Learn more:
⊲ Social benefits and services
⊲ Services provided by the state
▼ Services provided by the local government
Local governments provide social services and emergency social assistance to the residents. Every local government establishes the procedure for the provision of assistance with a regulation that contains the description and financing of the services and the conditions and procedure for their application. The list of services and the conditions for receiving them vary in different local governments. The law determines which services the local government must provide; however, in addition to those, the local government can decide which opportunities it offers to residents. The list of these services differs considerably between local governments; information about the specific services provided by a certain local government can be obtained from the rural municipality or city website or the social department.
It is important to know that when you are contacting the local government for assistance, you do not have to apply for a specific service, but for assistance that meets your needs.
The local government then has two tasks: to assess the need for assistance and to determine the assistance that meets these needs. The need for assistance must be assessed in co-operation with the person, thoroughly and objectively (considering more than just the application), i.e. determining if, in what activities and to what extent the person needs help. If needed, a home visit might be arranged during the assessment of need for assistance. It is necessary to take into account the person’s ability to cope, physical and social environment, social network, as well as the person’s will, wishes, motivation, etc. When providing assistance, a service that allows the person to organise their life themselves as much as possible should be preferred.
Pursuant to the Social Welfare Act, a local government must provide the following social services to its residents:
If you need a sign language interpreting service due to hearing disability, you can apply for it at your local government.
In addition, if you have a mobility or visual disability or a temporary loss of mobility, it is possible to apply for a parking card for the vehicle of a disabled person in the local government. This card gives you the opportunity to park the vehicle in public paid parking places without charge, to stand and park in a built-up area where road signs prohibiting standing or parking apply, to park in a car park with limited parking time for longer than prescribed, and to park on a road in a calm traffic area outside a car park.
At your local government, you can also apply for adapting your dwelling if you need it due to your disability or special need. You can find more information on the website of the Estonian National Social Insurance Board and for more detailed conditions, contact your city or rural municipality government.
According to the Social Welfare Act, quality principles apply for the provision of social services. Guidelines for the implementation of these principles have been published on the website of the Estonian National Social Insurance Board. Guidelines are created on an ongoing basis and published on the website of the Estonian National Social Insurance Board once completed.
Loe varasemaid uudiskirju!
EPIKojaEesti Puuetega Inimeste Koja esimene uudiskiri ilmus juunis 2017.
Oma uudiskirjadesse koondame puuetega ja erivajadusega inimesi puudutava olulise info, samuti leiab palju põnevat nii EPIKoja, meie liikmete kui ka koostööpartnerite tegemistest, olulistest sündmustest ja huvitavatest persoonidest. Lisaks hoiame lugejaid kursis ning vahendame sotsiaal-, haridus- ja tervishoiusüsteemi olulisi muudatusi.
Uudiskiri ilmub kord kuus.