Sign In

ID login

Inclusion, Equality and Social Welfare

what are you looking for?

One stop shops
in local communities

Latest

Appointment of an Administrator for Pensions and Benefits (DSS)

An individual of legal age may apply to be appointed as an administrator to act on behalf of a social security beneficiary or a person under eighteen (18) years old, provided the required documentation is submitted. The appointed administrator will manage the beneficiary’s social security affairs and safeguard their rights and interests.

The Administrator must always present a valid identification document, such as a Maltese Identity Card, Driving Licence or Passport, when visiting a Servizz.gov hub in person, once registered with the Department of Social Security.
Claim by Heir/s for Balance of Social Security Benefits (DSS)

A deceased beneficiary may have been due to a Social Security payment prior to or at the time of death. To claim a payment owed to a deceased beneficiary, fill in and submit the application as soon as possible after the death.
FSS Prescribed Percentage Request (DSS)

In Malta, personal taxation operates on a general principle: if you are domiciled and ordinarily resident in the country, you must declare all income, including that of your spouse and dependent children, from any source, including that from abroad. If you are not domiciled or ordinarily resident in Malta, you should declare income earned or derived from Malta, as well as any income remitted to the country. The taxation system is progressive, meaning higher income leads to higher tax rates. Personal tax is typically paid through the Provisional Tax system, the Final Settlement System (FSS), or Self-Assessment. Provisional Tax applies to those with income sources like trade, business, profession,or vocation.

FSS, on the other hand, is designed for employees and pensioners, ensuring accurate tax deductions from emoluments as they are received to prevent significant refunds or tax claims. Any outstanding tax not collected by these systems must be settled through Self-Assessment by the 30th of June of the following year.
Medical Board Appointment - Request to Reschedule, Cancel or a Home Visit (DSS)
The Social Security Act (Cap. 318.) establishes amongst others provisions, that a person may be entitled to receive a benefit, pension, assistance or allowance (hereinafter referred to as benefit) under this Act, following the advice of the Department’s medical panel, Inter-Professional Board and multi-disciplinary panel, where applicable, in accordance with the proviso to article 106.

As a result, there are times when a person who has been scheduled to attend a medical board related to a benefit must postpone or cancel the appointment. If the person fails to appear at the medical board without a justified reason, any pending benefits awaiting assessment and authorisation by the Department of Social Security may be terminated. This may also result in a benefit overpayment which would then need to be refunded by the beneficiary.

A medical certificate is required to support a request to reschedule an appointment on account of illness, unless it is for a Disability Assistance or Disability Child Allowance.

Applications for the benefits listed below are referred to Department’s medical panel, Inter-Professional Board and multi-disciplinary panel for evaluation:
- Disability Assistances.
- Disability Child Allowance.
- Social Assistance.
- Sickness Assistance.
- Milk Grant.
- Reciprocal Agreement for Disability benefit related to those living outside Malta.
- Sickness Benefit which is related to the Blue Medical Certificate.
- Injury Benefit, whether related to an injury at the workplace or disease / medical condition inflicted by the workplace.
Notification of Business Closure and Relocation Abroad (Self-Employed Person) (DSS)

This notification process applies to individuals who are self-employed in Malta and are planning to terminate their business activity due to relocation abroad. While the Maltese Social Security Number remains valid indefinitely, the obligation to contribute to the Maltese social security system ends.

Hence it is important for individuals to notify the Department of Social Security of Malta of their change in circumstances not only for informational purposes but also to enable the department to assess eligibility for certain benefits, while ensuring proper record-keeping without triggering contribution obligations.

When a self-employed decides to close down the business, a number of entities that one registered with as a self-employed, will need to be notified and certain deregistrations need to be affected. Click here for more information.
Proceeding Abroad Notification (DSS)

If you are a DSS beneficiary receiving a social security benefit under the Social Security Act (Cap. 318.) it is important that any changes in your circumstances are reported immediately to the Department of Social Security so as not to incur any overpayments. It is important, that you check the changes in circumstance that require to be reported according to the benefit you are receiving.

If you are planning to travel abroad for more than three (3) months from Malta, whether temporarily or permanently, it is important to notify the Department of Social Security to ensure and evaluate eligibility, of whether to terminate or for continuity of your social security benefits payments. This also includes the updating of the contact details held by the department. Proceeding Abroad from Malta, refers to the action of leaving Malta to travel or relocate to a foreign country.

You must keep in mind that upon applying for a benefit from the Department of Social Security of Malta, you had declared to inform the Department of Social Security of any change in circumstances to the Director General (Social Security). If the Director General (Social Security) is not informed of such change in circumstance, entitlement for the benefit, or part of, may be forfeited, which may also result in an overpayment.

A Non-Contributory Benefit or Assistance paid under the Social Security Act (Cap. 318.) is not exportable, meaning that the benefit or assistance received will be stopped. Therefore, if you are receiving these types of benefits and relocate to another country outside Malta, you would no longer be eligible to receive the non-contributory benefit or assistance that was awarded to you. However, limited travel restrictions are permitted for specific benefits, which include Social Assistance and Age Pension.

On the other hand, specific Contributory Benefits and pensions paid under the Social Security Act (Cap. 318.) which include the Retirement Pension, Widow/er’s and Invalidity Pensions, Unemployment Benefit and Sickness Benefit, are exportable. Eligibility to Unemployment Benefit is exportable within the European Union (EU) only, denoting that the benefits or Pensions paid will be continued to be received.
Report a Death of a Social Security Beneficiary (DSS)

When a Social Security beneficiary passes away, the death must be reported to the Department of Social Security. Accordingly, there are certain steps that must be taken to cancel benefits or transfer the payments to an eligible survivor.

Failing to report the death of a Social Security beneficiary can be problematic for a couple of reasons. First, since most of the benefits by the department are paid in advance, any payments received from Social Security after the beneficiary passes away will have to be returned. If the date of death coincides with the payment date, no overpayment is created. However, if the beneficiary received a payment after the date of death or any later months, that payment is considered as an overpayment and would have to be refunded to the DSS by the spouse or heirs.

Continuing to receive benefits after someone dies, even if that person was a spouse and the benefits are going into a joint account, is a crime. Second, failing to report the death could cause another beneficiary to miss out on collecting Social Security survivor benefits.

Local deaths must be registered at one of the Public Registry offices. During such visit, the deceased’s identity card would have to be returned. Thus, it is advisable for relatives / friends of the deceased to make a copy of the identity card.
Residential Address Referral (DSS)

A person who is not living at a fixed address, may be given a temporary residential address after being referred to the Foundation for Social Welfare Services (FSWS). A place of temporary residence is an address in Malta or Gozo and may be used when applying for social security benefits.

© Servizz.gov 2026