2nd Additional COLA Payment Issued As 102,000 Families Benefit From Measure

The Government is investing a further €28 million in people through the second payment of the Additional Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), bringing the total investment in this benefit alone to €56 million for 2026.

The benefit was introduced to provide additional support to low and middle-income families, complementing existing subsidies on energy prices and cereals.

These details were announced on Thursday morning by the Minister for Social Policy and Children's Rights, Michael Falzon, together with Permanent Secretary Mark Musù.

More than 100,000 families are set to receive the second payment this week, covering the period from July to December 2026.

Minister Falzon explained that the payment also includes 1,311 families who will receive a full year's entitlement following a successful application.

Applications were open between January and March to ensure support reached individuals who could not be identified through the automatic system.

"This is proof of how this Government stands by the people and supports those who genuinely need assistance. This benefit is here to stay, and we will continue strengthening it as we work to improve people's standard of living," said Minister Falzon.

Permanent Secretary Mark Musù noted that the lower a household's income, the higher the benefit it receives.

Similarly, larger families qualify for higher payments. The benefit ranges from a minimum of €200 per year, equivalent to €3.85 per week, to a maximum of €1,500 per year, or €28.85 per week.

He added that a broad range of families benefit from the scheme, including not only vulnerable households and those at risk of poverty, but also many middle-income families.

More than half of beneficiaries are not considered at risk of poverty, yet qualify because their income remains below the national median.

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