Newlyweds will now start being notified of their €270 marriage grant by the Social Security Department through a simplification of the government process.

Social Solidarity Minister Michael Farrugia said the onus would be on the department to approach the couple for information.

Previously, couples that got married had to download a form or get one from the district social security offices, fill it in, then post or hand it in to the department.

However, Dr Farrugia said the government wanted to reduce red tape, even for the department, which spent hours handling and processing the forms.

Social Solidarity Minister said that more changes are in the pipeline, including online applications for the children’s allowance

Through the new system, once a couple gets married they will receive a request for information from the department asking for their IBAN numbers, their new address and whether the woman intends changing her surname.

This information can be sent in through the mygov.mt website or handed in to the district offices.

Once this is received, they will then receive the grant.

Husbands and wives who both work receive €271 each.

Dr Farrugia said receiving the marriage grant was dependent on whether the spouses had worked.

In 2012, 3,361 grant requests amounting to €863,000 were paid, while last year there were 2,961 requests that added up to €780,000.

This new system would help reduce paperwork, eliminate the need for the couple to personally hand in the forms and make the department more efficient.

Dr Farrugia said further changes were in the pipeline, including online applications for the children’s allowance.