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Matthew Vella
A total of 8,800 so-called “boarded out” receiving invalidity pensions will have their case reviewed in sweeping measures to curb benefit fraud which will determine who is genuinely entitled to the pension.
In an interview with MaltaToday, Minister for the Family and Social Solidarity Dolores Cristina said new measures were being contemplated to cut benefit fraud.
Amendments to the Social Security Act will abolish the lifelong invalidity pension, which totalled Lm16 million in 2005. The director of social security will now issue invalidity pensions for just a number of years before a review of each case.
Invalidity pensions will also be issued in proportion to the extent of somebody’s disability. The amounts receivable will be indicated in a series of impairment tables, denoting the pension which will be issued according to the extent of somebody’s disability.
The medical panel, a body of 43 doctors set up to determine whether candidates were eligible for an invalidity pension, will also be scrapped. In 2005, the medical panel cost the public purse Lm45,000 in sittings, transport costs, and other expenses.
Government will appoint just two doctors to determine who is eligible for invalidity pension. They will also be investigating their medical histories in order to determine claims of psychiatric problems. Over 60 per cent of invalidity claimants were boarded out on the grounds of psychiatric problems.
Over Lm16 million were paid in invalidity pensions to 8,800 people in 2005. The invalidity bill increased by 60 per cent since 2000.
These will include closer scrutiny of identity card information. The minister said various social assistance benefits were being claimed by family members living under one roof by registering their names at different addresses.
mvella@mediatoday.com.mt
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