Social Security Act (Cap. 318)
Social Security Act (Cap. 318), article 23
23. (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act and the provisions
in the Health Act , a person who is the head of household shall be
entitled to such Free Medical Aid as is specified hereunder, th at is
the supply of such drugs, spectacles, dentures, and other prost hetic
aids or other additio nal Free Medical Aid as indicated by regulations
made under this Act as in the opinion of the Chief Medical Offi cer to
Government are indicated in his case according to protocols whi ch
may be issued by him from time to time and are available, if he
shows to the satisfaction of the Director that -
(a) on account of bodily or mental impairment, sickness or
disease, which does not require treatment in a hospital,
he or any member of his household is in need of
medical, surgical or pharmaceutical aid; and
(b) t h e t o t a l w e e k l y m e a n s o f a l l t h e m e m b e r s o f h i s
household calculated in accordance with the
provisions of Part III of th e Second Schedule to this
Act do not exceed the scale ra te for that household, as
determined by the Eighth Schedule to this Act:
Provided that the Chief Medical Officer to Government shall
consult, before forming his opinion, with one or more medical
consultants drawn from a panel appointed by the Minister:
Provided further that, where th e person concerned is suffering
from Auto-Immune Enteropathy as certified by a consultant
Paediatrician, the Free Medical Aid referred to above shall inc lude
Total Parenteral Nutrition or any other medical conditions as m ay be
indicated by regulations under this Act.
( 2 ) W h e r e t h e p e r s o n i n n e e d o f s u c h a i d i s n o t t h e h e a d o f
household or his wife, the head of such household shall not be
entitled to Free Medical Aid if the weekly means of the person in
respect of whom such aid is requi red, calculated as if he forme d a
household of his own, exceed the scale rate for one person as
determined by the aforementioned Eighth Schedule.
(3) A person suffering from one of the diseases or conditions
specified in Part II of the Fifth Schedule shall be entitled to such
Free Medical Aid as in the opinion of the Chief Medical Officer to
Government are indicated in his case according to protocols which
may be issued by him from time t o time and are available within
the national health service.
(4) With effect from the 1st January 2017, a person who
qualifies for an Increased Sev ere Disability Assistance in
accordance with the provisions of article 27, shall be eligible for
Free Medical Aid without the need to satisfy the means test as per
provisions of Part III o f the Second Schedule.
36 CAP. 318.] SOCIAL SECURITY
(5) With effect from the 1st January 2017, any income from
gainful employment or self-occupation of the person qualifying for
a Severe Disability Assistance i n accordance with the provision s of
article 27, shall not be considered for the calculation of the income
or privilege as explained in P art III of the S econd Schedule.
(6) With effect from 1st January 2022, a person who reached
the age of eighty (80) years and is receiving Supplementary All owance
in accordance with the provisions of article 73, shall be eligi ble for the
Free Medical Aid without the need to satisfy the means test as per
provisions of Part III of the Second Schedule.
(7) With effect from 1st January 2026, a person who reached
the age of sixty-five (65) y ears and is benefitting from a
Supplementary Allowance in accordance with the provisions of ar ticle
73, shall be eligible for the Free Medical Aid without the need to
satisfy the means test according to the provisions of Part III of the
Second Schedule.
Milk Grant. 24. Subject to the provisions of this Act, a head of household
who is in receipt of Social or Tuberculosis Assistance under th is
Act, shall be entitled to a Milk Grant if he shows to the satis faction
of the Director that he or any me mber of his household has the care
or custody of a child under forty weeks of age who requires
weaning or complementary feeding or who cannot be breast-fed fo r
health reasons, and such grant shall continue to be paid until such
child reaches forty weeks of age.
Amounts payable
by way of
assistance.
Amended by:
II. 2002.63.
Text read from the consolidated PDF published by Legislation Malta. Tables, figures and marginal notes may be incomplete or out of place: the official PDF is authoritative. General information, not legal, tax or accounting advice.