Malta

I - The resources and income of disabled people.

  1. Are there specific legislative procedures for disabled people to enable them to have a minimum of resources ?
  2. Do laws exist in your country to enable a minimum of resources for people who become disabled during their working lives ?

II - Disability compensation.

I –THE RESOURCES AND INCOME OF DISABLED PEOPLE.

A) An average of 70% of blind and seriously partially-sighted people of working age are unemployed. Are there specific legislative procedures for disabled people in your country to enable them to have a minimum of resources?

Yes

  • If yes: what are these allowances?

€377  (monthly)

Give specific details of the following aspects:

 

  • 1. Criteria of eligibility
  1. Age.

    - Minimum:
    13 years old
    - Maximum:
    unspecified

  2. Level of disability.
    Visually impaired
  3. Nationality.

    Maltese, EU citizens residing in Malta and Non-EU citizens residing and working in Malta.

  4. Conditions of residence in the country.
    Various including marriage, work, study and other on case to case basis.

 

  • 2 Financial conditions.
  1. Ceiling.
    - Is the allowance means-tested?

    Yes

  2. If YES, does the ceiling take into account the family situation of the person?

    No

  3. Calculation of financial conditions.

    - If the allowance is means-tested, state under what conditions.

    Allowance is granted against income of individual.

  • 3 Amount of the allowance.
  1. Normal rate.

    - What is the amount of the allowance given to people with no other income, state briefly how the allowance varies according to other income or resources.
     

    €377 (monthly).

     Income plus allowance should not exceed minimum wage (€665 monthly). Allowance is deducted accordingly in order not to exceed the established ceiling (of €665).

  2. Reduction of the allowance.

    - State briefly under what circumstances the allowance may be reduced.

    Refer to previous answer

 

  • 4 Minimum wage and “poverty line”.

- In order to compare the situation in different EBU member states, please indicate the minimum wage (if this exists in your country) for a full-time worker, and what is considered to be “the poverty line”.

€665 monthly for minimum wage. Poverty line - €500 (debatable)

  • 5 Payment of the allowance.

 - What are the organisations which calculate and attribute the allowance?

Social service department

  • 6 Tax treatment of allowances and fringe benefits.
  1. Tax. Is the benefit subject to tax?
    No
  2. Fringe benefits. Does this allowance accord any fringe benefits?
    No

B) Do laws exist in your country to enable a minimum of resources for people who become disabled during their working lives?

Yes

  • If yes : what is the name of the allowance ?

DISABILITY PENSION

Specify by giving details of the following aspects:

 

  • 1 Criteria of eligibility

 

  1. Age.
    18
  2. Degree of disability.
    Rendering the individual unable to work
  3. Nationality.
    n/a
  4. Residency requirements.
    Maltese and EU citizen
  5. Other conditions, please give details.
    n/a
  • 2 Means test.

n/a

 

  • 3 Amount of the allowance.

n/a

 

  • 4 Attribution, payment of the allowance.

- Who attributes the allowance: State, local government, others, give details.

STATE

  • 5 Tax treatment of allowances and fringe benefits.
  1. Tax. Is the benefit subject to tax?
    No
  2. Fringe benefits. Does this allowance accord fringe benefits?
    No

II – DISABILITY COMPENSATION.

A visual disability (blindness or serious loss of sight) entails additional costs which must be met. Is there a specific allowance in your country to compensate for these costs?

Yes

  • If yes, give the name of this allowance and reply to the following questions.

 ALTHOUGH NOT DIRECTLY REFERRED TO AS ALLOWANCE, ANY MATERIAL/GOODS INTENDED FOR SPECIFIC USE BY THE BLIND QUALIFY FOR VAT TAX REFUND UPON PURCHASE.

  • 1 Eligibility conditions.
  1. Age.

    - Minimum:

    n/a

    - Maximum:

    n/a

    - Duration of the allowance.

    n/a

  2. Degree of disability.
    Refer to answers for 1. Criteria of eligibility
  3. Nationality.
    n/a
  4. Conditions of residence in the country.
    n/a
  5. Other conditions, give details.
    n/a

 

  • 2 Financial conditions.

n/a

 

  • 3 Amount of the allowance.

- What is the amount of the allowance?

n/a

 

  • 4 Attribution and payment of the allowance.

- Which organisations attribute and pay the allowance:
State, local authorities, please give details.

n/a

 

  • 5 Payment of the allowance.

n/a

 

  • 6 Reduction of the allowance.

- State briefly under what conditions the allowance can be reduced.

n/a

 

  • 7 Tax system of the allowance and fringe benefits.
  1. Tax system.
    Is the allowance subject to tax?
    No
  2. Fringe benefits.
    Does the allowance offer fringe benefits?
    n/a