Malta - Family Benefits
This chapter provides an overview of the benefits payable to families with children.
When can I make a benefit claim?
Child Benefit (Allowance tat-Tfal)
Child Benefit is payable to families residing in Malta, having children under the age of 16. The benefit rate is calculated on the difference between €25,924 and the total income of both parents (declared in the year prior to their application). If the total income exceeds €25,924, a flat-rate is payable amounting to €450 per year per child. An annual supplement of €140 is also payable to families exceeding the maximum income and €160 is payable to families which income is below the threshold. Children over 16 qualify for a reduced rate if they are in full-time education or training or in unremunerated employment.
Benefit for disabled children (Allowance għal tfal b'Diżabilità)
This benefit is payable to every family with physically or mentally disabled children and who are not receiving any other social security allowance for the same disability.
Foster care Allowance (Allowance għal Min Jieħu Ħsieb)
Foster children or children living in an institution are entitled to this benefit.
These two above-mentioned benefits are not means tested.
In-Work Benefit
This income-related benefit is payable to working parents earning a prescribed amount with children under 23 years of age.
Child Birth or Adoption Bonus (Bonus Għat-Twelid ta’ Tarbija jew Addozzjoni)
This is a one-time payment for each child born or adopted in Malta after 1st January 2020.
How can I qualify?
Child Benefit
The applicant must reside in Malta and have children under the age of 16. If the children are over 16, they must be in full-time education or training or in unremunerated employment.
The benefit is means-tested.
Benefit for disabled children
This benefit is open for applicant’s whose children have a physical or mental disability.
Foster Care Allowance
The applicant may apply for this allowance when fostering children in need.
In-Work Benefit
- For couples who are both in employment and whose combined annual earnings from a gainful occupation/activity is between €10,000 and €50,000 where the earnings of one of them is not less than €3,000 per year and with children living at the same address who have not reached the age of 23 years.
- For couples where only one of the spouses/partners is engaged in a gainful activity and whose annual earnings from this activity is between €6,600 and €35,000 and with children living at the same address who have not reached the age of 23 years.
For lone parents (one-parent family) whose annual earnings from a gainful occupation/activity is between €6,600 and €35,000 and with children living at the same address who have not reached the age of 23 years
Child Birth or Adoption Bonus
The applicant must have been a resident of Malta for a period of 10 years prior to the birth or adoption of a child. The birth or adoption of the child must be registered with the Public Registry of Births of Malta. Only births or adoptions which occurred after 1st January 2020 are eligible for this payment.
What am I entitled to and how can I make my claim?
Child Benefit
The lowest rate of child benefit that can be paid is €450 per year for each child, while the highest rates are:
- €24.08 per week for one child;
- €48.16 per week for two children;
- €72.24 per week for three children;
- €96.32 per week for four children;
- €24.08 per week for any other child.
If the parents' total income does not exceed €25,924 per year, the amount of benefit paid is equivalent to the difference between €25,409 and the parents' actual income which is then multiplied with 6.5%. There is a minimum income threshold of €6,659, therefore any income below this amount is considered as €6,659.
A benefit calculator is available through the following link: https://mysocialsecurity.gov.mt/CalculateCA.aspx
Benefit for disabled children
This weekly €30 benefit is paid as a supplement to the Child Benefit. This is paid regardless of the parents' income.
Benefit for children in care
This amounts to €110 per week for each fostered child.
In-Work Benefit
This income-related benefit is payable for each child under 23 years of age. The rates payable are available through the following link: https://mysocialsecurity.gov.mt/CalculateIWB.aspx
Child Birth or Adoption Bonus
A one-time payment of €400 which is not income-related.
Forms required for completion
- Application for Child Benefit
- Application for Disabled Child Allowance
- Application for Foster Care Allowance
- Application for In-Work Benefit
Know your rights
Maltese Resources:
Commission Website:
Who do you need to contact?
Department of Social Security
38, Ordnance Street,
Valletta, VLT 1021
Malta
List of Social Security Hubs, here.