mySocialSecurity - Booklet [EN]

convenience at your fingertips

benefits and services for everyone

The Department of Social Security (DSS) is committed to providing citizens easy access to services. In recent years, we have made a significant number of online services available to the public. These services are designed to be accessible, secure and convenient.

Furthermore, services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We have also added new features and improved existing ones to make it easier for the citizens to use our online services.

One of our most popular online services is mySocialSecurity. This platform was launched three years ago to provide citizens with secure and convenient online self‑service options. Users can access a wide range of self‑service options, including managing personal details, updating banking details, using calculators and much more. The Web App is designed to be responsive and accessible on various devices, including PCs, mobiles and tablets.

Citizens can access several personalised social security services on mySocialSecurity, some of which require e‑ID authentication for added security. These services can be browsed from this booklet.

In addition, mySocialSecurity also offers a range of calculators for benefits such as Children’s Allowance, Elderly Home Admission Contribution, In‑Work Benefit, Retirement Pension, Sickness Benefit, Tapering of Benefits, Unemployment Benefit and Widow/er’s Pension. These calculators give citizens an easy way to estimate the rates of benefit they may be eligible for and help them make more informed decisions.

You can contact the Department of Social Security by scanning the QR code or entering the URL below if you have any questions. contactdss.gov.mt

02 create your e‑ID account to access Social Security online services

A free and secure e‑ID account provides personalised tools for everyone through Social Security online services, whether you receive benefits or not. You can use your e‑ID account to apply online for benefits and services, check the status of an application or manage the benefits you already receive. All from anywhere! To create an e‑ID account go to url eidaccount.gov.mt.

If you already have an e‑ID Account, you can access Social Security online applications and services by scanning the QR Code below or go to Page 9.

why create an e‑ID account? it’s quick

Your e‑ID acc gives you immediate access to personal information and tools, putting you in control of your time!

applicationsdss.gov.mt

it’s secure

We’re committed to using the best technologies available to protect your personal information. Security measures keep you safe and secure.

it’s easy

Accessing mySocialSecurity with your e‑ID account is convenient so you can skip the trip!

applications and services ‑

A to Z

overview

This link provides the applicant with a direct alphabetical link to all applications and services related to the Department of Social Security without the need to go through information sheets for a specific application or a service.

what you’ll get

A list of all online applications and services related to the Department of Social Security. Given that you have all prerequisites available, it should take approximately ten (10) to fifteen (15) minutes to have an online application filled in. Whereas for a service, you will be prompted with the information on the screen.

eligibility

General eligibility criteria:

Most applications and services require an e‑ID account issued by Identity Malta for authentication.

how to access the service

To view a list of all the applications and services related to the Department of Social Security, please scan the QR Code or enter the url below

application ‑ monitoring

overview

The primary objective of this service is to provide a beneficiary with information on existing and active benefits. This also includes pending benefits awaiting review and approval by the Department of Social Security.

what you’ll get

A list of any application/s or request/s for revision you have made in the previous twelve (12) months. From here you can check whether your claim has been processed and its’ outcome.

Exclusions:

Retirement Pension: Tentative Assessment. Sickness Benefit: Blue Medical Certificate Claims.

eligibility

General eligibility criteria:

An e‑ID account issued by Identity Malta.

how to access the service

To monitor your existing and requested applications, please scan the QR Code or enter the url below

banking details

overview

Through this service, you can change the Banking Details of how you receive your benefit or update your banking details held by the Department of Social Security. If you are currently receiving benefit payments by cheque, you must change your details to start receiving payments by direct deposit in your bank account. If you are already receiving your payments by direct bank deposits, you may change both the bank as well as the account number (International Bank Account Number ‑ IBAN).

You can also opt to receive a payment notification via SMS when your benefit has been deposited. Through this service, you cannot change your banking details to start receiving cheque payments.

what you’ll get

With this service, you will have access to the following features:

• Facility to update your banking details held with the Department of Social Security online.

• Facility to change your payment method from cheque to direct credit into bank account.

• Facility to receive a payment notification via SMS to be informed when your benefit has been deposited.

• By authenticating with your e‑ID, an Agent, Administrator, or Agent appointed by an Administrator who is duly registered with the Department of Social Security, can change the banking details of the Social Security beneficiary.

eligibility

General eligibility criteria:

• A person registered under the Social Security Act (Cap. 318.), and is not a beneficiary, can update his/her banking details held by the Department of Social Security.

• An e‑ID account issued by Identity Malta.

additional information

• The indicated bank account must be a Savings or Current account, but not a Loan Account.

• The indicated bank account must be in the name of the beneficiary, or in the name of the beneficiary’s administrator registered with the Department.

• If a person is not a beneficiary but is registered under the Social Security Act, banking details held by the Department must still be updated and the indicated bank account must be in the name of the registered person.

• The bank account details provided will be commonly used for all other benefits.

• If a beneficiary has a garnishee order, he/she is to inform the preferred bank about the amendment to Article 381 of the Code of Organisation and Civil Procedure (Cap. 12.) to have a bank account issued in the beneficiary’s name.

• In accordance with Article 381(1)(b) of the Code of Organisation and Civil Procedure (Cap. 12.), it shall not be lawful to issue a garnishee order upon any benefit, pension, allowance or assistance mentioned in the Social Security Act or a private pension or any other pension, benefit or allowance issued by the Government or other foreign Government. Provided that in the case of private pensions and pensions issued by foreign governments, the amount that is not sequestrable must not exceed the amount established for the highest pension issued by the Government.

how to access the service

Access your Banking Details held by the Department of Social Security by scanning the QR Code or entering the URL below

bankingdss.gov.mt

benefits rates

overview

You can view information about social security Benefits Rates to which you are entitled, organised by clusters. The benefits rates information is for the last five (5) years, ending at the end of the current year. The rates of social security benefits are shown in chronological order and apply to both couples and single people.

what you’ll get

The facility to view information on benefits rates for social security benefits over the previous five (5) years up through the end of the current year, grouped by cluster. Except where otherwise specified, each benefit has a weekly rate.

Benefits Rates Clusters:

• Contributory Pensions.

• Family Benefits.

• Grants, Benefits and Schemes.

• Medical Assistance.

• Non‑Contributory Benefits.

• Work, Incentives and Unemployment Benefits

eligibility

General eligibility criteria:

• Any citizen can access information on the rates of social security benefits.

how to access the service

Please scan the QR Code or enter the URL below to access the Benefits Rates service.

ratesdss.gov.mt

07 blue medical certificate ‑ monitoring

overview

This online service shows those blue medical certificates you submitted to the Department of Social Security for the previous five (5) years. The blue medical certificates are listed according to year and presented chronologically.

A blue medical certificate for long‑term sickness may be submitted to the Department of Social Security every fourteen (14) days. A person is not required to submit a blue medical certificate to the Department of Social Security if the period of illness is three (3) days or less. Hence, this service will not list a certificate of three (3) days or less.

A blue medical certificate must be completed by a medical practitioner and submitted to the Department of Social Security within ten (10) days from the 1st day of sickness. The only exceptions accepted are due to hospitalisation or treatment abroad.

what you’ll get

Once authenticated, the beneficiary will access a list of his/her medical certificates. Whilst medical certificates themselves are no indication of Sickness Benefit claims. However, they provide information on the certificates submitted to the Department of Social Security. Only those blue medical certificates of the past five (5) years that the back office section has vetted are visible from this service.

You can still access the information on the blue medical certificate from this same service for the previous five (5) years, whether or not the sickness benefit claim is processed. This information includes: the Certificate Number; the dates of examination by the doctor, when you worked last, when you returned to work and when the department received the certificate; if there was the

claimant’s signature, the doctor’s name, registration number and signature; what type of medical condition and the status of the certificate type.

From the Payments Related Services mService, one can view any sickness benefit paid in the past five (5) years related to the blue medical certificates submitted. However, in instances where employers/companies have an agreement with the Department of Social Security to have the Sickness Benefit paid directly to the employer/company, instead of payment to the beneficiary, the payments are not visible from this menu. Such instances include Government Departments and Entities where the employee will not have his/her sickness benefit deducted from their salary.

eligibility

General eligibility criteria:

• Every citizen that has submitted a blue medical certificate for sickness of four (4) days or more to the Department of Social Security.

• An e‑ID account issued by Identity Malta.

how to access the service

Monitor your Blue Medical Certificates submissions by scanning the QR Code or entering the URL below.

You will receive the payment within twenty (20) days if the required details are submitted, and you are eligible. cermonitoringdss.gov.mt

08

blue medical certificate ‑ submit

overview

One may submit a copy of the original blue medical certificate online. For Sickness Benefit to be awarded, a person must not have reached the retirement age, and a medical practitioner must complete a blue medical certificate. The blue medical certificate must be submitted to the Department of Social Security within ten (10) days from the first (1)st day of sickness. The only exceptions accepted are due to hospitalisation or treatment abroad. In turn, a copy of the blue medical certificate must be handed to the employer. If the sickness is longer than fourteen (14) days, the blue medical certificate must be renewed every two (2) weeks until the employee is fit to resume work.

how to submit a blue medical certificate

One may submit a copy of the original blue medical certificate by scanning the QR Code or entering the URL below

certificatedss.gov.mt

You will receive the payment for Sickness Benefit within twenty (20) days if the required details are submitted and you are eligible.

09 contact details

overview

Through this service, you can update your contact details as held by the Department of Social Security, namely the postal address, email address, landline number, mobile phone number and SMS payment notification as required.

A postal address in Malta and Gozo consists of the house number or block number, any additions to the house number and apartment number, street name, town or village and postcode. In order to update the postal address, you must first change your Identity Card details with Identity Malta. As part of the address updating process, entering the postcode is required

However, using this service, you cannot change from a Maltese address to a foreign address or vice versa or from an already set foreign address to a different country address. To request this change enter the url: contactforeign‑dss.gov.mt. In such cases, the change will not be immediate because it must be vetted first.

You can add or update your landline phone number, mobile phone number, or both in the contact number details to be stored by the Department of Social Security. Foreign registered numbers are not permitted. Also, your email address stored by the Department of Social Security can be added or modified

The SMS payment notification option is only enabled for beneficiaries who are receiving payments by bank deposits

what you’ll get

• Update your postal address held by the Department of Social Security to the details shown on your current Identity Card.

• The facility to update your contact details and this change will be instant.

• The facility to receive an SMS payment notification when your benefit is deposited.

eligibility

General eligibility criteria:

• You are only permitted to update your postal address to the details shown on your current Identity Card.

• An e‑ID account issued by Identity Malta.

how to access the service

Access your Contact Details held by the Department of Social Security by scanning the QR Code or entering the URL below

10 documents ‑ submit

overview

This service allows you to upload copies of documents requested by the Department of Social Security in a letter of notification to the claimant, known as a Call Letter. As a result, the Department of Social Security sends a Call Letter to the claimant to be informed of which additional documents are required to complete the processing of a submitted or a revision request application.

what you’ll get

This service allows a citizen to upload copies of documents requested by the Department of Social Security. The requested documents must be prepared as a scanned copy once the claimant receives a Call Letter before being uploaded online. During this process, the online service may request additional information. The deadline for submissions will also be specified in the Call Letter. If the requested information is not received on time, the entitlement to the benefit, or a portion of it, may be delayed or forfeited.

All attachments are immediately saved to the Department’s Documents Repository after being uploaded. The Department of Social Security then verifies these for accuracy and validity

Aside from adopting a once‑only principle for documentation used within different sections, attachments would no longer need to be printed because they would already be available online. This increases efficiency while saving money on document printing and storage. In addition, the claimant can submit all required documents online at his or her leisure, eliminating the need to visit a servizz.gov hub.

eligibility

General eligibility criteria:

• Any citizen that has requested a benefit through an application, or is currently receiving a benefit by the Department of Social Security, and received a Call Letter to forward further necessary documents.

requirements

To use this service, you will need:

• The Document Number as indicated in the Call Letter, if you choose to authenticate with your e‑ID account, which is issued by Identity Malta.

• The Document Number together with your Identity Card Number, if you choose not to authenticate with your e‑ID.

• The scanning of the documents submitted, can be done using any kind of device. The size of each document must not be more than 5MB, up to a total of 10MB for the complete submission.

how to access the service

Once the claimant receives a Call Letter issued by the Department of Social Security, you can submit your documents by scanning the QR Code or entering the URL below

11 payments dates

overview

It is simple to find out when to anticipate receiving your benefit payments thanks to the calendar of social security Payments Dates for the current year that is organised by clusters. The payments dates for social security benefits, which can be made for a weekly, four (4) week, or thirteen (13) week period, are displayed in chronological sequence. On Saturdays, payments are made through direct credit, which means they are transferred directly into your bank account.

If the Social Security Department notified you that your application for a social security benefit was approved, you may be wondering when you will receive your first payment. The Social Security Department sends you a letter informing you of the amount and the first payment deposit date

what you’ll get

View a schedule of payments dates for social security benefits for the current year, organised by cluster.

Benefits Payments Dates Clusters:

• Contributory Pensions.

• Family Benefits.

• Grants, Benefits and Schemes.

• Medical Assistance.

• Non‑Contributory Benefits.

• Work, Incentives and Unemployment Benefits.

eligibility

General eligibility criteria:

• Any citizen can access the schedule of payments dates for social security benefits.

how to access the service

To access the Payments Dates service, scan the QR Code or enter the URL below.

datesdss.gov.mt

12 personal details

overview

Using this service, you can view your personal information held by the Department of Social Security. Personal information, however, cannot be amended or updated online using this service.

what you’ll get

You can view your personal information, which includes:

• Name and Surname.

• Maiden Name (if applicable).

• Identity Card Number.

• Social Security Number.

• Pension Number (if applicable).

• Date of Birth.

• Gender.

eligibility

General eligibility criteria:

how to access the service

• An e‑ID account issued by Identity Malta. personaldetdss.gov.mt

Access your Personal Details held by the Department of Social Security by scanning the QR Code or entering the URL below

repay an overpayment ‑ employer overview

This service provides the facility for an employer who receives an overpayment advise letter in connection with a claim for tapering of benefits to repay online the amount due to the Department of Social Security. The information provided in the overpayment advice letter is to be utilised to complete the online overpayment repayment.

what you’ll get

Once the employer receives a Notice of Overpayment from the Department of Social Security, the overpayment may be repaid online. The employer can authorise a representative to make an online repayment on their behalf.

eligibility

• An employer who had registered an employee and received Tapering of Benefits in relation to this employee.

requirements

To use this service, you will need:

• The Notice of Overpayment letter received from the Department of Social Security, which includes the details that the employer needs to input for successful repayment.

documentation required

General documentation:

• You will need the following information: PE Number, Company Name, Name and Surname of the employer representative, Employee Identity Card Number and the Full Original Overpayment Amount. (Only digits are to be inputted in the amount field)

how to settle an overpayment

Repay an overpayment due to the Department of Social Security by scanning the QR Code or entering the URL below.

14

repay an overpayment

overview

Overpayments occur when the Department of Social Security (DSS) pays a beneficiary more social security benefits than was due, often because ’ ’one’s income, resources, marital status, and living situation has changed or through an administrative error.

Beneficiaries of social security benefits are required to inform Director General (Social Security) of any changes in income, employment, living situation or marital status, amongst others. A great number of overpayments are caused by beneficiaries who fail to do so. Be sure to keep the DSS informed on these changes to avoid incurring inconvenient and potentially costly overpayments.

what you’ll get

When the DSS discovers that an overpayment has been made, it sends a Notice of Overpayment to the beneficiary or his/her agent/administrator to be inform about:

• The amount of improperly paid social security benefits.

• The reason(s) for the overpayment.

• The way the DSS proposes to recover the amount that has been overpaid.

When deciding the rate of repayment, the DSS will look at the following factors:

• The beneficiary’s ability to repay.

• Any relevant facts or circumstances that have been raised by the beneficiary.

• The amount of the overpayment and how it happened.

eligibility

General criteria as to how the DSS can ask the beneficiary to repay the overpayment by either:

• Making a single payment to repay the full overpayment, or

• Making weekly or monthly cash repayments until the overpayment is paid off; or

• If you are still receiving a social security benefit payment, by deductions from your entitlement.

requirements

• Have a valid e‑ID issued by Identity Malta to make an online payment, or

Overpayment beneficiary details (Identity Card Number, Name and Surname and Original Amount) to make an online payment without the use of an e‑ID. Only digits are to be inputted in the amount field.

how to settle an overpayment

Once the beneficiary receives a Notice of Overpayment from the DSS, the overpayment may be settled by:

• Repay an overpayment due to the Department of Social Security by scanning the QR Code or entering the URL below. (One can also make a repayment on behalf of another person). For this service, the user is to provide the beneficiary overpayment details, including the Name and Surname, Identity Card Number and the Original Amount (€). Only digits are to be inputted in the amount field. This information can be found on the notification letter that is sent to the beneficiary or the agent/administrator. A confirmation email is sent as a receipt to the person making the payment.

how to access the service

Repay an overpayment due to the Department of Social Security by scanning the QR Code or entering the URL below

15

report a payment not received

overview

A beneficiary can submit a report that a Social Security Benefit Payment has not been received or credited, else request information according to the payment status linked to the different payment method types ‑ Cheque, Direct Credit and Energy Credit.

what you’ll get

1) Submit an online Report for a Social Security Benefit Payment made by cheque not Received:

• The user can select a Cheque payment with current status set as Issued or Paid from at least one (1) day past the payment date.

• Upon selecting ‘Not Received?’ the user will be prompted to insert the email address

• Once clicking on ‘Submit Report’ the user triggers the stop payment process.

• A notification by email will be sent to user informing that the report has been placed at the Department of Social Security.

or

The beneficiary or agent/administrator may opt to fill a declaration at the respective servizz.gov centre stating that the cheque is lost or torn or cannot be encashed.

Thereafter:

• The servizz.gov Agent automatically submits a stop payment report online to initiate the process.

• The Department of Social Security checks with the Central Bank of Malta the status of the cheque.

• In case of a lost cheque, if it is found to have been encashed, the stop payment report is sent back to servizz.gov centre, and claimant is informed accordingly. If the beneficiary or agent/administrator believes that the cheque was not encashed by his/her ownself then one needs to visit a servizz.gov centre to confirm the signature on the cheque image. If the signature on the cheque image does not belong to the beneficiary or entrusted person (agent/administrator), the servizz.gov Agent files an online report for a cheque cashed by third parties to start an investigation.

• If the cheque is found to be uncashed, a replacement cheque is issued and sent to the claimant.

This procedure normally takes ten (10) to fifteen (15) days to finalise, unless an investigation is requested. If the claimant finds the lost cheque before replacement, the claimant is to inform the servizz.gov centre agents immediately.

2) Submit an online Report for a Social Security Benefit Direct Credit Payment or Energy Benefit Credit not credited:

• The user can select any transaction payment from the list of payments.

• The respective payment details will be displayed.

• Upon selecting ‘Not Received?’ the user will be prompted with further information on the transaction. The user can opt to request more information by entering the email address and press the ‘Request for Information’ button.

• A notification by email will be sent to the user informing that the request has been placed at the Department of Social Security or

The claimant/administrator/agent can opt to fill a declaration at the respective servizz.gov centre stating that the Direct Credit for a Social Security Benefit or Energy Benefit Credit was not received.

Thereafter:

• If there was an issue with the IBAN of the claimant, the claimant will be informed. Once the issue is resolved, the claimant may re‑apply for direct credit.

• If it is found that the claimant is no longer entitled to the benefit/pension, the claimant is informed.

• In the case of Energy Credit Benefit, the department checks whether the claimant is still entitled and claimant is informed accordingly.

eligibility

General eligibility criteria:

• A person in receipt of any benefit, allowance or pension.

• An e‑ID account issued by Identity Malta to submit a report online.

how to access the service

Report a payment not received by scanning the QR Code or entering the URL below.

16 social security contributions ‑ gaps

overview

This service is intended to guide you to identify gaps in your Social Security Contributions record and to take potential actions to address any gaps.

If after the age of 16, you were not gainfully employed, did not reside in Malta, or was officially exempted from paying Social Security Contributions, it is normal that you will have missing Social Security Contributions during these indicated periods.

what you’ll get

You can check your status regarding social security contributions, and if gaps are identified, you can decide how to address the gaps based on the information presented.

eligibility

General eligibility criteria:

• An e‑ID account issued by Identity Malta.

how to access the service

You can check for any missing Social Security Contributions by scanning the QR Code or entering the URL below.

.gov.mt

social security contributions ‑ record

overview

Through this service, you can view your Social Security Contributions record. Social Security Contributions for the previous year will be displayed in December of the following year. For each year found the display shows categorised Class 1 Social Security Contributions and Credits which refer to employed persons, together with Class 2 / Class 3 Social Security Contributions and Credits which refer to self‑occupied / self‑employed persons.

what you’ll get

• A record of your Social Security Contributions postings.

eligibility

General eligibility criteria:

• An e‑ID account issued by Identity Malta.

how to access the service

To view your Social Security Contributions record, scan the QR Code below or enter the URL below

18 social security payments

overview

This service is intended for Social Security beneficiaries who would like to view a list of Social Security Payments paid for the past five (5) years.

what you’ll get

• View your Social Security Payments made by Cheque, Direct Credit and Energy Credit issued for the past five (5) years.

• Select a payment from the list and view additional details such as entitlement, bank account details, and address details respective to the payment type (Cheque or Direct Credit, excluding Energy Credit).

eligibility

General eligibility criteria:

• An e‑ID account issued by Identity Malta.

how to access the service

To view a list of Social Security Payments, please scan the QR Code or enter the URL below.

19 statement of earnings ‑ FS3

overview

This service enables social security beneficiaries to issue a Statement of Earnings (FS3) for social security payments made in a specific year over the previous five (5) years. Since this is an electronic document, it does not require a signature.

what you’ll get

• Upon selecting ‘Generate Statement of Earnings (FS3)’ for a specific year chosen from the past five (5) years, the user will be given the option to download a Statement of Earnings issued in PDF format or receive the statement by email.

• If the output is to be received by email and is the first time to make use of this service, the user must specify an email address and decide whether to make this email address as a default for the Department of Social Security to make contact with. On subsequent use of the service, this saved email address will be automatically shown.

eligibility

General eligibility criteria:

• An e‑ID account issued by Identity Malta.

how to access the service

To generate a Statement of Earnings ‑ FS3, please scan the QR Code or enter the URL below

20 statement of no earnings

overview

This service enables citizens to issue a Statement from the Department of Social Security certifying that they did not receive any social security benefit payments for a specific year in the previous five (5) years up to the date the statement was issued.

Since this is an electronic document, it does not require a signature. The generated statement is not an FS3 and cannot be used for tax purposes.

what you’ll get

• Upon selecting ‘Generate Payments Issued Statement’ for a specific year chosen from the past five (5) years, the user will be given the option to download the Payments Issued Statement in PDF format. Upon clicking on the button ‘View Payments Issued Statement’, the user can save or print this statement.

• If the user chooses to receive the statement by email and is using this service for the first time, the user must provide an email address and choose whether to make this email address the Department of Social Security’s default contact address. This saved email address will be displayed automatically the next time you use the service.

eligibility

General eligibility criteria:

• A citizen who is not presently a beneficiary from the Social Security Department.

• An e‑ID account issued by Identity Malta.

how to access the service

To generate a Statement of No Earnings from the Department of Social Security, please scan the QR Code or enter the URL below

21 statement of payments issued overview

This service is intended for Social Security beneficiaries who would like to generate a Payments Issued Statement for Social Security Benefits payments paid for a specific year for the past five (5) years. This statement is not an FS3 and cannot be used for tax purposes. Since this is an electronic document, it does not require a signature.

what you’ll get

• Upon selecting ‘Generate Payments Issued Statement’ for a specific year chosen from the past 5 years, the user will be given the option to download a Statement of Payments issued in PDF format or else receive the statement by email.

• If the output is to be received by email and is the first time to make use of this service, the user must specify an email address and decide whether to make this email address as a default for the Department of Social Security to make contact with. On subsequent use of the service, this saved email address will be automatically shown.

eligibility

General eligibility criteria:

• An e‑ID account issued by Identity Malta.

how to access the service

Please scan the QR Code or enter the URL below to access the Statement of Payments Issued.

Thank you for your interest in mySocialSecurity. We value your feedback in order to enhance our services. If you would like to forward a recommendation on how we could improve our services or have a question about our services, please scan the QR code or enter the URL below contactdss.gov.mt

We hope you found this information useful and invite you to check our website often.