New guidelines and a major change: It will be easier to obtain a disability certificate.

Recommendations for Provincial and District Disability Assessment Teams

The Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy reminded the public that the essence of the current disability assessment system is to assess whether a person's health impairment prevents them from fulfilling certain social roles on an equal basis with others. It is important to assess whether, according to current medical knowledge, their health condition offers potential for improvement , as well as how the person functions in their local community.

The social side has repeatedly pointed out that many people suffering from rare diseases or, for example, Down syndrome face misunderstanding in judicial bodies.

- There were situations in which it was believed that the health condition of these people could improve, despite other opinions presented by specialists in the field of clinical genetics - the ministry pointed out.

In response to these appeals, Deputy Minister of Family Łukasz Krasoń issued recommendations for the Provincial and District Disability Assessment Teams.

People suffering from nearly 150 rare diseases, if they contact these teams and document their condition, will receive a permanent disability certificate (in the case of children up to 16 years of age) taking into account points 7 and 8 of the certificate.

Point 7 means the need for permanent or long-term care or assistance from another person due to a significantly limited possibility of independent existence, and point 8 - the need for permanent daily participation of the child's guardian in the process of his/her treatment, rehabilitation and education).

In the case of children with Down syndrome and 50 other rare diseases, a similar recommendation was issued regarding certificates issued for the maximum possible period (until the age of 16) and the need to apply point 7 of the certificate.

The granting of a judgment to such persons is subject to the guarantee of:

• care benefits,
• care allowance,
• tax relief (e.g. the possibility of deducting care expenses under the rehabilitation relief),
• priority access to social and care services.
• facilities in accessing health services - e.g. rehabilitation,
• sanatorium treatment, right to a Parking Card,
• additional
• support in education (possibility of obtaining an assistant at school or an individual learning course).

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