Admission into a home for the elderly
The population continued to climb at a record rate. Age population has been increasing and more elderly might require the service of a care home.
There are government homes, as well as homes which are privately owned. There are also beds in private homes purchased by the government for those who require long term care.
In cases above, except for long term care in private homes, a fee is taken from the elderly persons’ pension.
A percentage of the pension is allocated to the particular home by the Department of Social Security, while the remaining balance is paid to the pensioner.
*The deduction rate is based on 80% on Social Security Pension, Social Security Bonuses and Treasury Pension, if any, and 60% on Bank Interests, stocks and shares. Deduction rate as well as date of long term care is sent from the billing section of the institution to the department of Social Security for necessary deductions.
Situation 1. Single pensioners:
80% of pension rate is deducted*, the remaining is assignment to the pensioner. Address of pensioner is amended to read institution’s address.
Address can only be changed to read another and not that of the institution if a particular form (which can be obtained from the home for the elderly per se) is duly filled, signed by the pensioner and endorsed by the administrator/doctor in charge of the ward.
If the power of attorney or “prokura” is presented at the nearest District Office and if such information is expressly stipulated in the power of attorney, agent is included on pension cheques (if pension payment method is by cheque) and address amended to read agent’s address.
Situation 2. Male married pensioner is admitted into a home for the elderly and only the male pensioner was in receipt of a pension:
When a male married pensioner becomes a resident in a state financed residence and the wife (not being in receipt of a pension in her own right from the Department of Social Security), continues to reside at their home, 70% of his pension is apportioned onto wife.
If sum paid to the wife is less than the age pension for that particular year, the rate is topped up for the wife to receive a rate equivalnet to the Age Pension rate.
Up till end of year 2012, 60% of pension was awarded to person staying at home.
| husband | in receipt of €234.20 |
| wife | no pension |
| wife | will receive 70% of €234.20 = €163.94 |
In a situation where the wife lives in residential care and the husband who is in receipt of a pension is at home, the spouse at home receives 70 per cent of the pension.
In both circumstances, the remaining balance is allocated to the home for the elderly.
Situation 3. Both husband and wife in receipt of a pension and only one is admitted into a home:
When the wife who is in receipt of a pension in her own right, having a pension which is less than 70% of that earned by her husband, is still residing at the couple’s home, whilst her husband is in long term care, the difference is apportioned from her husband’s pension and added up to hers.
Thus for example, if husband’s full pension rate is €234.25 weekly and wife’s pension rate is €100 and husband is admitted to a Government institution, €234.25 X 70% is equal to €164.
Wife’s pension entitlement would increase from €100 to €164. That is, €64 from husband’s pension rate is apportioned onto his wife.
| husband | in receipt of €234.25 |
| wife | in receipt of €100 |
| wife | pension shall be equal to 70% of €234.25 = €164 |
| €100 hers + €64 top up from husband’s |
- A provisional deduction rate is calculated by the Department of Social Security and case is followed until the actual deduction rate is received from the institution concerned.
- Patients declared long-term cases at Mater Dei Hospital by doctors have their pensions deducted.
- Deduction rates are worked out by the billing section of that particular home for the elderly.
- The adjustment of pension is effected from next pension payment, and not from the first Saturday after the admission.
- If a pensioner is transferred from one institution to another the same temporary deduction rate is utilised, until actual deduction rate is established