More than 10,000 people who do not receive a pension because they have not paid enough social security contributions will next month receive one-off compensation of €100 or €200.

This Budget measure affected mostly women who have paid less than 10 years in contributions, Social Solidarity Minister Michael Farrugia said yesterday.

A total of 4,882 people aged 62 and over who have paid more than a year’s but less than five years’ social security contributions will receive €100 in the first week of April on the eve of the local council elections.

More than 5,230 people who have paid more than 260 contributions, up to 10 years’ worth, will receive €200.

The payments will amount to more than €1.5 million and those who think they are entitled but do not receive this compensation can download an application form from http://socialpolicy.gov.mt .

Dr Farrugia said another one-off €35 bonus, also announced in the Budget, would be paid in the coming days.

The government understood that the 58c cost of living adjustment, set in terms of the COLA mechanism, was minimal and so it was handing out these additional bonuses as compensation.

The non-taxable €35 handout would inject about €8 million into the economy, benefiting more than 220,000 people, including students, pensioners, those on social benefits and workers who earn less than €20,400 a year, Dr Farrugia said.

Students got the €35 bonus with their stipend payment yesterday and handouts to workers will be issued tomorrow. Pensioners and those who receive social benefits will receive the €35 bonus on Saturday.

Those eligible were identified based on their 2013 tax return. Those who did not file that year’s return will not get the bonus but workers whose employment circumstances have changed since 2013 can download an application form from www.ird.gov.mt.

Those who feel they are entitled but do not receive the bonus can call 159 for more information.