Social protection measures are divided into welfare and social security. Welfare is provided by both the state and local governments, either in the form of social services or financial support.
The local government is the primary organiser of local social welfare, ensuring the provision of social services and emergency social assistance that people need. Organising at the primary level means identifying and assessing the need for help and organising the social service that meets that need.
In order to receive social services, the person must apply to the local government of their place of residence, which will decide whether and what kind of assistance the person needs for coping. The decision to grant or refuse assistance must be clearly worded and reasoned in a way that the person can understand.
You have the right to social services if you are:
- a permanent resident in Estonia
- an alien residing in Estonia on a legal basis
- a refugee staying in Estonia.
Social services organised by the local government
The provision of social services, social benefits, and other assistance is organised by the local government (city or rural municipality) of the person’s place of residence entered in the population register. Emergency social assistance, which provides the person with at least food, clothing, temporary accommodation, and other basic necessities, is provided by the local government in whose administrative territory the person is when the assistance is needed.
If a person needs help with coping, they should contact a social worker in the rural municipality or city government of their place of residence, who will find out what kind of help the person needs in solving the difficulty. The local government then decides whether or not to provide assistance. Identifying the need for assistance is based on a holistic approach to the individual’s and/or family’s need for assistance, i.e. assessing the type and level of assistance a person needs to ensure their daily normal coping.
The Social Welfare Act establishes a list of social services that local governments are obliged to provide and minimum requirements for the duty to assist.
Each local government has a procedure for providing assistance, which includes at least the process of applying for and deciding on social services and benefits organised or provided by the local government.
Local authorities must provide at least the following social services:
- Domestic service – help for adults with household chores and other errands.
- General care service provided outside home – assistance and care for an adult in a social welfare institution.
- Support person service – motivating, guiding and developing greater independence of an adult person and/or child.
- Curatorship of adults – assistance for an adult with a disability in exercising their rights and in the performance of his or her obligations
- Personal assistant service – assistance with daily activities for an adult person with a disability
- Shelter service – provision of a place of temporary overnight stay for an adult
- Safe house service – the provision of temporary housing, a safe environment, and crisis support for a child or adult person
- Social transport service – provision of a suitable means of transport for a disabled person
- Provision of dwelling – provision of a dwelling to a person who is unable to provide a dwelling which corresponds to the needs of the person and his or her family
- Debt counselling service – counselling for people with debt and livelihood problems on debt resolution and prevention.
- Childcare service – provision of childcare for a child aged 1.5 to 3 years and a child up to 18 years with a severe or profound disability to support the ability of a person raising a child to cope or work
- Alternative care service – short- or long-term care and upbringing of a child outside the child’s biological family in a foster family, family house, or substitute home.
- Continued care service – supporting the ability of a person leaving alternative care and guardianship to cope independently and continue studies by providing housing and needs-based services and support.
For a longer overview of these services, see the website of the Ministry of Social Affairs.
In addition to these compulsory services, the local government may also provide other social services. Thus, the services provided by local governments may differ.
The local government has the right to charge for the provision of social services, the conditions and amount of which are decided by the local government. The amount of the fee depends on the volume of the social service, the cost of the service, and the financial situation of the person receiving the service, but the amount of the fee must not be an obstacle to receiving the service. If a person does not have enough money, they must generally be assisted by the family members required to provide maintenance (parents, children). However, if the family members are unable to provide assistance to a loved one in paying for the social service, the local government must provide the service to the individual and assume some of the cost of the service. The person must not be left without help.
If a person does not get the help they need or the quality of the help offered is not sufficient, they have 30 days to file a complaint with the local government. The quality of social services and other assistance provided by local governments is monitored by the Social Insurance Board. It is also possible for a person to file a complaint with an administrative court.
From the beginning of 2023, the personal data of people with disabilities living in the region will be sent to local governments via the Social Services and Benefits Registry (STAR). This information will be used to contact parents who have applied for a disability assistance for a child and adults with profound disabilities to proactively investigate if a person or a family may need support and what they may need, as well as to provide an overview of the services provided by the local government in cooperation with a network of partners, if necessary. Local governments have the possibility to obtain data on adults with moderate and severe disabilities.
Social services organised by the state
Social services organised by the state can be considered as secondary social services. The Social Insurance Board is a government agency under the Ministry of Social Affairs, which is tasked with securing the self-sufficiency and well-being of the Estonian people.
- Social rehabilitation service – for all people with disabilities and people with partial or no work ability who need help in their daily lives to cope with limitations resulting from their disability or special needs.
- Partial compensation for purchasing or renting prostheses, orthopaedic and other technical aids.
- Special care services are for adults who have a severe, profound or persistent mental disorder and who require more support, guidance, or supervision and who need the support of a special care facilitator to cope.
- Mediation service – organising penal mediation provided for in the Code of Criminal Procedure and verifying compliance with the terms of the resulting written agreement.
- Victim support service – maintaining or improving the livelihoods of people who have been a victim of crime, neglect or abuse, or of physical, mental, or sexual violence.
- Centre for housing service for applicants for international protection – people who stay in the accommodation centre for applicants for international protection have applied for international protection (processed by the PPA), and the migrants do not pose a threat to the Estonian public because they need help and support for various reasons.
For more information, call the Social Insurance Board on 612 1360 or visit its website and see sections ‘Disability and welfare services’ and ‘Child and adult in need of help’.
One of the tasks of the Social Insurance Board is to support the continuity of social services in local governments and to help ensure the safety of elderly people and people in need of assistance in social welfare institution. Social services designated for permanent crisis tasks must continue in all circumstances – the specific service requirements are regulated by specific laws.
You can read more about social services on the website of the Ministry of Social Affairs.
Related articles
Services
- Applications I have submitted to the Social Insurance Board
- Applying for rehabilitation service
- Applying for special care service
- Changing my bank account with the Social Insurance Board
Laws
- Social Welfare Act
- General Part of the Social Code Act
- Victim Support Act
- Local Government Organisation Act