Anyone retiring this year will no longer have to apply to start receiving a pension as the Social Security Department transitions into the digital age.

A similar process will be adopted for those in receipt of a widows pension and a marriage grant as the department starts a gradual roll out of online services.

These payments will be issued automatically or after a very short verification process that will tap into data stored at the public registry and the income tax department, among others.

Social Solidarity Minister Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca said the transition formed part of the government's digital strategy that sought to have seamless information sharing between the different departments.

She said this would cut down on the use of paper, reduce processing time for clients and cut down on administrative costs.

Ms Coleiro Preca said the expenditure on paper formed a significant portion of the half-a-million euros spent on administrative costs. She also noted that some EUR 50,000 were spent on transport to shift files from department to another for processing.

Parliamentary Secretary Edward Zammit Lewis said this development will help reduce bureaucracy.

Government's digital strategy, announced yesterday, aims to improve accessibility online and bridge the digital divide.