Social benefits for disabled persons are granted and paid to permanent residents of Estonia or persons residing in Estonia on the basis of a temporary residence permit or right of residence with moderate, severe or profound disabilities that cause additional expense.
Social benefits are calculated on the basis of the rate of social benefits for disabled persons. The amounts of social benefits for disabled children are available on the website of the Social Insurance Board.
Disabled child allowance
Disabled child allowance is paid monthly to a disabled child up to 16 years of age for the additional expenses caused by the disability and for the activities prescribed in a rehabilitation plan in an amount equal to:
- 540% of the social benefit rate for a child with a moderate disability;
- 630% of the social benefit rate for a child with a severe disability;
- 945% of the social benefit rate for a child with a profound disability.
Benefit for a child with a rare disease
A child diagnosed with a rare disease who has not been diagnosed with a degree of disability is paid a benefit for the prevention of the disability and compensation for the resulting additional costs if the development of the disability would be unavoidable without prevention. Rare diseases for which we pay benefit are: phenylketonuria, galactosemia, maple syrup urine disease, pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy, homocystinuria, lysinuric protein intolerance, glucose transporter deficiency, fructosemia, glutar aciduria (type 1 and 2), cystic fibrosis. The benefit is paid at the rate of social benefits for a child with a severe disability.
Education allowance
Education allowance is paid monthly to a non-working disabled student who attends upper secondary school in classes 10 to 12 or who attends a vocational school or an institution of higher education, and who has additional expenses in relation to their studies as a result of the disability. Educational allowance is not paid in July and August.
Education allowance is paid according to the actual additional expenses of the person in an amount of 25–100% of the social benefit rate.
When applying for the benefit, the following additional documents must be submitted:
- a statement of attendance from an educational institution or a student card, in case the necessary data is not available in the Estonian Education Information System;
- a document declaring the existence of additional expenses relating to education or the need for making such expenses as a result of a disability.
Benefits are paid on the 5th day of each month. When the 5th falls on a weekend, transfer will be made on Monday or Tuesday of the following week.
Submitting an application
The application for social benefits for disabled persons may be submitted together with the application for determination of degree of severity of disability. If you have not submitted an application for the social benefit for disabled people, together with the application for determining the severity of a disability, please submit a separate application to receive the benefit.
The application may you submit:
- through the self-service
- by e-mail, if digitally signed, to [email protected]
- by regular mail to a regional customer service office, or
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at the customer service office of the Social Insurance Board (the application may be filled in on site as well)
In the case of some benefits, additional documents must also be included. For more information, contact the customer service office of the Social Insurance Board.
The local government may grant or pay additional benefits to you. For more information, contact the department of social affairs of the rural municipality or city government of your residence.
If you have any questions, call the information line of the National Social Insurance Board at (+372) 612 1360, write to the e-mail address [email protected], or contact us through the self-service.
Related articles
- Social benefits for disabled persons
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