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Julian Manduca
With Malta struggling to attract tourists a ray of hope for added revenue to Malta will come in the form of pensioners that decide to reside in Malta come 1 May.
Health authorities told MaltaToday that a substantial number of English pensioners can be expected, come EU membership. Chris Bonnici from the entitlement section at the health department told MaltaToday: “We are expecting a mini-invasion of British nationals wanting to settle in Malta. “While France has been a preferred destination, we expect that given the language, climate and links with the Maltese islands, a number of British pensioners will want to retire here.”
Malta could also attract pensioners from other countries but so far the entitlement section is bracing itself for Brits. While EU state pensioners can settle in Malta, the Maltese will also be able to chose an EU country to retire in, but it is not expected that many will make that choice.
EU national pensioners will be entitled to receive their pension payments in Malta, but the burden will not be carried by the Malta government as the pensioners will continue to receive their payments from their ‘home’ country.
Within the EU pensions are paid wherever one resides without any reduction, change or suspension.
Pensioners wishing to reside in a different EU state and wanting to benefit from health benefits need to have an E121 form and register with the entitlement department in the country where they wish to reside.
julian@newsworksltd.com
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