Pensioners to receive €300 grant in coming days

Pensioner over the age of 75 to receive €300 grant in coming days, family minister Michael Farrugia says

Michael Farrugia (centre) said some 11,000 people with missing NI contributions will receive a €100 or €200 bonus
Michael Farrugia (centre) said some 11,000 people with missing NI contributions will receive a €100 or €200 bonus

In the coming days, over 27,000 pensioners over the age of 75 will receive a €300 grant while some 11,000 people with missing NI contributions will receive a €100 or €200 bonus, family minister Michael Farrugia said.

Addressing a media briefing about budgetary measure for the elderly, Farrugia said that after holding consultation meetings with the pensions working group,‎ government decided that all of today's pensioners, irrelevant of date of birth would benefit from a pension adjustment.

“We introduced a credit system and also reviewed the widow's pensions. These adjustments are given over the Cost Of Living Adjustment increase. There are also pensioners who will pay less tax or no tax at all,” he said, adding that more measures will be implemented in the fight against poverty.

Farrugia added that contrary to what the opposition claimed, pensioners were given an increase of €1.75 in the 2016 Budget.

“If one looks at a pension statement one sees an increase of €1.17 under the term ' pension rate adjustment' and the difference between the COLA increase and pension adjustment under 'COLA bonus'.‎ This totals a total increase of €1.75,” he said.