Ministry website made easier to use for disabled

The website of the Ministry for the Family and Social Solidarity now incorporates accessibility features for persons with disabilities.

The revamped websiteprovides a separate, alternative text-only site that can be accessed from all pages through quick links, which is very useful for people with visual impairment, dexterity problems and cognitive impairment.

The website provides online forms that allow eligible citizens to apply for disability and elderly services directly, such as those offered by centres for persons with disabilities, home care and telecare. The forms are accessible through the disability service cluster.

The website provides information on benefits and services relevant to the respective service cluster, such as on eligibility, procedures, documents required, processing fees, back office process, contact details and frequently asked questions.

The new Social Policy Information Centre (SPIC) service cluster provides a window to the SPIC call centre through which citizens can enquire about social services.

SPIC offers these services through the telephone system via the number 159 or through the internet at www.spic.gov.mt or www.mfss.gov.mt.

Through these systems, customers can check the details of their employement history, social security benefits, payments received or those expected to be received within a short time as well as statements of the last 20 payments.

To access their social security benefit details directly and, therefore, benefit from a fully personalised confidential service, customers need to register for their e-ID, an electronic identity card number. They will then receive a pin number and a password.

Users will have access to such services through SPIC, the central government portal www.gov.mt or the MFSS User Profile section on the ministry website.