Simplified process for marriage grants announced

Social solidarity minister confirms that all couples, including those in civil unions, to benefit from marriage grants

Social Solidarity Minister Michael Farrugia announced a simplification of process by which newly-wed couples will be informed by the department of their marriage grants, with the necessary information to be submitted online.

In the case of couples without computer access, the information will be submitted to the principal office by workers at the district office after the couple provides the necessary information.

Farrugia confirmed that all married couples, including civil unions, are entitled to the marriage grant.

As things stand today, it is the couple that has to go between one department and another, filling in forms and submitting them to the district office. At the same time, the department receives weekly updates from the Public Registrar on newly registered couples.

"From now onwards, the department will start contacting newly-registered couples asking them to send in their IBAN number, new address and changed surname of the spouse for the transfer of funds. This will be carried out by looking on to the government services with the e-ID," Farrugia said.

The marriage grant is of €271.04. In 2012, the department received 3,361 requests at a cost of €863,000. In 2013, 2,961 requests were submitted, at a cost of €780,000. The amount a couple receives varies between those where both partners work and those where just one partner works. A request for a grant is accepted only if 26 N.I. contributions are made before the couple gets married.