Be the first to comment!Hundreds to receive pension who previously did not qualify – Minister
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Elderly people who have at paid at least 10 years of stamps, but do not qualify for a pension, will be given right to qualify for the reduced minimum pension of two thirds. This is the second year that this measure has been announced, the Government has said.
Minister for the Family Michael Falzon in a statement, said that the process is expected to be completed by March. In total, over two years, around 2,000 people will have benefited from this measure and are receiving for the first time a pension of around €50 per week.
Minister Michael Falzon said that this measure will be implemented at the end of this week.
A grant will also be given with effect from this month to people aged 75 and over living in their homes or with relatives will be implemented. It will also be given to those seniors who pay out of pocket to live in private nursing homes.
Those between the ages of 75 and 79 will receive a grant of €300 a year, and at the same time, if they are entitled, the bonus will be paid to those who do not qualify for a contributory pension. Grants for beneficiaries aged 80 and over have been increased once again by €50 to € 400 per year.
Permanent Secretary within the Ministry Mark Musù said that widows’ pensioners will be paid further increases due to a measure that came into force this year so that over a period of years, their pension will gradually increase until they reach the full pension of their spouses. Around 12,000 widowed pensioners will benefit from an improvement in pension rates of up to around €5 a week.
This means, in addition to the normal increase in their pension that they have already started receiving, their overall increase can go up to around €10 a week or €520 a year.
The Minister also said that more than 3,200 service pensioners will start benefiting from increases in their social security pension. The Carer’s Grant will increase by €200 to €500 per year. This grant is paid to those parents who have to stay home to care for their severely disabled adult children. Recipients of the Occupational Injury Pension will not receive any further deductions from other contributory benefits that may apply to them.
