Malta Social Benefits

A range of benefits are available to residents of Malta and their families, providing they have contributed to the social security funds by paying national insurance contributions. Employers and employees contribute 10% of gross salary to the social security system. Self-employed workers also make contributions.

Benefits available to residents of Malta include:

• Sickness Benefit
• Injury Benefit
• Unemployment Benefit
• Child Benefit In 2011 EU regulations regarding eligibility for social security schemes were extended to include non-EU nationals.

In practice, this means that any foreign person living legally in Malta and who has made social security contributions either through employment or self-employment may be entitled to social security protection.

Obtaining a National Insurance Number

A national insurance number is necessary in Malta in order to receive social security benefits. To obtain a national insurance number, expatriates need a e-Residence ID card, which is compulsory for both EU and non-EU nationals staying more than three months on the island. Once an e-Residence card has been obtained, it is possible to apply for the number.

Healthcare

In Malta, there are also private hospitals, clinics and other facilities. Care in private facilities is funded by private insurance or paid for by the patients themselves. Practitioners and specialists in Malta are allowed to exercise their profession in both public and private healthcare services simultaneously. All private care facilities, apart from family practitioner clinics and the specialised consultancy offices, must have a licence from the Public Health Authorities.

Public health care institutions provide a broad range of health care services, including care for acute conditions, chronic illnesses, ante-natal care, post-natal care, mental health care, rehabilitation and care for the elderly.

**EMERGENCY CARE - Emergency health care services are provided free of charge in general public hospitals or in primary health care settings. EU citizens requiring emergency health care services need to present a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

** PLANNED HEALTH CARE –Planned health care in public hospitals and primary health care centres are provided free of charge to: those living in Malta who are covered by social security; and people from other EU countries who have a certificate of entitlement under EU Regulations 883/4 and 987/09.

** DENTAL HEALTHCARE – In case of acute emergencies, dental health care is provided free of charge in general public hospitals. Routine dental healthcare must be must be paid for by patients themselves in private clinics, all of which are duly licensed by the Public Health Authorities.

** PEOPLE ON LOW INCOME - People on a low income, as determined by a means test, are entitled to free medicines from a restricted list of essential medicines and to certain medical aids (subject to certain conditions and payment of a refundable deposit).

** PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM CHRONIC ILLNESSES - People who suffer from chronic illnesses as listed in the Social Security Act (Chapter 318) are entitled to free medicines. This benefit is not means tested.

A prescription is required from a licensed practitioner for the dispensing of medicines and medical aids. On discharge from the public hospital patients entitled for the provision of free health care are provided with three day medicine supplies.

Sickness Benefit

Anyone under retirement age who satisfies certain national insurance contribution conditions may be entitled to sickness benefit provided they submit a claim within 10 days from the first day they become unable to work.

In order for a claimant to receive sickness benefit, they must obtain a blue medical certificate from a doctor confirming their inability to work. A medical certificate is valid for six days. The claimant must obtain a new medical certificate every week until they are fit to resume work.

Sickness Benefit is paid to employees and self-employed after 3 days of leave.

Injury Benefit

Anyone who suffers an injury at work or has developed a disease, may be entitled to injury/Industrial Disease Benefit. Claimants must fill in the necessary claim form and have it counter-signed by a doctor, and also their employer (in case of an employee) or the police (in the case of a self-employed person).

Maternity Leave Benefit

The Maternity Benefit is paid at a flat-rate of €89.10 per week for 14 weeks of Maternity Leave. For self-occupied women, the benefit is paid at €168.01 per week. A minimum of six weeks must be taken after the birth of the child. Maternity Benefit can be paid either in full after the child's birth or in two instalments before and after the birth.

Maternity Leave Benefit is paid by the government for four further weeks (after the 14 weeks of Maternity Leave paid by the employer) with a flat-rate of €168.01 per week. Self-employed women are also entitled.

Furthermore, the mother or father can apply for four months' unpaid leave as long as the child is under eight years of age.

The applicant must apply by means of an official form issued by the Social Security Department (Application for Maternity Benefit) and must include a medical certificate signed by a doctor.

Child Allowance

Child Benefit is payable to each family residing in Malta having children under the age of 16. The benefit rate is calculated on the difference between the total income of both parents (declared in the year prior to their application) and €24,742. If the total income exceeds €24,742 a flat-rate is payable amounting to €450 per year per child. Children over 16 also qualify for the benefit if they are in full-time education or training or not in paid employment.

Disabled Child Allowance

Parents of children with physical or mental disability may be entitled to an additional allowance. A doctor must certify the child’s condition and the application form, signed by both parents, must be sent to the local Social Security office.

Unemployment Benefits

Unemployment Benefits, both under the contributory schemes and non-contributory schemes, are paid to each person who loses his/her job. The eligibility criteria for the contributory unemployment benefits require a minimum of 50 weeks of contributions of which at least 20 must have been paid or credited during the year preceding that in which the request was made.

In the non-contributory scheme, Special Unemployment Benefit is paid to the head of the household instead of the Unemployment Benefit, after a means test is carried out. Unemployment Assistance is paid at a rate that can change in accordance with the means test.

The applicant must be registered as a full-time jobseeker with the local employment agency, must be fit for work and available to work.