As living costs remain a key concern for households across Malta, the Government has confirmed that the second instalment of the Additional Cost of Living Benefit for 2026 has started reaching eligible families and individuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More than 102,000 households are expected to receive this latest payment, which covers the period from July to December 2026. The measure forms part of Malta’s ongoing efforts to support low and middle-income households facing increased living expenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Additional Cost-of-Living Benefit<\/a> was introduced to complement Malta’s traditional Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) mechanism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While the standard COLA increase is based on the spending patterns of the average household, the additional benefit takes into account the reality that lower-income families and pensioners often spend a larger proportion of their income on essentials such as food, utilities, and healthcare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The benefit is non-taxable and is paid in two instalments each year. For 2026, payments are being distributed in December 2025 and June 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to figures released by the Ministry for Social Policy and Children’s Rights, the Government is investing approximately \u20ac56 million through the Additional Cost-of-Living Benefit during 2026. The second payment alone represents an investment of around \u20ac28 million and includes over 1,300 households that successfully applied for inclusion after the automatic assessment process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The scheme has expanded significantly since its introduction and now supports a much wider group of households than those traditionally classified as being at risk of poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMore Than \u20ac56 Million Invested in 2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Wer ist qualifiziert?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n