Gozo scores 13.7% of all invalidity pensions

The island of Gozo, home to 7.5% of the Maltese population, accounts for 13.7% of all current recipients of an invalidity pension, as shown in statistics recently released in parliament.

In actual numbers, this means that 826 of the 6,008 recipients of the pensions awarded to so-called "boarded out" workers - who are certified as unable to work by a government medical board - are from Gozo.

The island of Gozo, home of 7.5% of the Maltese population, accounts for 13.7% of all current recipients of an invalidity pension, as shown in statistics recently released in parliament.

• Xewkija, with 3.7% of the total population, has the highest rate of invalidity in the Maltese islands and more recipients of invalidity pensions than Zebbug, Santa Venera and Tarxien
• Zejtun registers the highest invalidity-pension rate in Malta. The localities with the lowest numbers are affluent, middle-class localities like Swieqi and Attard

In actual numbers, this means that 826 of the 6,008 recipients of the pensions awarded to so-called "boarded out" workers - who are certified as unable to work by a government medical board - are from Gozo.

Compared to 2008, the number of Gozitan beneficiaries has decreased by 227 (from 1,053 to 826). Gozitans then accounted for 15.3% of the total number of invalidity-pension beneficiaries.

Nationally, the number of recipients has decreased significantly, from 6,869 to 6,008, a difference of 861.

This means that while nationally the number of invalid persons has decreased by 13%, the number has dropped by a dramatic 22% in Gozo.

When John Dalli was responsible for the social policy ministry in 2009, there was an effective clampdown on abuses. It brought the number of Gozitans qualifying for the pension down from 1,053 to 915. The decrease continued to this year's 826.

While in 2009, 3.1% of Gozitans received the invalidity pension, the number has now fallen to 2.7%. This is double the 1.3% of Maltese who receive it.

Despite the notable decreases, Gozitans still register very high rates of invalidity: Gozo has the top 10 localities where invalidity-pension recipients are concentrated, and all Gozitan villages have an invalidity rate higher than 2%.

Xewkija, with 3.7% of the total population, has the highest rate of invalidity in the Maltese islands. Xewkija has more recipients of invalidity pensions than larger localities like Zebbug, Santa Venera and Tarxien.

Gozo has more recipients of invalidity pensions than the single parent's benefit, with only 98 (3.1%) of the 3,114 who receive the latter.

Anyone certified by a medical panel as being incapable of suitable full-time or regular part-time employment due to a serious disease or bodily or mental impairment can be eligible for an invalidity pension.

But the over-representation of Gozitans among the ranks of the invalid raises doubts about whether health is the sole factor determining who receives the benefit.

Zejtun registers the highest invalidity-pension rate in Malta (1.9%). The localities with the lowest numbers are affluent, middle-class localities like Swieqi and Attard.

And although working-class people are more prone to accidents which could leave them disabled, traditionally working-class localities like Birgu, Bormla, Isla and Fgura  register relatively low rates of invalidity (less than 2%).

Grand harbour blues

The statistics presented in parliament confirm that poverty in Malta is concentrated in the harbour area. An analysis by MaltaToday, in which the number of beneficiaries was calculated as a percentage of each town's total population, shows that Bormla registers the highest rate of social-assistance (6.1%), followed by Valletta (4.8%), Floriana (4.4%), Senglea (4.3%) and St Paul's Bay (3.8%).

Marsa, Gzira, Hamrun and Xghajra are the only other localities over the 3% mark. Dingli, Lija and the small Gozitan villages of Sannat, Kercem and Gharb register the lowest rates.

The highest numbers of recipients, relative to the whole Maltese population, are 515 in Saint Paul's Bay, followed by 425 in B'Kara and 312 Bormla.

Social assistance is payable to heads of households who are either unemployed or seeking employment, and whose relative financial means fall below the limit established by the Social Security Act. This benefit is also payable to single or widowed females who lack financial resources and who care for an elderly or physically or mentally disabled relative on a full-time basis.

A total of 3,114 persons receive benefits for single parents. Of those, 575 (18.5%) come from towns bordering the Grand Harbour.

Once again, the highest proportion of recipients by town, 2.7%, is in Bormla. Next are Valletta, Senglea, Birgu, Floriana, Marsa, Xghajra and Sant Lucija. Sannat, Kercem and Dingli register the lowest numbers.

In absolute figures, the largest numbers of single-parent benefit recipients are in B'Kara (183), Qormi (174) St Paul's Bay and Valletta (145).

Any single parent earning less than €48.12 each week is entitled to the benefit. The maximum rate of assistance is €90.78 per week for a parent with one child. This is increased by €8.15 per week for each additional child.