In addition to providing retirement pensions to pensioners, Malta’s social security framework provides for a Survivor’s / Widows’ pension thus providing a safety net to those persons whose:
A Survivor’s / Widows’ pension is calculated by taking into consideration the contributions paid and the incomes earned by the late spouse.
Should the spouse dies pre or post retirement, 5/6th of two thirds of the late spouse pensionable income goes to surviving (widow or widower) spouse.
Thus the awarded pension would be the one most beneficial (the highest), in that, either to his/her own pension or the widows pension.
It is also pertinent to note that with effect from 1st January 2016 surviving spouses eligible to a survivor’s / widows’ pension, who are eligible to a retirement pension in their own right, are entitled the full rate of retirement pension of late spouse (6/6th) and not the 5/6ths.
A further allowance for the children is paid to the surviving spouse until they reach the age of 18 years. Up to 2019 the mentioned added allowance was €4.54 weekly for employed survivor’s / widows / widowers and €9.32 weekly for unemployed survivor’s / widow / widowers.
With effect from 2020 the two weekly rates of the afore mentioned allowance were replaced by one weekly rate amounting to €10 per week, payable to both employed survivor’s / widows / widowers and unemployed survivor’s / widow / widowers.
In the case of a legally separated couple or a divorced couple, the widows rate of survivors pension is allocated as follows. Where both spouses would have
(a) Forfeited their right to maintenance, the pension is awarded proportionately: from the date of marriage to the date of separation or date of divorce.
(b) Renounced to their right to maintenance / are receiving maintenance, without any other marriage involved with the deceased person, the pension is awarded to the ex-wife.
(c) Renounced to their right to maintenance / are receiving maintenance, but the deceased person would have married again (thus with two or more surviving spouses) the pension is awarded to the ex-wife and to the new wife as follows: from the date of marriage to date of separation or date of divorce from the ex-wife; the new surviving spouse receives the remaining balance.
