💸 LOW-INCOME FAMILIES MINIMUM BUDGET SET AT €19.153
✅ A study conducted by Caritas Malta stated that the minimum essential budget for a decent living for a low-income family of four is €19.153 per year.
→ The study aims to provide a 'comprehensive, realistic, and humane... perspective for what constitutes a decent standard of living for low-income households in Malta'.
→ The budget basket consists of items such as food, clothing, education, and more.
→ The items included in the budget basket were selected with sustainability principles in mind, with an emphasis on what people ought to consume rather than what they now consume.
✅ Three types of low-income households were researched to conclude their budget calculation.
→ A family of two adults and two children was found to require a minimum budget of €19.153.
→ A single parent with two children was found to need a minimum budget of €17.012.
→ An elderly couple aged 65 and older was found to require a minimum budget of €14.731.
→ The study assumes good health, use of national healthcare, and eligibility for social services.
→ An augmented budget that considers additional costs (dining out, car ownership, commercial rent) is significantly higher.
✅ Only five out of the eleven average cases met this budget calculation.
→ Two out of three families consisting of two adults and two children did not meet the budget, while one exceeded it.
→ Two single parents fell short of the budget by at least €1.000.
✅ Caritas Malta suggested several recommendations, including raising the poverty benchmark, promoting digital inclusion, and improving access to healthy food.
→ The ministry has mentioned that several measures have already been taken, but additional recommendations by Caritas Malta will be considered.
Read the Article! 👇
https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2024-08-28/local-news/19-153-declared-as-minimum-essential-budget-for-low-income-families-of-four-Caritas-study-6736263775