Malta - Contributory Pension for Retirement
This chapter contains information on the statutory retirement age and the necessary conditions to be entitled to this pension.
When can I make a benefit claim?
A Contributory Retirement Pension (Pensjoni kontributorja tal-Irtirar) is payable when a person reaches the applicable statutory retirement age or in case of an early opt-out (when applicable).
How can I qualify?
In order to claim a Retirement Pension, the applicant must have reached the pensionable age which is gradually increasing to 65 years by 2027.
Therefore, a person who:
- was born between 1952 and 1955 reaches the Pensionable Age at 62;
- was born between 1956 and 1958 reaches the Pensionable Age at 63;
- was born between 1959 and 1961 reaches the Pensionable Age at 64;
- was born on or after 1 January 1962 reaches the Pensionable Age at 65.
Upon the attainment of the statutory retirement age, persons may be granted a Retirement Pension whilst retaining their gainful occupation without any reduction in their pension entitlement. The maximum average of contributions paid or credited for a person to qualify for a full pension is 50 weeks per year, while the average minimum is 15 weeks per year for those entitled to a Two-Thirds Pension based on the pensionable income according to the basic salary the person earned before reaching the pensionable age or before retiring from his/her job. The minimum average for persons, who are also entitled to a Service Pension, is 20 weeks of paid or credited contributions per year. In this case, persons are not entitled to the Two-Thirds Pension but to a flat-rate pension.
People born between 1952 and 1961 can opt to receive an early pension when they reach 61 years as long as they have 1,820 paid or credited weeks of contributions (35 years). Those opting for an early pension cannot work until they reach their applicable statutory retirement age. People born between 1 January 1962 and 31st December 1968 can apply for an early pension as long as they have 2,080 paid or credited contributions (40 years) whilst those born after 1st January 1969 must totalise 41 years of insurance.
What am I entitled to and how can I make my claim?
Three months before reaching the retirement age, persons receive a notification from the Department of Social Security and are invited to provide further information in order to process their Retirement Pension. Persons who wish to retire earlier should lodge a claim. Applications can be lodged online or in person at the nearest District office.
The pension rates payable vary according to the average contributions paid or credited and according to the contribution rate paid (i) in the best three consecutive years in the last 11, 12 or 13 years preceding the year in which the claim is made by an employed person born between 1952 and 1961, or (ii) in the best 10 consecutive years in the last 11, 12 or 13 years preceding the year in which the claim is made by an employed person born between 1952 and 1961, or (iii) in the best 10 years over the 40 years paid by an employed or self-employed person born between 1962 and 1968, or (iv) in the best 10 years out over the 41 years paid by an employed or self-employed person born after the 1st January 1969.
Jargon busters
The contribution average is obtained by totalising the weeks of contributions paid during the working life and divided by the applicable number of years required for pension purposes.
Forms required for completion
Application for a contributory Retirement Pension.
Know your rights
Maltese Resources:
Commission publications and websites:
Who do you need to contact?
Department of Social Security
38, Ordnance Street
Valletta, VLT 1021
List of Social Security Hubs, here.