Increase in the Rates of Benefits Order, 2014

L. N. 62 of 2014

SOCIAL SECURITY ACT

(CAP. 318)

Increase in the Rates of Benefits Order, 2014

IN exercise of the powers conferred by article 84 of the Social

Security Act, hereinafter referred to as "the Act", the Minister for the

Family and Social Solidarity, with the concurrence of the Minister for

Finance, has made the following order:-

The title of this order is the Increase in the Rates of

Benefits Order, 2014.

(2) This order shall come into force on the following dates

(a)

in the case of the Tenth Schedule, with effect from

the 6th January, 2014;

(b)

in the case of the Third, Sixth, Seventh, Eight,

Ninth, Twelfth and Fourteenth Schedules, except Part V thereof,

with effect from the 4th January, 2014;

(c)

in the case of Seventh Schedule, with effect from

1st January, 2014; and

(d)

Part V of the Fourteenth Schedule, with effect from

5th July, 2014.

(1)

It-titolu ta’ dan l-ordni hu l-Ordni tal-2014 dwar Titolu u bidu

fis-seħħ.

Żjieda fir-Rati ta’ Benefiċċji.

(2) Dan l-ordni għandu jiġi fis-seħħ fid-dati li ġejjin

(a)

fil-każ tal-Għaxar Skeda fis-6 ta’ Jannar, 2014;

(b)

fil-każ tat-Tielet, is-Sitt, it-Tmien, id-Disa’, it-Tnax

u l-Erbatax-il Skeda minbarra t-Taqsima V tagħha, fl-4 ta’

Jannar, 2014;

(ċ)

fil-każ tas-Seba’ Skeda, mil-1 ta’ Jannar 2014; u

(d)

fil-każ tat-Taqsima V tal-Erbatax-il Skeda, mill-5

ta’ Lulju, 2014.

The Third Schedule to the Act shall be substituted by the

following new Schedule

" THIRD SCHEDULE

(Articles 18, 28, 29 u 30)

PART I

Rates of Sickness, Unemployment, Special Unemployment and Injury Benefits,

Injury Grant and Injury Pension

Daily Rate of Benefit

A Single Parent or a

Married Person

maintaining a

Type of Benefit

Any Other Person

Spouse who is not

employed on a full-

time basis

Sickness Benefit

€19.46

€12.59

Injury Benefit

€29.21

€21.97

Unemployment Benefit

€11.80

€7.72

Special Unemployment Benefit

€19.83

€12.94

PART II

Amounts of Injury Grant

Degree of Disablement

Amount of Grant

€

%

238.52

477.01

715.53

954.02

1,192.41

1,430.92

1,669.42

1,907.93

2,146.43

2,384.92

2,623.41

2,861.92

3,100.40

3,338.92

3,577.34

3,815.80

4,054.32

4,292.78

4,531.27

PART III

Highest Rate of Injury Pension

Weekly Rate

€68.77

PART IV

Orphan’s Allowance

Weekly Rate

€57.04

PART V

Orphan’s Supplementary Allowance

Weekly Rate

".

€99.39

The Sixth Schedule to the Act shall be substituted by the

following new Schedule

" SIXTH SCHEDULE

(Articles 27, 30, 66, 68)

PART I

Scale Rates of Social Assistance per week inclusive of any measures under

the provisions of article 90A

A Household of ONE eligible

Member Only

€100.48

Where the number of eligible members in the household exceeds the number

indicated in the above column, the respective weekly rate indicated therein shall be

increased by €8.15 per week in respect of every other eligible member in that

household.

PART II

Highest Rate of Age Pension per week, inclusive of any increases under

the provisions of article 90A

Highest Rate of

Category of Pensioner

Age Pension per

week

1. A married couple where both spouses qualify for a

pension under article 66

€132.79

2. A married couple where only one of the spouses

qualifies for a pension under article 66

€86.95

3. Widowed, single persons or a married person whose

spouse is in receipt of a State Financed Residential Service in

terms of article 93

€104.56

PART III

Highest Rate of Disability Pension and Pension for the Visually Impaired per Week

inclusive of any increases under the provisions of article 90A

Weekly Rate

€99.40

PART IV

Highest Rate of Carer’s Pension per week inclusive of any increases under the

provisions of article 90A

Highest Rate of Carer’s Pension

per week

€103.74

PART V

House Rent

The rates in Parts I, II, III and IV of this Schedule shall be increased by €1.16 per

week if the household is paying rent for its normal place of habitation

Provided that where more than one household live within the same premises, the

rent allowance shall be paid only once and shall be paid to the head of household

responsible for the payment of such rent to third parties.

The ground rent payable by the household in respect of premises which are held in

emphyteusis for a period not exceeding twenty-five years shall be deemed to be the

house rent for the purposes of this paragraph if such premises are used exclusively by

the household and solely as a residence. ".

The Seventh Schedule to the Act shall be substituted by the Substitues the

Seventh

following new Schedule

Schedule to the

Act.

" SEVENTH SCHEDULE

(Article 20)

Scale rates of means governing Sickness Assistance

Number of persons

Scale Rate

in Household

One person only

€21.66

Where the number of members in the household exceeds one, the weekly rate

indicated above shall be increased by €8.15 per week in respect of every other

member in that household. ".

The Eighth Schedule to the Act shall be substituted by the

following new Schedule

" EIGHTH SCHEDULE

(Article 23)

PART I

Scale rate of means governing Free Medical Aid where the head of household

is in insurable employment or self-occupied

Number of Persons in Household

Scale Rate

One person only

€143.56

Where the number of members in the household exceeds one, the weekly rate

indicated above shall be increased by €8.15 per week in respect of every other

member in that household.

PART II

Scale rates of means governing Free Medical Aid where the head of household is

neither in insurable employment nor self-occupied

Number of Persons in Household

Scale Rate

One person only

€27.37

Where the number of members in the household exceeds one, the weekly rate

indicated above shall be increased by €8.15 per week in respect of every other

member in that household. ".

The Ninth Schedule to the Act shall be substituted by the

following new Schedule

" NINTH SCHEDULE

(Article 25)

Amounts of Sickness Assistance, Milk Grant, Leprosy

Assistance and Tuberculosis Assistance

Type of Assistance

Weekly Rate

1. Sickness Assistance

(i)

in respect of the first member of the

household

€24.81

(ii) in respect of any other member of the

same household

€19.67

2. Milk Grant

€20.62

3. Leprosy Assistance

(i)

in respect of the head of household

who is a leper

€34.94

(ii) in respect of any other member of the

household who is a leper and not

gainfully occupied

(a) if under 16 years of age

€20.62

(b) if 16 years of age or over

€34.94

(iii) in respect of any other member of the

household who is not gainfully

occupied

€20.62

4. Tuberculosis Assistance

(i) basic amount of tuberculosis assistance

payable in respect of a household, one

member of which is affected by

tuberculosis

€27.60

(ii) allowance payable in respect of each

additional member of the household

affected by, or particularly vulnerable

".

to, tuberculosis

€17.37

The Tenth Schedule to the Act shall be substituted by the Substitues the

Tenth Schedule

following new Schedule

to the Act.

" TENTH SCHEDULE

(Articles 7 and 10)

RATES OF CONTRIBUTIONS

PART I

Class One Contributions

(Employed Persons)

Weekly Rate of

Weekly Rate of

Contribution

Contribution

Category

Type of Employed Persons

Payable by

Payable by the

Employed Person

Employer

Persons under 18 years of

age whose basic weekly

wage or the weekly

A

€6.62

€6.62

equivalent of their basic

monthly salary does not

exceed €165.68

Persons over 18 years of age

€16.57, or if the

whose basic weekly wage or

insured

person

the weekly equivalent of

elects,

10%

their basic monthly salary

calculated to the

does not exceed €165.68

nearest cent of such

B

person’s

basic

€16.57

weekly wage or the

weekly equivalent

of such person’s

basic monthly salary

(see note 1 below)

Persons

born

on

December 1961 or before

whose basic weekly wage or

the weekly equivalent of

10% calculated to

their basic monthly salary

10% calculated to

the nearest cent of

exceeds €165.68 but does

the nearest cent of

their basic weekly

not exceed €342.53

their basic weekly

C

wage or the weekly

wage or the weekly

Persons born on 1 January

equivalent of their

equivalent of their

1962 or after whose basic

basic

monthly

basic monthly salary

weekly wage or the weekly

salary

equivalent of their basic

monthly salary exceeds

€165.68 but does not exceed

€412.14 (see note 2 below)

Persons

born

on

December 1961 or before

whose basic weekly wage or

€34.25

€34.25

the weekly equivalent of

their basic monthly salary

exceeds €342.53

D

Persons born on 1 January

1962 or after whose basic

weekly wage or the weekly

€41.21

€41.21

equivalent of their basic

monthly salary exceeds

€412.14 (see note 2 below)

Persons under eighteen

years of age who are

following a full-time course

10% calculated to the

10% calculated to the

of studies or instruction

nearest cent of the

nearest cent of the

under the Student-Worker

basic

weekly

basic

weekly

Scheme, or other similar

remuneration or the

remuneration or the

E

schemes (including the

weekly equivalent of

weekly equivalent of

Extended Skills Training

their basic monthly

their basic monthly

Schemes, but excluding the

remuneration up to a

remuneration up to a

Worker-Student Schemes)

maximum rate of

maximum rate of

involving distinct work and

contribution of €4.38

contribution of €4.38

study periods for which they

are receiving remuneration

Persons over eighteen years

of age who are following a

full-time course of studies

10% calculated to the

10% calculated to the

or instruction under the

nearest cent of the

nearest cent of the

Student-Worker Scheme, or

basic

weekly

basic

weekly

other

similar

schemes

remuneration or the

remuneration or the

F

(including the Extended

weekly equivalent of

weekly equivalent of

Skills Training Schemes,

their basic monthly

their basic monthly

but excluding the Worker-

remuneration up to a

remuneration up to a

Student Schemes) involving

maximum rate of

maximum rate of

distinct work and study

contribution of €7.94

contribution of €7.94

periods for which they are

receiving remuneration

NOTE 1: If the insured person elects to pay a contribution of 10% of a basic wage or salary less than

the weekly equivalent of the National Minimum Wage, such contribution may, if the person qualifies

for a contributory benefit or a contributory pension, result in the payment of a reduced contributory

benefit or contributory pension.

NOTE 2: As a result of the pension reform enacted by virtue of Act XIX of 2006 and Legal Notice

336 of 2006, the increase in the highest contribution rate payable, with effect from January, 2014, is

related to a guaranteed maximum pensionable income of €21,431 for persons born on or after 1st

January 1962 .

PART II

Class Two Contributions

(Self-Employed Persons)

Weekly Rate of

Contributions

Category

Type of Self Employed Persons

payable by a self-

employed person

Persons whose annual net earnings (excluding

Maternity Benefit, Children’s Allowance and any ex-

gratia Benefit payable under article 88) during the

calendar year immediately preceding the

contribution year in which the contribution is being

paid

Exceeds €1,005 but does not exceed €8,379 (this

SP

category is applicable ONLY to single persons who are

€24.17

not self-occupied)

SA

is less than €9,839

€28.38

Persons born on 31 December 1961 or before whose

The

weekly

annual net income exceeds €9,839 but does not

equivalent of 15%

exceed €17,811

SB

of their annual

Persons born on 1 January 1962 or after whose

income calculated

annual net income exceeds €9,839 but does not

to the nearest cent

exceed €21,431

Persons born on 31 December 1961 or before whose

€51.38

annual net income exceeds €17,811

SC

Persons born on 1 January 1962 or after whose

annual net income exceeds €21,431 (see Note 1

€61.82

below)

NOTE 1: As a result of the pension reform enacted by virtue of Act XIX of 2006 and Legal

Notice 336 of 2006, the increase in the highest contribution rate payable, with effect from January,

2014, is related to a guaranteed maximum pensionable income of €21,431 for persons born on or

after 1st January 1962.

PART III

Class Two Contributions

(Self Occupied Persons)

Weekly Rate of

Category

Type of Self Occupied Persons

Contributions payable by

a self-occupied person

Persons whose annual net earnings

(excluding

Maternity

Benefit,

Children’s Allowance and any ex-

gratia Benefit payable under article 88)

during the calendar year immediately

preceding the contribution year in

which the contribution is being paid

€ 28.38 or 15% of the

annual net earnings if the

person is a part-time self-

employed woman whose

annual net earnings do not

exceed € 9,839 (see Note 1

SA

is less than €9,839

below)

or

€18.92 if the person is a

full-time farmer or breeder

whose annual net earnings

do not exceed €9,839

Persons born on 31 December 1961 or

The weekly equivalent of

before whose annual net earnings

15% of their annual

exceeds €9,839 but does not exceed

earnings calculated to the

€17,811

nearest cent

SB

or

Persons born on 1 January 1962 or

The weekly equivalent of

after whose annual net earnings

10% if a full-time farmer or

exceeds €9,839 but does not exceed

breeder

€21,431

€51.38

Persons born on 31 December 1961 or

or

before whose annual net earnings

€34.25 if a full-time farmer

exceeds €17,811

or breeder

SC

€61.82

Persons born on 1 January 1962 or

or

after whose annual net earnings

€41.21 if a full-time farmer

exceeds €21,431 (see Note 2 below)

or breeder

NOTE 1: If the insured person elects to pay a contribution that is less than €28.38, such

contribution may, if the person qualifies for a contributory benefit or a contributory pension,

result in the payment of a reduced contributory benefit or contributory pension.

NOTE 2: As a result of the pension reform enacted by virtue of Act XIX of 2006 and Legal

Notice 336 of 2006, the increase in the highest contribution rate payable, with effect from

January, 2014, is related to a guaranteed maximum pensionable income of €21,431 for persons

born on or after 1st January 1962.

The Twelfth Schedule to the Act shall be substituted by the

following new Schedule

" TWELFTH SCHEDULE

(Articles 26, 31, 44, 50, 54, 63, 64 and 67)

Rates of Several Kinds of Pension

A.

Full Rates of Retirement Pension per week, inclusive of any increases under

the provisions of article 90A of this Act, where the yearly average of contributions

paid or credited is 50 or more.

Persons who are also in receipt of a

Persons who are also in receipt of a

Service Pension that is payable by or on

Service Pension that is NOT payable by

behalf of the Government of the United

or on behalf of the Government of the

Kingdom

United Kingdom

Married person who

Married person who

is maintaining a

Any other person

is maintaining a

Any other person

spouse

spouse

€ 111.73

€ 91.49

€ 106.00

€ 88.88

B.

Full Rates of Increased Retirement Pension, Invalidity Pension, Increased Invalidity

Pension, National Minimum Pension and Increased National Minimum Pension per week,

inclusive of any increases under the provisions of article 90A, where the yearly average of

contributions paid or credited is 50 or more .

Married

person who is

Any other

Type of Pension

maintaining a

person

spouse

Increased Retirement Pension

€146.28

€121.84

Invalidity Pension

€93.77

€80.61

Increased Invalidity Pension

€128.04

€104.74

National Minimum Pension*

€132.80

€110.87

Increased National Minimum Pension

€146.28

€121.84

*N.B. The full rates of the National Minimum Pension are calculated at four-

fifths (to the nearest whole cent) of the National Minimum Wage in the case of a

married person who is maintaining a spouse and at two-thirds (to the nearest whole

cent of the National Minimum Wage) in the case of any other person, as provided for

in article 50.

C.

Full Rate of Widow’s Pension per week, inclusive of any increases under the

provisions of article 90A, where the yearly average of contributions paid or credited

is 50 or more.

€118.30

D.

Reduced Rates of Retirement Pension, Increased Retirement Pension,

Invalidity Pension, Increased Invalidity Pension, National Minimum Pension and

Increased National Minimum Pension per week, inclusive of any increases under the

provisions of article 90A, where the yearly average of contributions paid or credited

is between 20 and 49.

Yearly average of

Rate of pension payable per week

contributions paid or credited

(calculated to the nearest whole cent)

40 - < 50

[{FAP - INC} x 0.89] + INC

30 - < 40

[{FAP - INC} x 0.69] + INC

20 - < 30

[{FAP - INC} x 0.49] + INC

For the purposes of the above table “FAP” shall mean the full rate of the applicable

weekly rate of pension in accordance with Tables A or B, as the case may be, of this

Schedule and “INC” shall mean all increases granted in terms of article 90A taking

effect from 1st January, 1994 and subsequent years.

E.

Rates of National Minimum Pension Additional Allowance per week

Married person

Yearly average of contributions

who is

Any other

paid or credited

maintaining a

person

spouse

50 (full rate)

€4.78

€7.43

40 - < 50

€4.26

€8.57

30 - < 40

€3.31

€10.72

20 -< 30

€5.64

€12.81

F.

Reduced Rates of Widows’ Pension per week, inclusive of any increases

under the provisions of article 90A, where the yearly average of contributions paid or

credited is between 20 and 49.

Yearly average of

Rate of pension payable per week

contributions paid

(calculated to the nearest whole cent)

or credited

40 - < 50

[{FWP - (INC + €17.77)} x 0.89] + INC + €17.77

30 - < 40

[{FWP - (INC + €17.77)} x 0.69] + INC + €17.77

20 - < 30

[{FWP - (INC + €17.77)} x 0.49] + INC + €17.77

For the purposes of the above table “FWP” shall mean the full rate of Widow’s

Pension in accordance with Table C of this Schedule and “INC” shall mean all

increases granted in terms of article 90A of this Act taking effect from 1st January

1994 and subsequent years; whilst the amount of €17.77 represents the weekly rate

of Widow’s Supplementary Pension which up to the year 1990 was payable to

widows who were in receipt of a Widow’s Pension irrespective of the yearly average

of contributions paid or credited, which weekly amount was, with effect from the

year 1991, incorporated with the rates payable by way of a Widow’s Pension.

G.

Rate of Parent’s Pension per week, inclusive of any increases under the

provisions of article 90A

Married person who is maintaining

Any other person

a spouse

€132.80

€110.87

H.

Rate of Widows' and Survivors’ Pensions Additional Allowance per week.

Where Widow/Widower is entitled

Where Widow/Widower is entitled

to an allowance under article 31(a)

to an Allowance under article 31(b)

€4.54

€9.32

I.

Highest Rate per week of a Two-Thirds pension

Persons who qualified to the highest

Any other person

Two-Thirds Pension prior to 2005

€228.76

€228.37

J.

The Cost of Living Bonus

Pensioner category

In the case of a

In the case of any

married person

other person

maintaining a spouse

and who is in receipt

of a National

Minimum Pension at

the married rate

For pensioners whose

€5.36 per week

€8.93 per week

pension initial award

date is prior to 3rd

January 2009

For pensioners whose

€4.46 per week

€7.76 per week

pension initial award

date falls between 3rd

January 2009 and 1st

January 2010

For pensioners whose

€3.84 per week

€6.40 per week

pension initial award

date falls between 1st

January 2010 and 31st

December 2010

For pensioners whose

€2.68 per week

€4.46 per week

pension initial award

date falls between 1st

January 2011 and 31st

December 2011

For pensioners whose

€2.45 per week

€4.07 per week

pension initial award

date falls between 1st

January 2012 and 31st

December 2012

For pensioners whose

€1.52 per week

€2.52 per week

pension initial award

date falls on 1st

January 2013 and 31st

December 2013

For pensioners whose

€0.70 per week

€1.16 per week

pension initial award

date falls on or after 1st

".

January 2014

The Fourteenth Schedule to the Act shall be substituted by

Substitues the

Fourteenth

the following new Schedule

Schedule to the

Act.

" FOURTEENTH SCHEDULE

(Articles 30, 70, 72, 73, 76, 76A and 77)

Rates of Several Kinds of Allowances, Maternity Benefit and Marriage Grant

PART I

Rate per week of Allowance paid to residents of a therapeutic community

in terms of article 30(9)

€23.29

PART II

(Repealed by Act II. 2004.34. )

PART III

Lump sum paid by way of Marriage Grant in terms of article 70

€271.04

PART IV

Rate per week of Maternity Benefit paid in terms of article 72(1).

€86.77

Rate per week of Maternity Leave Benefit paid in terms of article 72(4)

.

€160.00

PART V

Supplementary Allowance

Table A

Maximum annual reckonable

income that can be taken for

Maximum

entitlement purposes. (So however

Allowance

amount of

STATUS

any reckonable income below €

payable

annual allowance

6,288 shall be deemed to be

payable

equivalent to € 6,288)

Married person

who is maintaining

Equivalent to

a spouse and is not

2.268% of the

entitled to an

difference

allowance under

€10,968

€422.69

obtaining between

article 76 or single

€24,925 and

parent who is not

actual reckonable

entitled to an

income

allowance under

article 76

Equivalent to

1.70% of the

difference

Single person

€8,800

€237.61

obtaining between

€20,265 and

actual reckonable

income

No entitlement to an allowance under this Part is acquired where the annual

reckonable income exceeds the maximum amounts indicated above as the case may

be.

Table B

Maximum annual reckonable

income that can be taken for

Maximum

entitlement purposes. (So however

Allowance

amount of

STATUS

any reckonable income below €

payable

annual allowance

6,106 shall be deemed to be

payable

equivalent to € 6,106)

Married person

who has reached

the age of 65 who

is maintaining a

Equivalent to

spouse and who is

2.268% of the

at risk of poverty *

difference

and is not entitled

€10,968

€522.69

obtaining between

to an allowance

€24,925 and

under article 76 OR

actual reckonable

a single parent who

income + €100

is not entitled to an

allowance under

article 76

Equivalent to

1.70% of the

Single person who

difference

has reached the age

€8,800

€337.61

obtaining between

of 65 and who is at

€20,265 and

risk of poverty*

actual reckonable

income + €100

*The at risk of poverty as established by the latest National Statistics Office data

available stands at €10,304 for a two person household and €6,869 for a single

person household.

PART VI

Children's Allowance

A. Where the maximum annual reckonable income for entitlement purposes is €24,621 or

less. (So however any annual reckonable income below €5,356 shall be considered to be

equivalent to €5,356)

Percentage rate payable, by way of an

allowance, on difference obtaining

between reckonable annual income and

€24,621

Children in household under 16 years of age

6% for each such child

Over 16 years but under 21 years and still

undergoing full time education or training in

an educational institution recognised by the

government in terms of the Education Act

2% for each such child

and who is not receiving any form of

remuneration or allowance or is registered

unemployed under the Part I Register and

has never been gainfully occupied.

Over 16 years but under 21 years and is

registered as unemployed under Part I of the

Register kept in accordance with the

provisions of the Employment and Training

2% for each such child

Services Act and who has never been

gainfully occupied, and who is not in receipt

of any benefit, pension or assist ance

payable under this Act.

1. An allowance payable to a household under Table A above shall,

irrespective of the annual reckonable income of the household, in no case be less

than the Fixed Children’s Allowance specified in Table B of this Part.

2. An allowance payable to a household under Table A above, whose annual

earnings from employment National Minimum Wage, is entitled to the maximum

rate of Children’s Allowance as specified in Table A.

B. Where the maximum annual reckonable income is more than €24,621

Fixed Children’s Allowance

Children in household under 16 years of age

€8.65 per week for each such child

PART VII

Rate per week per child of Disabled Child Allowance in terms of article 77

€20.00

PART VIII

Rate per week per child of Care Allowance paid in terms of article 76A

.

€70.00

An allowance payable under this Part shall continue to be payable when the child

is over 16 years but under 21 years. ".

€1.44