Disciplined forces injured on duty will get benefit up to €180,000

Members of the disciplined forces will benefit from a maximum of €180,000 in cases of extreme disabilities incurred while on duty, according to the terms of a scheme unveiled on Monday.

The applicable forces include the police, the Civil Protection Department, the Armed Forces of Malta, first responders, Corradino Correctional Facility staff and customs officers.

The Occupational Personal Accident Benefit Scheme was inaugurated today by Finance Minister Edward Scicluna and Home Affairs Minister Michael Farrugia at the Custom House in Valletta. It will start operating from 1 May.

Part-timers are covered by this scheme as well. The benefits will apply from the start of employment until 90 days after termination of employment.

“The scheme will also include a €5,000 benefit to go towards refurbishing and enhancing the home of an accident victim to aid mobility,” Scicluna said, adding that the court would not need to get involved in dealing with claims. A board of experts will deal with the cases.

“I am honoured to be making history,” Farrugia said. He added that the finance ministry, as well as the ministry under his wing, had been working on this scheme for six years.

“This is the first time that a scheme like this will apply to all the disciplined forces, whether they are in the top tier of management or the very lowest,” he said.

Farrugia mentioned police constable Simon Schembri, recently granted the Gieh ir-Reppublika for his service and said that he had now become a symbol of the police force.

“After his terrible incident, the evaluation process was sped up, and it encouraged us even further,” Farrugia said, insisting that this scheme was an acknowledgement of the disciplined forces’ difficult and continuous work.

“I visited certain areas hit by the storm yesterday in Sliema and Birgu and got to encounter the danger faced by these forces, and I can’t but thank them for their invaluable work,” he said.