According to the Ministry of Human Resources, in 2014 the amount of financial support provided to people with disabilities will be higher than last year. According to current plans, the Hungarian Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (SINOSZ) and the Federation of the Blind and Partially Sighted (MVGYOSZ) are each scheduled to receive 173 million forints, the National Federation of Disabled Persons' Associations (MEOSZ) and the National Autism Association (AOSZ) will receive 168 million forints and 52.5 million forints, respectively.

Furthermore, eight major charity organisations (the Hungarian Maltese Charity Service, Hungarian Reformed Church Aid, Catholic Caritas, Hungarian Interchurch Aid, Johanniter, St. Luke's Byzantine Catholic Charity, the Hungarian Food Bank Association and Hungarian Baptist Aid) will also receive a total of 790 million forints, which is also an increase compared to last year, when only three charities were eligible for funding.

The Ministry has also launched a tender offering 213 million forints in financial support to non-governmental organisations assisting people with disabilities. This amount is 100 million forints higher compared to last year, while another tender with a budget of 150 million forints has been announced for NGOs operating residential institutions for disabled people.
Additionally, as of 1 January 2014, disability and rehabilitation allowances also have been increased from last year at the same 2.4% rate as pensions. Legislative changes have also made possible a more favourable calculation of the basis for these allowances.

To mention some of the most significant projects related to disability care last year, a nationwide elementary rehabilitation program was launched for the visually impaired to prepare them for living a more independent life. Sign language interpreting services for the hard of hearing were extended nationwide, while for disabled people projects for the repair and alteration of prosthetic aids was introduced, accessibility was further improved and the vehicle purchase support system was expanded.

In the case of the mentally disabled, it is considered a significant step forward that instead of large, overcrowded institutions housing 150-200 people there is a move to accommodate patients in smaller communities and residential homes.

Finally, the Ministry for Human Resources supports the rehabilitation of disabled and handicapped people, in order to help those who are able to work to earn their own wages, with annual funding of HUF 39 billion (EUR 130 million), supplemented by a further HUF 21 billion (EUR 70 million) available for such purposes.

(Ministry of Human Resources)