Application for widows' pension to be made more efficient

Michael Farrugia on widowers' pension - Video by Ray Attard

As of today, widows and widowers applying for the pension of their deceased partner will no longer have to go through the bureaucratic process, of formally applying with government and waiting unnecessarily, Minister for Social Solidarity Michael Farrugia said this afternoon.

Rather, the hospital or residence where the person passed away will automatically inform the authorities who will then, send a letter summoning them, whilst requesting the necessary international bank account number (IBAN).

The measure, which forms part of government's electoral promise to simplify governmental services, is based on this government's politics based on social justice, the minister said.

"This will make a process which in the past was tedious and unduly long into a productive and efficient one."

Farrugia said that this was only a part of government's continuous process of simplification, adding that government's plan for a 'one-stop-shop', which would see various administrative and governmental services joined within one institution, was still very much on the agenda.

The minister added that three similar initiatives will be annnounced by the end of the year.