Pensions, marriage grants to be calculated online

ICT strategy aims to reduce ‘phenomenal’ amounts of paper and significant costs it brings with it.

Minister for the Family and Social Solidarity, MArie-Louise Coleiro Preca
Minister for the Family and Social Solidarity, MArie-Louise Coleiro Preca

The Minister for the Family and Social Solidarity Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca this afternoon launched the transition towards a more digital strategy within the department of social security. The transition forms part of the national digital strategy announced yesterday.

Amongst the services set to benefit from this transition are the applying for pensions and marriage grants – both of which would be calculated automatically and made accessible through online means.

Describing the amount of paper the department utilises on a daily basis as “phenomenal”, Coleiro Preca said that a shift towards digitalization would result in a significant drop in paper use, excessive administration waiting periods for applicants, and expenses - amounting to €50,000 a year - in the transportation of files and paper-related material.

Furthermore, the soon-to-be President said that the space which these files take up in her department, and in others, could be better utilized.

Parliamentary Secretary for Competitiveness and Economic Growth Edward Zammit Lewis said that the transition was a “clear example” of government’s direction.

He said that an all-round ICT strategy could result in “a more effective public service”, citing a reduction in customer-response time and a more efficient filing system as being parts of government’s process of simplification.

“We (Malta) strive to become a knowledge society,” he said. “And it is unacceptable that the level of ICT literacy in certain sectors of our society is still very low.”