Getter Tiirik: The Estonian Chamber of Disabled People Auli Lõoke: The Estonian Union of Persons With Mobility

ImpairmentVilnius, 29.10.2010

An umbrella organization for 49 members

The national co-operation and co-ordination body for the work implemented by and for disabled people in Estonia.

In the national level: Social welfare is administered by the Minister of Social Affairs, the county governors and the local governments. Main responsibility- The Ministry of Social Affairs of Estonia.

Social Benefits for Disabled Persons Act: Disability is the loss of or an abnormality in an anatomical, physiological or mental structure or function of a person which in conjunction with different relational and environmental restrictions prevents participation in social life on equal bases with the others.

Total amount: 2009 over 118,000 persons, or 8.8% of the total population and 2010 already 119,381 persons, or 8,9%.

Male 39,8%/ female 60,2% The majority are elderly people:

59%- 63 or older. By age: 0-15 – 6%; 16-62 years old- 35%.

In 2009: Mental disorder, intellectual disability - 21,837 or 1.6% (of population)

Speech impairment 403 or 0.03%Hearing impairment 2,061 or 0.2% Visual impairment 3,828 or 0.3 %Physical disability 46,484 or 3.5%Other disability 31,735 or 2.4% Multiple disability 12,018 or 0.9% http://www.sm.ee/meie/statistika.

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51,970 people with disabilities in working age

The employment rate is appr. 17 % Reasons for inactivity in 2008 (age from 16

years to retirement age) -illness, injury, disability 22%

People with disabilities are granted various services and benefits to help them find and maintain work. On the basis of the Social Benefits for Disabled Persons Act, seven different types of benefits are paid, where of working-age adults enjoy the following: disabled adult allowance to cover the extra expense related to disability; employment allowance (since 2008) to cover the extra expense accompanying working; in-service training allowance for work-related further training or formal education;rehabilitation allowance to disabled persons aged 16-65 for receiving a rehabilitation service aimed at employability.

Include:1) Rehabilitation service. 2) Provision of assistive technology3) Services to people with special mental needs, incl. the services of supported employment and supported living.4) Childcare service.

Career-counselling, labour market training, work practice, coaching for work, wage subsidy, working with a support person, business start-up subsidy, technical aids and adjustment of workplace and equipment's

In the case of incapacity for work the state shall pay monthly financial social insurance benefit – state pension

The state pays social benefits to disabled persons if they have additional expenses because of their disability, e.g. they are in need of assistance, care or medical rehabilitation, or the additional expenses are related to transport, employment or studies.

There are several classes of social benefits for disabled persons and they are calculated on the basis of the rate of social benefits. The rate of social benefits in 2010 is 400 Estonian kroons.

Paid monthly to a person with moderate, severe or profound disability in pensionable age for the compensation of additional costs caused by the disability and for the activities in the rehabilitation plan, if it exists:

- 50% of the social benefit rate for the person with moderate disability (200 Estonian kroons in 2010);- 105% of the social benefit rate for the person with severe disability (420 Estonian kroons in 2010);- 160% of the social benefit rate for the person with profound disability (640 Estonian kroons in 2010).

Paid monthly from 16 years of age to pensionable age for the compensation of additional costs caused by the disability not less than 65% of the social benefit rate for the person with moderate disability (260 Estonian kroons in 2010) and not more than 210% of the social benefit rate for the person with profound disability (840 Estonian kroons in 2010).

Disabled child allowance Disabled parent’s allowance Education allowance Employment allowance Rehabilitation allowance In-service training allowance

Social welfare for disabled persons is organized by local governments. This concern, in particular, home care services, personal assistant service, support person service, housing service, day center services, care for disabled persons in home, and 24-hour care in welfare institutions.

State budget expenditure on social insurance- 23 billion EEK (2008), with the state pension insurance accounting for 78% of this amount. % of child and family benefits (incl. the parental benefit) was 15% while the portion of social support for disabled persons was 3%.

The expenditure on pensions increased at a faster rate in the same period – by times of 2.72. The increase in pension expenditure was mainly influenced by the pensions increase in 2008, which resulted in a growth of the nominal average monthly pension by slightly more than 700 EEK and in an upsurge of 3.4 billion EEK in the total volume of pension expenditure in comparison to 2007.