The new legislation on Social Participation, Inclusion and Independent Living of Persons with Disabilities is being implemented, which provides for increases in all monthly disability benefits and the maintenance of existing benefits. At the same time, the number of beneficiaries is expected to increase by 5,000 people over the next three years, while the additional state funding for the period 2026-2028 amounts to a total of €106 million.
Presenting the roadmap for the implementation of the reform at a press conference, the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Klea Papaellina, described July 2, 2026, the date on which the Council of Ministers decided to start implementing the law, as "a historic milestone for the Republic of Cyprus and especially for people with disabilities and their families".
As he mentioned, this is an important social reform, because it essentially modernizes the way the State approaches disability, adding that the new legislation is a new social agreement that puts even more at the center of the human being, their dignity, their quality of life, the safeguarding of their rights.
The Deputy Minister said that during the first phase of implementation, all existing benefits are ensured, all monthly disability benefits of the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare are increased and the number of beneficiaries is gradually expanded by 5,000 persons by 2028. For the three-year period 2026-2028, additional funding of approximately €106 million has been approved, of which €26 million. in 2026, €35 million. in 2027 and €45 million. in 2028, while the expansion of beneficiaries will continue after three years, with the aim of benefiting a total of 12,000 new beneficiaries, in addition to the approximately 15,000 current benefit recipients.
At the same time, according to a presentation made at the press conference, the new law establishes a new framework for independent living, providing direct access to 11 social benefits and access, through licensed providers, to eight independent living services, with the aim of strengthening the autonomy, participation and equal integration of people with disabilities in society.
These services cover, inter alia, decision-making, education and skills development, job integration, personal assistance in the workplace, social accompaniment, sign language interpreting and other forms of accessible communication, supported living and early family support.
As part of the gradual implementation of the law, from September 2026 the Day Center participation allowance will increase by 100%, from €150 to €300 per month, while its payment will be made directly to the Day Centers. At the same time, the benefit is disconnected from income and property criteria, while existing beneficiaries will not have to submit a new application.
From October 2026, the new allowance for supporting consumables will also be implemented, which is also disconnected from income and property criteria for people under 65 years of age who apply, while current beneficiaries will be automatically transferred to the new regime.
Particular emphasis was also placed on the simplification of procedures. According to the presentation of the Deputy Ministry, the current beneficiaries do not need to take any action, as the increases and any retroactive payments will be paid automatically through the information systems. Pending applications will be examined based on the provisions of the new law, while new forms will be used for new applications and their submission schedules will be gradually announced.
Ms. Papaellina underlined that "the implementation of such important legislation is not completed with its adoption or publication". On the contrary, he said, it is now starting, noting that it requires changes in the information systems, procedures and operational mechanisms of the Deputy Ministry, as well as continuous information of the citizens.
As he said, the briefing will be provided in fully accessible formats, including Braille, simple illustrated form and audiovisual material with subtitles and interpretation in sign language.
At the same time, the Deputy Ministry announced that for general information citizens can be served through the telephone line 1450, while for specialized issues the telephone lines of the Department of Social Integration of People with Disabilities operate.
The Deputy Minister also stated that the success of the reform "will be judged, not by our successful new operational mechanisms, but by the quality of the lives of citizens with disabilities that it will improve", assuring that the Deputy Ministry will systematically monitor the implementation of the law and will proceed with corrective interventions where necessary. The Department of Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities will also publish an annual activity report with detailed statistics on the implementation of the legislation.
Ms. Papaellina stressed that the aim of the reform is for people with disabilities to participate equally in society, with equal opportunities, more autonomy and without exclusions, in the context of a system fully harmonized with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the European and National Disability Strategy, as well as with the Governance Programme.
In this direction, the Deputy Minister sent the message that the reform is yet another practical implementation of the commitment of the Christodoulidis Government to modernize the welfare state and build an inclusive society.
CNA
