The first payment of the Children’s Allowance with the new increase of €250 per year for all children will start to be given at the end of this week, government said Thursday.

The first payment, covering the first three months of next year, will be made at the end of this week, and will benefit more than 41,285 families and 62,000 children. Collectively, these families will receive €14.3 million.

The details were announced by the Minister for Social Policy and Children’s Rights Michael Falzon, who spoke about the government’s intention and commitment to continue improving and strengthening the situation of all Maltese and Gozitan families.

Falzon not only recalled the introduction of the children’s allowance measure 50 years ago but also stated that this government continued to believe in this gift and strengthen it as part of the guarantee for children.

“This is in contrast to other administrations that did not always provide this benefit to all families with children,” Falzon said.

He added that from this year onwards, families whose income does not exceed €26,590 will receive the children’s allowance up to a maximum of €1,750 for each child, while a family with income exceeding this limit will receive a payment reduced to €930 for each child.

Falzon also said that by the end of this week, 2,158 payments for the Allowance for Children with Disabilities will also be made, with an investment of almost €1 million, and 19,645 payments as Supplementary Assistance, amounting to €4 million.

“By the end of this week, an additional €19.2 million will go into the pockets of families with children and vulnerable individuals. At the same time, during the past week, we have invested €34 million in the Additional Benefit for the High Cost of Living,” Falzon said.

He said that government will continue to remain close to the small and families and improving the citizen’s quality of life.