsible for the household and the payable rate is based on the number of persons living with the person responsible for the household.

The process for Social Assistance – Medical is initiated when the Head of Household applies for Social Assistance. Once the application is evaluated and it satisfies the means test, Social Assistance is paid while the applicant is allowed two (2) months to visit a Medical practitioner of their choice, who fills in the medical section of the application. After an evaluation by the Medical board, if the person is deemed as eligible, the benefit rate inccreases by five euro (€5) for each additional family member.

In case of an applicant living in a rented property, one euro and sixteen cents (€1.16) per week is added to the Social Assistance applicable rate, being rent allowance.

Any change in circumstance, such as change of address, birth of a child, changes in household composition, medical board decision, death, starting an employment or court procedures, is to inform immediately the Department of Social Security, as this may affect the rate of the benefit payment.

Beneficiaries who are over twenty-three (23) years of age and who enrol to a University or MCAST course will continue receiving the assistance as long as the stipend and other ancillary benefits received do not exceed the difference between the Social Assistance and the National Minimum Wage. In case it exceeds, only the amount exceeding the National Minimum Wage will be deducted from the Social Assistance entitlement.

Please click here for a Schedule of Benefits Rates.

Eligibility

The applicant is the person responsible for the household.
The applicant is not in employment and cannot register for work under Part 1 of the JobsPlus Unemployment Register due to applicant’s medical condition.
The applicant must satisfy the Capital Means Test. Capital resources for a couple must not exceed twenty-six thousand euro (€26,000) and sixteen-thousand euro (€16,000) for a single person.
When one of the spouses attains the age of sixty (60) years, the Age Pension is awarded and difference in Social Assistance is issued to the other spouse. Social Assistance application for the difference in rate has to bear the name of person responsible for the household.
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.
As from 1^st January 2022, the applicant receiving Social Assistance will be eligible for the full increase of the Cost of Living.

Documentation Required

Latest Water and Electricity bill, showing the number of members in the household.
Recent Bank Statements of all local and foreign bank accounts.
Copy of Housing Authority rent contract if applicant’s house of residence is rented.
Logbook of all vehicles listed under the applicant’s name and the spouse/partner, if applicable.
Copy of driving licence/s of person responsible for household and, if applicable, that of the spouse/partner.
Related documentation of any property and/or share of property both in Malta and/or abroad.
Relative legal documents regarding cash donations or airspace property,
In case of separation or divorce, separation or divorce contracts dated and signed, showing maintenance being received need to be provided.
For separation cases where the separation contract is not yet finalised, a 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.