Armenia expands list of persons with disabilities entitled to government-paid personal assistant
YEREVAN, January 4. /ARKA/. According to a decision adopted today by the Armenian government, starting from January 1, 2024 persons with disabilities can be provided with personal assistant.
"The purpose of this innovation is to help people with disabilities lead independent lives and get involved in the community. Personal assistant services include both care for beneficiaries and assistance in overcoming obstacles, including those related to mobility limitations," said Labor and Social Affairs Minister Narek Mkrtchyan.
He noted that previously such services were provided only to people who had severe mobility, vision, mental or cognitive disabilities and whose families were registered with the well-being assessment system with more than 10 points on the disadvantage scale.
The new changes widen the target audience and assistant services will also be provided to people who have the above mentioned moderate disabilities and regardless of whether they are registered with the system or not.
The decision also stipulates that for people with severe disabilities the personal assistant service can be provided for 140 hours per month, for people with severe disabilities - 120 hours, for people with moderate disabilities - 100 hours. The hourly fee for this service will be 1,050 drams, including taxes.
Mkrtchyan added that there are restrictions on the involvement of relatives who live together with the beneficiaries. This point caused discontent of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who noted that it is not necessary to introduce such restrictions, because the beneficiary should have a choice.
The Minister pointed out that this was the demand of the expert community, as it is necessary to undergo special retraining in order to provide quality services. Pashinyan replied that the relatives can be given a choice: to undergo retraining or the government will appoint its assistant.
Mkrtchyan assured that the relevant amendments will be made to the decision before its signing. --0--
