Social Security
Pension Rights
The current retirement age is 62 years for both men and women. For those born between 1952 and 1955, the pensionable age is 62 years. The pensionable age is 63 years for those born between 1956 and 1958; 64 years for those born between 1959 and 1961; and 65 years for those born on or after January 01, 1962.
A person must have at least 156 weeks of paid contributions, including an annual average of at least 50 weeks of paid or credited contributions for 35 years and must have been gainfully employed for the 10 years immediately prior to retirement. Partial pension is paid with an annual average of at least 15 weeks of contributions. Early pension is available at the age of 61 years if the insured person has at least 2080 weeks of paid or credited contributions since age 18, if born on or after January 01, 1962 and 1820 weeks of paid contributions since age 18 if born between 1952 and 1961.
There is a provision for a flat rate and an earnings-related (two-thirds) pension. In the case of a contributory old-age pension (two-thirds pension), up to 66.7% of the insured's annual average earnings in the best three consecutive years in the last 11 years before retirement is paid to employed persons. A flat-rate benefit is paid depending on the marital status of the insured person. A set of measures was introduced by the Budget Measures Implementation Act 2025 (Act IX of 2025) to improve pension adequacy and support longer working lives. The reforms: (1) increased the maximum pensionable income for older cohorts (born before 1962) to align their pension calculation with younger cohorts, (2) strengthened incentives to defer retirement by granting higher pension entitlements to those who claim their pension later, (3) improved the interaction between civil service pensions and the social security pension means-test by increasing the disregarded portion and ensuring commuted lump sums do not reduce entitlement, (4) introduced a new survivor’s pension for widows of disciplined forces members and enhanced service pensions for armed forces personnel, and (5) raised bonuses for pensioners with insufficient contribution records and increased contributory pensions through the annual adjustment mechanism, with an additional uplift for pensioners.
Source: Social Security Act (CAP. 318) as amended by ACT XVI of 2017 and Legal Notice 123 of 2015; https://dssservices.gov.mt/BenefitPaymentRates.aspx; Budget Measures Implementation Act, 2025 (Act IX of 2025) amending the Social Security Act (Cap. 318)
Dependents' / Survivors' Benefit
Survivors' pension is available for surviving spouses, divorced spouses if being maintained by the deceased spouse, surviving partners and children.
For a widow(er), the condition of entitlement to survivors' benefits is 156 weeks of paid contributions paid by the deceased, with an annual average of 50 weeks paid or credited. Widow(er) under the age of 60 years with children below a certain age and in full-time education qualify for their pension regardless of their income.
Orphans must have both parents deceased for entitlement to the benefit. One parent must have been an insured person and have paid at least one week of contributions at the time of death. No specific benefit is provided in the event of the death of one parent, as in this case, the spouse is entitled to a survivor’s pension.
Up to 55.6% the annual average earnings in the best three consecutive years in the last 11 years before the spouse's death or retirement is paid. A flat rate benefit for a survivor of a deceased person is paid per week. The pension does not cease on remarriage. The orphan's pension is paid for each orphan under 16 years of age. The benefit is also paid for each orphan aged from 16 to 21 years who is not gainfully employed.
Source: §31-42 of the Social Security Act (CAP. 318) as amended by ACT XVI of 2017 and Legal Notice 123 of 2015; https://dssservices.gov.mt/BenefitPaymentRates.aspx
Invalidity Benefit
Invalidity pension is paid to any insured person who is certified to suffer either from incapacity for suitable full-time or part-time employment or incapacity that is considered to be of a permanent nature. To qualify for an invalidity pension, a person must have paid 250 weeks of contributions as an employed or self-employed worker with an annual average of 50 weeks of paid or credited contributions.
The amount of invalidity benefit depends on the number of contributions made and whether the insured person is married and supporting a spouse, rather than according to the degree of invalidity.
Sources: Social Security Act (CAP. 318) as amended by ACT XVI of 2017 and Legal Notice 123 of 2015; https://dssservices.gov.mt/BenefitPaymentRates.aspx
Regulations on Social Security
- Constitution of Malta 1964, last amended in 2015
Pension Rights
The current retirement age is 62 years for both men and women. For those born between 1952 and 1955, the pensionable age is 62 years. The pensionable age is 63 years for those born between 1956 and 1958; 64 years for those born between 1959 and 1961; and 65 years for those born on or after January 01, 1962.
A person must have at least 156 weeks of paid contributions, including an annual average of at least 50 weeks of paid or credited contributions for 35 years and must have been gainfully employed for the 10 years immediately prior to retirement. Partial pension is paid with an annual average of at least 15 weeks of contributions. Early pension is available at the age of 61 years if the insured person has at least 2080 weeks of paid or credited contributions since age 18, if born on or after January 01, 1962 and 1820 weeks of paid contributions since age 18 if born between 1952 and 1961.
There is a provision for a flat rate and an earnings-related (two-thirds) pension. In the case of a contributory old-age pension (two-thirds pension), up to 66.7% of the insured's annual average earnings in the best three consecutive years in the last 11 years before retirement is paid to employed persons. A flat-rate benefit is paid depending on the marital status of the insured person. A set of measures was introduced by the Budget Measures Implementation Act 2025 (Act IX of 2025) to improve pension adequacy and support longer working lives. The reforms: (1) increased the maximum pensionable income for older cohorts (born before 1962) to align their pension calculation with younger cohorts, (2) strengthened incentives to defer retirement by granting higher pension entitlements to those who claim their pension later, (3) improved the interaction between civil service pensions and the social security pension means-test by increasing the disregarded portion and ensuring commuted lump sums do not reduce entitlement, (4) introduced a new survivor’s pension for widows of disciplined forces members and enhanced service pensions for armed forces personnel, and (5) raised bonuses for pensioners with insufficient contribution records and increased contributory pensions through the annual adjustment mechanism, with an additional uplift for pensioners.
Source: Social Security Act (CAP. 318) as amended by ACT XVI of 2017 and Legal Notice 123 of 2015; https://dssservices.gov.mt/BenefitPaymentRates.aspx; Budget Measures Implementation Act, 2025 (Act IX of 2025) amending the Social Security Act (Cap. 318)
Dependents' / Survivors' Benefit
Survivors' pension is available for surviving spouses, divorced spouses if being maintained by the deceased spouse, surviving partners and children.
For a widow(er), the condition of entitlement to survivors' benefits is 156 weeks of paid contributions paid by the deceased, with an annual average of 50 weeks paid or credited. Widow(er) under the age of 60 years with children below a certain age and in full-time education qualify for their pension regardless of their income.
Orphans must have both parents deceased for entitlement to the benefit. One parent must have been an insured person and have paid at least one week of contributions at the time of death. No specific benefit is provided in the event of the death of one parent, as in this case, the spouse is entitled to a survivor’s pension.
Up to 55.6% the annual average earnings in the best three consecutive years in the last 11 years before the spouse's death or retirement is paid. A flat rate benefit for a survivor of a deceased person is paid per week. The pension does not cease on remarriage. The orphan's pension is paid for each orphan under 16 years of age. The benefit is also paid for each orphan aged from 16 to 21 years who is not gainfully employed.
Source: §31-42 of the Social Security Act (CAP. 318) as amended by ACT XVI of 2017 and Legal Notice 123 of 2015; https://dssservices.gov.mt/BenefitPaymentRates.aspx
Invalidity Benefit
Invalidity pension is paid to any insured person who is certified to suffer either from incapacity for suitable full-time or part-time employment or incapacity that is considered to be of a permanent nature. To qualify for an invalidity pension, a person must have paid 250 weeks of contributions as an employed or self-employed worker with an annual average of 50 weeks of paid or credited contributions.
The amount of invalidity benefit depends on the number of contributions made and whether the insured person is married and supporting a spouse, rather than according to the degree of invalidity.
Sources: Social Security Act (CAP. 318) as amended by ACT XVI of 2017 and Legal Notice 123 of 2015; https://dssservices.gov.mt/BenefitPaymentRates.aspx
Regulations on Social Security
- Constitution of Malta 1964, last amended in 2015
