Inclusion, Equality and Social Welfare

A Social Assistance may be awarded to a person who is responsible for the household who cannot engage in employment due to having care and custody of own minor children and is legally or de facto separated.

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

If the person responsible for thehousehold is raising minor children on their own, Social Assistance may be awarded in his/her own right. However, if the household is formed of other family members, the person responsible for the household will be awarded Social Assistance which will include entitlement for other eligible family members forming part of that household. On the other hand, if a household member leaves, the rate may be deducted accordingly.

In the case where the person responsible for the household was in receipt of Unemployment Assistance and is now registering under Part 2 (after being struck off from registering under Part 1 of the Employment Register and has lodged an appeal with National Employment Authority), the spouse may be eligible to receive Social Assistance Board. The award of Social Assistance Board is subject to approval by a Board appointed in accordance to the Social Security Act (Cap. 318.).

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 child, changes in household composition, medical board decision, commencement of employment, death or court procedures, is to inform immediately the Department of Social Security as this may affect the rate of benefit payment. You can report your change in circumstances by using the Contact Us page and from the drop-down list choose ‘Social Assistance’ from the ‘Non-Contributory’ section.

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.

• The applicant is the person responsible for the household.

• The applicant is not in employment. Where applicable, the spouse/partner cannot be in employment as well.

• 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 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 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.

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

• Market value of any property in Malta and/or abroad, which is not the house of residence.

• Recent rent receipt and rent agreement of the Housing Authority if applicant’s house of residence is rented, showing details of who is making the rent payments; 

• Rent agreement if rent is derived from other properties.

• Filling in of the Annex 2 - Corroboration document if the applicant resides with third parties. Click here to download the Corroboration document.

• Copy of driving licence/s of person responsible for household and, if applicable, that of the  spouse/partner.

• 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.

• Joint Declaration if there is a request by the dependent on the person responsible for the household (Annex 5). Click here to download the Joint Declaration document.

• Copy of Appeal Letter addressed to the National Employment Authority (NEA) referred to in Annex 5, if applicable.

• Acknowledgement Letter from the National Employment Authority (NEA), if applicable.

Fill in and submit the application online.