Contributory widows` pensions are granted to widows whose spouse has paid an average of 15 contributions during his or her lifetime. It may also be paid if the spouse dies in the course of his or her activity (employment or self-employment) as a result of bodily injury. The percentage increase is payable independently of other pension increases, including cost-of-living increases. The maximum weekly rate for pensioners who received a maximum pension rate before 2006 is higher than the maximum weekly rate for pensioners who received the maximum pension rate after 2006. Pensioners who were in receipt of a pension before 2006 and who were entitled to a one-time allowance at that time now receive it in the pension rate and receive it for each future year. The application for an old-age pension must be completed within six (6) months of retirement age. If the application is not submitted within this period, the pension is due from the date of the application. According to the 2010 Pension Reform Report, the retirement age was raised to 62 for men and women from January 2014 and the contribution for a full pension from two-thirds to 35. A person who opts for an early retirement option (sixty-one (61) years of age) may work after reaching the aforementioned retirement age. In order for Maltese nationals residing in an EU country to be able to apply for a Maltese pension, they must essentially apply through the social security system of their country of residence. If the persons concerned were insured in their country of residence, they would have to apply for social security in the same country. If the Maltese nationals concerned reside in an EU country but have never worked there, the application must still be submitted through that country`s social security system. The application will then be forwarded from the same country of residence to the Malta Department of Social Security for processing.

From age 61 (exceptions may apply in the event of permanent disability or death), a beneficiary of a pension plan may begin to receive pension income from the beneficiary plan. At this stage, the person has the option to withdraw 30% of the accumulated pension fund amount in the form of tax-free cash capital. In order for Maltese nationals residing in Australia/Canada or New Zealand to apply for a Maltese pension, they must apply to the social security institution of one of the two countries. and the interpretation of the competent Maltese authorities that (except in the case of a pensionable renewal by a pension fund in the same country) a fund, scheme or arrangement is not operated primarily for the purpose of providing pension benefits if it allows participants to contribute non-cash assets, or does not pay contributions by reference to the income of employed and self-employed persons. Employment is limited. Since Maltese private pension schemes have these characteristics, they are not properly treated as pension funds for the purposes of the contract and distributions from these schemes do not constitute pensions or other similar remuneration. Tax exemption for pension income earned on or after January 1, 2022 by a person aged 61 or over. * without entitlement to their old-age pension at retirement age For pensioners who had received a pension before 2006, they were entitled to a single supplement, which was included in the pension rate and is always paid for each subsequent year. 1.

A person who is entitled to a contributory pension of €8,000 per year (€153.84 per week) at the age of 61. Like a qualified occupational scheme, the pension fund can accumulate tax-free due to a specific tax exemption that may be applicable. The rules apply to pension income received on or after January 1, 2022 by a person who is at least sixty-one (61) years of age in the year in which the pension income is received. This income is totally or partially exempt from tax as follows: Our pension team is well placed to help you and your organisation analyse the potential benefits and effects of joining a private pension scheme or introducing an occupational pension scheme for your employees, and to provide you with targeted advice taking into account your needs and situation. The percentage increase in the pension is cumulative and is paid until the pensioner`s death. Contributory disability pensions are granted to persons who have contributed at least 250 and who suffer from an illness which, according to the Medical Association of the Department of Social Security, renders them permanently unable to work. A widow`s pension is also paid in full without deduction if the widow works full-time, and a lump sum widow`s pension is payable if the widow remarries. Thus, if a person entitled to a contributory pension of €153.84 per week at the age of 61 is employed until the age of 65 and thus applies for his pension at the age of 65, his pension entitlement would increase to €194.99 per week, which corresponds to a net increase of almost €41.15 per week. To apply for a Maltese pension residing in a third country, Maltese nationals must apply directly to the Ministry of Social Security. This can be done either by uploading the application forms from the Social Security website and sending them by post, or by physically submitting an application during your holiday in Malta. Application forms for each type of pension can be downloaded from this website by selecting the appropriate section. However, a person who reaches the age of sixty-one (61) may opt for an early pension entitlement, provided that he or she is not gainfully employed and has paid the fixed contributions between the age of eighteen (18) and the date of retirement as follows: persons who decide to defer their old-age pension for more than one year, Contributory old-age pensions can be divided into two schemes: the flat-rate pension and the two-thirds pension.

The percentage increase in the pension is paid to all beneficiaries who receive a contributory old-age pension and meet the above conditions, including those who receive the maximum two-thirds pension. A full old-age pension requires an annual average of at least 50 contributions from 1956 or from the age of 19 (whichever is later) and/or from the age of 18. Age if born after 1958, until the last full year before the year of retirement. It is no secret that Malta`s public pension system can no longer be seen as the only source of retirement income for today`s workers. It is not a sustainable pension system, and it is now more appropriate than ever to consider other options. The above-mentioned regulations also resulted in a change in the tax refund rules (retirees). In the tax refund (pensioner) rules, the term „pension income” refers to the amount of pension income included in total income. There are 3 categories of pensions that a person can receive: WASHINGTON – The competent authorities of the United States and Malta have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Competent Authorities (CAA) confirming their understanding of the importance of the pension fund for the purposes of the U.S.-Malta Tax Convention (the Convention). The competent authorities concluded this agreement after learning that US taxpayers with no connection to Malta had misinterpreted the pension provisions of the Treaty in order to avoid income tax on income and distributions from private pension schemes established in Malta. Since then, various amendments to the rules and other relevant subsidiary legislation have continued to be aimed at improving the tax benefits associated with these pension plans. A new tax exemption relating to pension income was introduced by the publication of Legal Notice LN 98 of 2022, which was recently amended by Legal Notice 220 of 2022 – the updated legislation is entitled Pension Rules (Tax Exemption). Three months before reaching retirement age, a notification letter is sent to the prospective pensioner asking for certain details on the granting of a contributory old-age pension.

This notification letter must be signed and returned to the Ministry of Social Security for further processing of the pension. In the event that an applicant chooses an early opt-out pension, the applicant must apply for it on their own, as no notification letter will be issued in cases where the person decides to retire before retirement age. Unemployed persons residing in Malta who are over 60 years of age and who are not entitled to a contributory old-age pension because they do not have the minimum number of contributions paid or credited, may be entitled to a non-contributory old-age pension if they are means-tested for capital and income. Flat-rate pensions are granted to pensioners who also receive a service pension and to pensioners who have a low pensionable income. The two-thirds pension is granted to all other pensioners. In addition, an eligible pension scheme enjoys a special tax exemption under Maltese law (with the exception of income from Maltese immovable property), so that profits from investments can be accumulated tax-free in the pension fund. Therefore, a person who was entitled to a contributory old-age pension at least at the age of 61, but who chooses to apply for his pension with at least one year of deferred benefits of the above-mentioned pension percentage increases. This increase is accumulated annually if the date of granting of the pension is postponed.