The service is primarily intended to help in cases where a child has multiple health-related limitations affecting their daily functioning, which cannot be alleviated by other measures (e.g. stand-alone services, rehabilitation, technical aids, etc.). This means the rehabilitation service is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary service: rather than addressing a single problem, it involves support from several specialists and cooperation between the professionals and services concerned.
 

Social rehabilitation may be necessary in various situations – both for children who need support because of problems related to their physical health, and for those who need help because of mental health or social problems. The rehabilitation service may also help if you are worried about your child's challenging behaviour and feel you no longer know how to support your child on your own and need the support of specialists.
 

If you are unsure whether the social rehabilitation service would be a suitable form of support for your child, please feel free to contact the Social Insurance Board for more information.

The rehabilitation service is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary package of services, in which the exact content and services provided depend on your child's situation and need for support.

The rehabilitation team teaches and advises you, and if necessary your close family and support network, so that you can improve your ability to cope. The rehabilitation team includes at least three and up to ten specialists: a social worker, special education teacher, speech therapist, psychologist, creative therapist, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, peer counsellor, nurse and doctor.

The social rehabilitation service covers a range of services which may include:

• counselling, eg psychological counselling, peer consulting, nursing counselling, social counselling, medical counselling;
• therapy, eg physiotherapy, occupational therapy, creative therapy;
• support services, eg speech therapy, special educational needs.

Depending on your child’s condition, specialists will identify the need for different services and technical aids, make recommendations, and draw up a rehabilitation plan.

Access to the service can be divided into two stages:

1) To receive the service, you must submit an application. You can download the application form from the Social Insurance Board’s website. The Social Insurance Board evaluates the application to determine if your child qualifies for the service, meaning they have a determined disability. You can read more about disability determination in step ‘Preconditions for state benefits’.

There are several ways to apply:

• submit an application in the self-service portalvia ‘Communication and notifications’
• send the completed and digitally signed application to the Social Insurance Board by email to [email protected]
• send the application by mail to Paldiski mnt 80, 15092 Tallinn, Estonia
• take the application to the customer service office of the Social Insurance Board

The decision to refer you to the service, or to refuse the referral, is made within 10 working days. The service is provided by the Social Insurance Board's partners, i.e. various institutions across Estonia. After receiving the decision, contact a suitable institution within 60 calendar days and agree on a start date for the service.

2) after receiving a referral decision, the service provider assesses whether the disabled child needs the rehabilitation service or not. At least three specialists from the rehabilitation team meet with both the child and the family to assess the child’s coping abilities in different areas as well as evaluating the parents’ parenting skills.

If the assessment demonstrates that the child does not require the Social Rehabilitation Service in addition to the existing support (such as from an educational institution or local government), or if the service would not enhance the child’s coping abilities, the rehabilitation plan will provide justification for this decision. Consequently, the Social Rehabilitation Service will not be included in the plan.
 

The service is provided by partners of the Social Insurance Board, i.e various undertakings across Estonia. If your child is referred to the service, you need to select the appropriate service provider, contact them within 60 days of receiving the referral decision, and arrange a time for the service.

The child and family will be provided with services in line with the rehabilitation plan. The service provider’s team, together with the family and support network, assesses the child’s need for rehabilitation services and draws up a rehabilitation plan. Together with the child and their family, a rehabilitation goal is set and formulated in a way that allows for measurable results.

The service is provided only for the necessary time to achieve its stated purpose. At the end of each rehabilitation period, the rehabilitation service provider assesses the effectiveness of the service and the need for continuation. If the need for the rehabilitation service continues, a new application must be submitted to the Social Insurance Board, and after receiving the referral decision, contact the service provider again, who will draw up a new rehabilitation plan.

If a child needs the service but there is no suitable institution in their home area, the Social Insurance Board will reimburse travel and accommodation costs related to receiving the service.

Travel expenses will be reimbursed if the service provider is located outside your place of residence (city or rural municipality). Travel expenses will be reimbursed at a rate of 0.10 euros per kilometre travelled, up to a maximum of 41.55 euros per year. To get reimbursement, you must submit an application to the Social Insurance Board.

The limit for the reimbursement of accommodation costs per calendar year is 120.45 euros (up to 24.09 euros per day) for the beneficiary and 91.54 euros for the accompanying person.

Please note!

• If you would like the rehabilitation service to include accommodation, you must choose an institution from the list that also offers accommodation.
• The Social Insurance Board reimburses the accommodation directly to the social rehabilitation service provider.
• One meal per day, usually breakfast, is included in the price. Therefore, you will have to pay for lunch and dinner.

Social Insurance Board - Social rehabilitation of children