Families with children and recipients of supplementary assistance will receive payments totaling nearly €27 million this weekend, covering the final quarter of the year, the Ministry for Social Policy and the Family said in a statement Friday. In total, these families have received over €107 million in child benefits or Supplementary Assistance this year.
The largest investment for this final quarter - covering the period from October to December in advance - will amount to nearly €20 million in Children's Allowance payments and the additional supplement, benefiting 42,600 families with 63,000 children, the Ministry said.
Throughout the year, payments have been made in accordance with new parameters established in the last Budget to determine allowance rates for families with relatively low or average disposable income. Following the changes made, the rates paid to these families for each child under the age of 16 have increased; the highest rate rose by €417 to €2,330 per child, meaning a family with two children entitled to the maximum rate received a total of €4,660 this year.
Rates vary according to family income; the minimum amount a family can receive is nearly €1,100 per year per child, meaning a family with two children on the lowest rate received €2,200 this year.
This does not include the substantial annual savings resulting from tax cuts for parents, which began this year and will continue over the next two years.
Furthermore, more than 2,100 additional families - caring for nearly 2,800 children with physical or intellectual disabilities - are receiving the Disability Child Allowance payment, which also covers the final quarter of the year. In total, these payments amount to €1.35 million.
Additional payments will be made to 160 families fostering children up to the age of 21. For each child in their care, a payment of €6,760 is being made this year - an increase of €520 over the previous year. Consequently, they are receiving a three-month payment of €1,690 this week.
These children will now also be covered by an Aftercare Policy, ensuring that once they are no longer in foster care due to reaching adulthood, the state continues to support them until they become fully independent.
Meanwhile, 20,000 families, couples, and single individuals will share a total of €5.4 million in enhanced Supplementary Allowance payments. Approximately 70% of these recipients are single individuals, widows or widowers, and separated or divorced persons with low incomes.
The maximum weekly rate payable to couples this year has risen to €27.30, while the rate for single individuals has reached €14.40 per week. These rates vary according to income.
The number of beneficiaries has increased by approximately 1,000 families this year, the Ministry said, thanks to an expansion of income thresholds designed to allow more couples and single individuals to benefit from the allowance. The net income threshold for couples has risen by €2,000 to €20,000, while the threshold for single individuals has increased by €1,500 to €14,000.
Beneficiaries aged 65 and over have also benefited this year from a €100 increase in the annual grant paid separately alongside the supplementary allowance. This grant, which now totals €250, is being awarded to both spouses, rather than just one as was previously the case.
Furthermore, since the beginning of the year, these beneficiaries aged 65 or older have become automatically eligible for free medicines, without the need to undergo a means test.
Minister for Social Policy and the Family Michael Falzon reiterated that the government continues to offer stability and peace of mind to Maltese and Gozitan families.
"While many families across Europe and beyond are facing significant difficulties due to various factors, families in Malta continue to receive strong direct and indirect support from the government. This is being delivered through various benefits and forms of assistance, demonstrating this government's strong social commitment," he said.