Aġenzija Sapport operates the Empowerment Scheme which aims to provide financial assistance to persons with disability enabling them to purchase equipment, and which would allow them to lead a more independent life within their own home and locality.

 

The Empowerment Scheme is run by an independent Board which includes a number of professionals, who meet once a month to assess and evaluate all applications received during that period.

 

Those who apply for a particular equipment need to present a report filled in by a professional, such as Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, or Audiologist in case of applications for hearing aids. This would need to be presented to the Board together with an application form, medical certificate, copy of the EU disability card and quotations.

 

The Empowerment Scheme also offers subsidy on individualised transport services to persons with disability who are not able to make use of the Public Transport and would need to go to work, to attend a post-secondary education institution, or attend sports training whereby the applicant is enrolled under a registered Sports Club/Organisation.

ELIGIBILITY

  • Applicants must reside/live in Malta;​
  • Applicants must present a copy of their EU Disability Card with the application. Applications will not be accepted if a copy is not presented;
  • ​​​​​​​Applications for subsidies of less than €400 will not be considered and may be referred to other entities. Furthermore, each item purchased, even when combining items together, should not be less than €100 per item;
  • Applications for basic equipment related to accommodation and which are coming from residents of hospitals or government nursing homes, will not be considered;​
  • Standard equipment provided by the government – whether at no cost, loaned, on a short-term basis, or permanently, – is not covered by this scheme. This also applies to ‘pink form’ (‘karta r-roża’) holders seeking to apply for assistance on hearing aids.  Lack of knowledge of this restriction, or any other Empowerment Scheme terms and conditions, whether by the professional supporting the applicant of by the applicant, cannot be regarded as grounds for consideration to accept an application;​​​​​​​
  • ​​​​​​​If the purchased equipment exceeds the one-year period from the date of submission of the application, then such application will be refused immediately. The applicant will be informed by telephone and in writing. All documents provided will be returned to the applicant along with the Refusal Letter;​
  • Should they wish, applicants can purchase the equipment, after consulting with their CPCM-registered professional therapist, prior to submitting an Empowerment Scheme application. However, the Empowerment Scheme Board reserves the right to not approve the application for funding;
  • If the Audiologist or the Allied Health professional, as applicable, fails to provide their CPCM Registration Number, the application will be immediately rejected. All submitted documents will be returned to the applicant along with a Refusal Letter. This condition is also applicable for medical doctors who fill in the Professional Report but fail to provide their Medical Council Registration Number;
  • If an applicant who benefitted from the Empowerment Scheme during the past years submits a request for financial assistance on the same type of equipment or on similar equipment prior to the applicable timeframe (as indicated in the application form under the list of documents required section), the professional is required to provide a solid justification in the Professional Report, detailing the reason for the early request. The Board reserves the right to not approve the application for funding;
  • Medical equipment, standard equipment, exercise equipment, and mainstream devices (such as mobile phones/computers/laptops/tablets) are not covered by this scheme;
  • Applications submitted to Aġenzija Sapport after the person with disability (i.e. the applicant) has passed away, will not be accepted.;
  • ​​​​​​​From time to time, the Board may issue other conditions according to the need;​
  • Aġenzija Sapport and the Empowerment Scheme Board reserve the right to verify information submitted in this application with governmental authorities, governmental entities, voluntary organisations, and the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation;
  • ​​​​​​​Also, the Board reserves the right to vary the amount of subsidy given from time to time as is required by this scheme. Furthermore, the Board maintains the prerogative not to approve the application, as may be the case.

HOW TO APPLY

Those interested in applying for this scheme may fill in the application form electronically, download the application and submit it by hand or by post at address below.

 

 

Click this link for the Processing of Personal Data document.

 

 

FILL APPLICATION FORM ONLINE
CLICK HERE FOR APPLICATION FORM and PROFESSIONAL REPORT

Opening hours

 

Monday to Friday:  08:00 – 16:00

Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays: Not Available

Address: Aġenzija Sapport, Head Office, Patri Ġwann Azzopardi Street, Santa Venera SVR 1614

For Head Office location and/or directions click this link

 

For more information on this scheme, one may send an email on schemes.sapport@gov.mt​.

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