A number of 2020 budget measures including ones aimed at pensioners and those on social benefits will come into effect in the coming days and weeks, the Family and Social Solidarity Ministry said in a statement.
Among these measures coming into effect in January, is the promised €7 weekly increase for pensioners, the increase in the rate of aid assistance for the severely disabled, the percentage increase for those people who worked in the public sector and retired between 2016 and 2018 at age 62 or older with more than 35 years paying their social security contribution, the ministry's statement read.
The first increases will come into force on 4 January 2020, and on that day the non-contributory age pension increase will be paid, as will the increase in the carers allowance and the disability assistance also for those who have need additional assistance for severe disability.
On 11 January, the ministry said, the retirement age pensioners who receive the two-thirds pension and those who receive a services pension will begin to receive the €7 per week pension increase. On the same day, those on social assistance will also begin to receive their increase.
On 11 January, those people who worked in the public sector and retired between 2016 and 2018 at age 62 or older with more than 35 years paying their social security contribution will begin to receive their addidional increase. That way, the ministry said, they will be on par with those people who worked in the private sector.
Those with a widow's pension will receive the €7 increase per week in their pensions on 18 January, and on the same day those on medical assistance will receive their increases.
Those people on a minimum pension and invalidity pensioners will reveive their €7 per week pension increase on 25 January.
The ministry noted that the increase in supplementary aid promised in the budget for elderly people aged over 65 who are at risk of poverty already began being paid to them through the 14 December payments, which payment incorporated the first three months of 2020 paid up front.
Social Solidarity Minister Michael Falzon said that he is optimistic that, in the coming year, the ministry will continue with its work to help families, children, the elderly and persons with disability.
Among the measures that will soon be implemented, the minister said, include a new €300 bonus that will begin being paid to parents who will have a new baby, increases for widowers who have children under the age of 18, increases for the elderly aged over 80 , increases for the elderly who live in a private home for the elderly and others.