![](\"http:\/\/ch.jfdi.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/benefits-system-for-disabled-to-be-overhauled.jpg\")
The government on Tuesday pledged to overhaul the benefits system for disabled people, by de-linking it from the Guaranteed Minimum Income (GMI) which currently also covers such persons.<\/p>\nThe government on Tuesday pledged to overhaul the benefits system for disabled people, by de-linking it from the Guaranteed Minimum Income (GMI) which currently also covers such persons.<\/p>\n
In parliament, Deputy Welfare Minister Marilena Evangelou spoke of \u201ca strong political will to decouple benefits [for the disabled] from GMI\u201d.She said she and her team have already discussed this with the Confederation Organisation of the Disabled, and that more meetings would follow. Other organisations would join the consultation process, with a view to drafting legislation specific to benefits for the disabled.The deputy minister asserted that the matter has her personal attention. The envisioned legislation would cover aspects such as social inclusion, rehabilitation, benefits and services.Organisations representing people with disabilities say that incorporating them into the GMI system \u2013 introduced back in 2014 \u2013 has in fact caused them to lose about 40 per cent of the benefits they used to be entitled to.Head of the Confederation Christakis Nicolaides spoke of their frustration of having raised the matter several times in the past, to no avail. But, he added, the current minister has convinced them she has the desire and commitment to change things.Nicolaides told MPs they want state funds allocated to helping the disabled to increase by \u20ac60 million. And without new legislation, Cyprus would \u201cget left behind and rank bottom of the EU\u201d.Head of Organisation for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled Stelios Theofilou opined that the government would take too long in bringing legislation \u2013 so parliament should step in with its own bill instead.However, the deputy minister interjected, saying it would be better for the government to draft the bill as it has the data at hand.Also attending the discussion in parliament were people familiar with psychic disorders. They pointed out, for example, that the benefits policy should also cover people with Adhd (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).Such psychic disorders should not be ignored simply because they\u2019re not readily visible, they added.Akel MP Andreas Kafkalias, chair of the House labour committee, said more needs to be done so that \u201cwe can pass from words to actions\u201d.The committee will review the matter every two months to see whether progress has been made.Follow the
\nCyprus Mail on Google News<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The government of Cyprus has committed to reforming the benefits system for disabled individuals by separating it from the Guaranteed Minimum Income (GMI) system. Deputy Welfare Minister Marilena Evangelou emphasized the government’s determination to create specific legislation for disabled benefits, which would address social inclusion, rehabilitation, and services. This decision came after discussions with the Confederation Organisation of the Disabled and plans for further consultations with other organizations. The current integration of disability benefits into the GMI, initiated in 2014, has reportedly resulted in a 40% reduction in benefits for disabled persons. The Confederation’s head, Christakis Nicolaides, has advocated for an increase in state funds for the disabled by \u20ac60 million to avoid Cyprus lagging behind in the EU. There is also a call for quicker legislative action from parliament, and suggestions to include benefits for individuals with psychic disorders, such as ADHD, in the new policy. The House labour committee, chaired by Akel MP Andreas Kafkalias, plans to monitor progress on this issue bi-monthly.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3358,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[671,966,3,967,379,250,415,968,839],"class_list":["post-3357","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cyprus","tag-akel","tag-benefits-system","tag-cyprus","tag-disabled","tag-eu","tag-google","tag-government","tag-guaranteed-minimum-income-gmi","tag-labour"],"acf":{"keyphrase":"","keywords":"","sourceimg":"","country-category":""},"yoast_head":"\n