This chapter contains what you need to know about the additional disability benefits in Cyprus, which are provided by the Department for Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities.
The following are covered here:
- severe motor disability allowance;
- care allowance for individuals with paraplegia or quadriplegia;
- allowance for blind persons;
- mobility allowance;
- scheme for the provision of financial assistance for the acquisition of a disability car;
- scheme for the provision of financial assistance for the purchase of a wheelchair;
- scheme for the provision of financial assistance to persons with disabilities for the acquisition of technical means, instruments and other aids;
- scheme for the provision of grants to organisations of persons with disabilities;
- scheme for the provision of grants for social assistants for adults with very serious disabilities;
- scheme for the provision of the European disability card in Cyprus.
In what situation can I claim?
Cypriots and EU nationals with disabilities residing in Cyprus (areas controlled by the Cyprus Government) for at least 12 months before the application as well as recognised Refugees or Refugees with Supplementary Protection Status with disabilities can apply for Department’s social benefits. Income-based criteria do not apply for the provision of these benefits.
What conditions do I need to meet?
Severe motor disability allowance
Beneficiaries: people aged 12-65 who are unable to walk and have a continuous and permanent need to use a wheelchair.
Care allowance for individuals with paraplegia or quadriplegia
Beneficiaries:
Individuals with paraplegia: individuals with minimal movement or no movement in lower or upper limbs.
Individuals with tetraplegia: individuals with minimal movement or no movement at all in all four limbs.
Special care needs: need for increased and special care due to severe medical problems
Allowance for blind persons
Beneficiaries:
Persons whose visual acuity in both eyes is such that even that of the better of the two eyes does not exceed 6/60;
Persons who attended the School for the Blind up to 1990.
Mobility allowance
Beneficiaries:
- students or working persons whose visual acuity does not exceed 6/36 for each eye;
- students or working persons with severe mobility problems in the lower limbs;
- haemodialysis renal patients treated permanently and regularly in a public hospital;
- individuals with thalassemia who are included in regular blood transfusion programs at public hospitals;
- persons under 65 with quadriplegia;
- blind persons
- blind people (visual acuity does not exceed 6/60 for each eye)
Scheme for the provision of financial assistance for the acquisition of a disability car
Beneficiaries: people aged 18-70 with severe disability in the upper and/or lower limbs or severe visual impairment.
Scheme for the provision of financial assistance for the purchase of wheelchairs
Beneficiaries: persons with long-term motor disability who have full and effective difficulties participating in society on an equal basis with others.
Financial assistance scheme for the provision of technical means, instruments and other aids to people with a disability
Beneficiaries: people with severe motor, sensory or other disabilities
Scheme for the provision of the European Disability Card In Cyprus
Beneficiaries: person who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others and whose disability is certified by the Disability Assessment Centres of the Department for Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities as moderate or severe or total disability.
When the person with disability needs to be accompanied by another person, as certified by the Disability Assessment Centres of the Department for Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities, the same benefits will also be enjoyed by the assistant of the person with disability and the European Disability Card will be marked with an "A" (Assistant).
What am I entitled to and how can I claim?
Severe motor disability allowance
Benefit: € 400.13 per month
Care allowance for individuals with paraplegia or quadriplegia Benefit:
- Individuals with paraplegia with/ without special care needs: €500/€400 per month
- Individuals with tetraplegia with/without special care needs: €1,100/€900 per month
Allowance for blind persons
Benefit: €374.89 per month.
Mobility allowance
Benefits:
- €75 per month to:
- individuals with severe mobility problems in the lower limbs who work or study;
- blind people (as described above)
- haemodialysis renal patients treated permanently and regularly in public hospitals and individuals with thalassemia who are included in regular blood transfusion programs at public hospitals who reside in municipalities.
- €150 per month to:
- individuals with visual acuity which does not 6/36 for each eye, who work or study;
- individuals under 65 with quadriplegia;
- haemodialysis renal patients treated permanently and regularly in public hospitals and
- individuals with thalassemia who are included in regular blood transfusion programs at public hospitals who reside in communities.
Scheme for the provision of financial assistance for the acquisition of a disability car
Benefit: €3,500 or €4,500 or €9,000 depending on the grade of disability.
Scheme for the provision of financial assistance for the purchase of wheelchairs
Benefit: from €700 up to €13,500 depending on the type of wheelchair.
Financial assistance scheme for the provision of technical means, instruments and other aids to people with a disability
Benefit: financial assistance for the purchase of technical means, instruments and other aids up to 80% of the cost for the purchase of technical means with a maximum amount based on the published catalog of technical
Scheme for the provision of the European Disability Card In Cyprus
Benefits: The European Disability Card has a specific format determined by the European Commission and the Member States participating in the relevant European Program (Cyprus, Belgium, Estonia, Finland, Italy, Malta, Slovenia and Romania). The benefits for the holders of the European Disability Card in Cyprus are set out in the “LIST OF BENEFITS OF THE EUROPEAN DISABILITY CARD' which constitutes a part of the Scheme. The List can be differentiated and enriched in the future, as it will be published on the special website of the Department for Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities. Through this Website, anyone interested can find out how to use the Card and enjoy its benefits in Cyprus. Furthermore on the Website there will be information about the benefits provided to cardholders in each of the other Member States participating in the Program.
Forms you may need to fill in
- Severe motor disability allowance
- Care allowance for individuals with paraplegia or quadriplegia
- Allowance for blind persons
- Mobility allowance
- Allowance for the provision of a disability car
- Scheme for the provision of financial assistance for the purchase of a wheelchair
- Financial assistance scheme for the provision of technical means, instruments and other aids
- Scheme for the provision of grants to organisations of persons with disabilities
- Scheme for the provision of grants for social assistants for adults with severe disabilities
- Scheme For The Provision Of The European Disability Card In Cyprus
Know your rights
The links below define your rights legally. They are not European Commission websites and they do not represent the Commission's views:
- UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities;
- A law to provide for persons with disabilities;
- The recruitment of persons with disabilities in the wider public sector Law.
European Commission publication and website:
Who do you need to contact?
Department for Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities
- Arch. Makariou III 67
- 2220 Latsia, Nicosia
- CYPRUS
- http://www.mlsi.gov.cy/dsid