Services provided by the state
› Technical aids for disabled persons
A technical aid is a product or device which allows the operational capacity of persons with special needs and disabled persons to be maintained, and to prevent and compensate for the aggravation of the disability. Technical aids are, for example, mattresses for preventing pressure ulcers, nappies, shower commode chairs, wheelchairs, and hearing and visual aids.
The Estonian National Social Insurance Board compensates for the technical aids to a certain extent. In order to purchase technical aids with a discount, you need a (link: https://www.sotsiaalkindlustusamet.ee/et/puue-ja-hoolekanne/abivahendi-vajajale#Isikliku%20abivahendi%20kaart text: personal technical aid card, that you can apply for by submitting an electronic application.
A technical aid certificate that specifies the kind of aid you need is also required. The family physician, medical specialist, occupational therapist or physiotherapist will issue the technical aid certificate. If the need for the technical aid has been described in the rehabilitation plan, then a medical certificate is not required.
The list of technical aids is approved by the regulation of the minister. At the end of the regulation you will find a separate appendix that lists all the technical aids and all products with information about how significant the personal contribution of a person is and who can prescribe the technical aid.
Technical aids can only be purchased at a discount from a seller who has concluded a contract with the Estonian National Social Insurance Board for the sale of that specific product.
› Social rehabilitation
A disabled person can apply for asocial rehabilitation service to live as independently as possible, to study, to commence employment in accordance with his or her abilities, and to participate in social life in any other desired way. It is not medical rehabilitation where medical treatment is provided. The services have been designed to teach and develop skills that a person with special needs requires on a daily basis. A prerequisite for social rehabilitation is the person’s active participation – for example, different physical exercises, getting dressed with the help of a technical aid, etc. are taught. Services do not include passive procedures such as massage or therapeutic bath.
› Special care service
Special care service is meant for a person with a severe, profound or permanent mental disorder who needs guidance or personal assistance and supervision due to his or her mental state. It is possible to receive the special care service from the age of 18. Since some services have waiting lists, it is possible to enter a person in the waiting list at the age of 16 to receive the necessary service as soon as possible when they become an adult.
There are different special care services including, for example, the everyday life support service, the employment support service, the community living service, and the 24-hour special care service.
For referral to receive a service, an application must be submitted to the Estonian National Social Insurance Board, after which the case manager determines if the person needs special care services and if so, which service.
The person is required to pay for the special care services to a certain extent. For example, when receiving the everyday life support service, the person is required to pay for catering, and when receiving the 24-hour special care service, the person is required to pay for catering and accommodation. The person is also required to pay for the maintenance products. The maximum remuneration rates are established every year in the State Budget Act.
› Other services
