James Debono
Some 40% of households in Valletta, Marsa and Bormla are spared the full brunt of the water and electricity surcharge, either because they live on welfare or are earning less than €7,796 a year.
The five localities with the highest number of poor households are all situated in the inner harbour area.
This emerges from a MaltaToday analysis of statistics presented in parliament this week.
The statistics show that 1,074 households in Valletta, 845 households in Bormla and 802 households in Marsa qualify for the energy benefit.
The lowest amount of poor households is found in Swieqi were only 5% depend of households receive an energy benefit.
Being the poorest Valletta, Bormla and Marsa unsurprisingly always emerge in the bottom places of educational tables, while Swieqi and Attard are among the most represented at university.
Surprisingly in the past two years, the total number of beneficiaries decreased by 6%: from 29,569 in 2007, to 27,918 in 2008.
To qualify for the benefit, one must be receiving social assistance, benefits for single mothers and unemployment benefits, or else have a total income, declared for children allowance purposes, which did not exceed €7795.76 in the previous year.
Households with a disabled member must earn less than €30,910 to qualify for this benefit. They must also prove that this condition requires excessive consumption of water and electricity.
These persons either qualify for a partial or complete exemption from the surcharge.
Overall, 20% of Maltese households qualify for this benefit.

jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt

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