The Law and Justice government works comprehensively to support persons with disabilities and their carers – said Minister Marlena Maląg, summing up the government’s activities.

Solidarity Fund

With the establishment of the Solidarity Fund, persons with disabilities and their carers may make use of ministerial programmes in the field of assistance and respite care as well as of a stay in care and residential centres. In 2023, the amount of PLN 1 billion will be allocated for these programmes. In addition, the Solidarity Fund finances a supplementary benefit for persons unable to live independently, as well as a social pension.

Financial benefits

In 2015, the care benefit for carers of persons with disabilities amounted to PLN 1,200. Today, it is 2,458 PLN. This is the increase by more than twice.

In turn, the social pension has been put on an equal footing with the minimum pension, it is indexed and amounts to PLN 1,588.44. At the end of the Civic Platform and Polish People’s Party rule, it did not reach even half of this amount – it was only PLN 739.58. Persons receiving the social pension have also the right to the thirteenth and fourteenth benefits. They may also make use of a completely new benefit of up to PLN 500 per month, which has been introduced by our government. Currently, 767.5 thousand persons have the right to benefits for persons holding a certificate of total incapacity for work and independent existence. We paid PLN 7.5 billion for this purpose.

We are working on new, comprehensive solutions, since the dignity of persons with disabilities of particular importance to us – said Minister Maląg.

No pension trap

The Secretary of State Stanisław Szwed reminded that the so-called pension trap had also been eliminated. This was a response to the appeal of persons with disabilities. The pension trap consisted in the fact that according to the previous regulations, if a person received income of up to 70% of the average monthly salary, they were deprived of social pension.

Deputy Minister Szwed stressed that the social pension applied to persons being completely unable to work, and this inability appeared before the age of 18, and if such a person is a student – before the age of 25.

In 2015, PLN 2.4 billion was spent on social pensions. Today, we spend PLN 5.4 billion, which is three billion more than in 2015 – informed the Deputy Minister.

In cooperation with the environment of persons with disabilities

So far, there has not been a government that would involve organisations bringing together persons with disabilities in the work on preparing new solutions to such an extensive degree. Dialogue is our strongest point – declared Paweł Wdówik, Government Plenipotentiary for Disabled People.

He added that the Consultative Council functioning at the Plenipotentiary’s Office had the largest number of persons with disabilities so far.