Background information

Throughout the lockdown period (March 2020 onwards), legislative arrangements provided administrative facilities related to the daily life of persons with disabilities and their basic needs. The government introduced the extension of the validity of the disability certificates and the payments of benefits for three months of people with disabilities and chronic diseases. The measure was adopted through a law within the framework of the labour market extraordinary and temporary measures aimed to address and limit the spread of COVID-19.

Article 6 of Legislative Act No 55/11-3-2020 establishes the postponement of the health committee meetings in the Disability Certification Centres (K.E.P.A.) because of COVID-19. It also provides for the extension of the validity of the existing disability certificates and the payment of benefits for three months (initially until 31 May 2020) and then until 30 June 2020 (Legislative Act 84A/13-4-2020, article 10) and later until 31 October 2020 (Law 4714/31-7-2020).

Content of measure

The Legislative Act No 55/11-3-2020, article 6 provides the postponement of the medical examinations in the Disability Certification Centres (K.E.P.A.) for renewing the disability certificates.

A three month automatic renewal was allowed, initially until 31 May 2020 and then until 30 June 2020 (Legislative Act 84A/13-4-2020). For that reason, the law provided the extension of the payments of the disability pensions and all the relevant benefits / allowances regarding disabilities or chronic illnesses, the certification of which is carried out through the health committees of KEPA. Also, for the same period, health care capacity is extended.

The measure contributed to a reduction in movements and exposure to COVID-19 risk of the vulnerable groups. On 31 July 2020 the automatic renewal was extended until 31 October 2020 (Law 4714/31-7-2020).

Use of measure

According to the Organisation of Welfare Benefits and Social Solidarity (OPEKA), until 30 April 2020 about 9,244 people were beneficiaries of this measure.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
The COVID-19 risk group at the workplace Disabled workers	Does not apply to businesses	The COVID-19 risk group Disabled

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	No special funding required

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	No involvement
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

There was no involvement of social partners.

Views and reactions

The measure is positive for people disabled or with chronic diseases.The National Confederation of Persons with Disabilities ( ESAmeA) has jugded the measure as very positive and useful.

Sources

• 11 March 2020: Legislative Action A'55/11-3-2020 (Πράξη νομοθετικού περιεχομένου Α'55/11-3-2020) (www.kodiko.gr)
• 13 April 2020: Legislative Action A;84/13-4-2020 (Πραξη Νομοθετικού Περιεχομένου A'84/13-4-2020) (www.kodiko.gr)
• 06 May 2020: Extention of payments of benefits /allowances for disabled persons (Παρταση καταβολης προνοιακων αναπηρικων επιδοματων λογω αναβολης της εξετασης της αιτησης απο ΚΕΠΑ (opeka.gr)
• 31 July 2020: Article 120 of Law 4714/31-7-2020 (Αρθρο 120, Νομος 4714/31-7-2020) (www.lawspot.gr)