Minister for the Family and Social Solidarity, Michael Farrugia, today announced that persons receiving disability pension who reach the age of 60 will be receiving a weekly rate that is equivalent to the non-contributory retirement pension.
This will mean a €5.16 weekly increase, the Minister said when addressing journalists at the Kawax factory in Marsa. There will be no need for the beneficiaries to apply for such a pension.
240 people who are over 60 and receiving a disability pension have already received a letter from the department to inform them that their pension is being increased. And, during 2016, Minister Farrugia pointed out, there will be another 45 people who will become eligible for these benefits.
Dr Farrugia said that at present, there are 360 people working full-time and receiving a disability pension, as well as another 247 who work part-time. In 2014 there were a total of 2,730 people receiving these benefits and in 2015 there were 3,163 people, an increase of 443.
Kawax Ltd employs around 34 vulnerable people. The company used the ‘Malta Supported Employment Programme’ and has 4 vulnerable people working full-time, two of whom have special needs. It also employs 22 people who work from home, with plans to employ 8 more people to work from home in February.