After reviewing almost 350,000 assessments regarding to the working ability of handicapped and disabled people, Ombudsman for Fundamental Rights László Székely has only found seven questionable decisions, the Ministry for Human Resources said in a statement on Tuesday.

Hungary began a complex and systematic revision of the system of disabilities in 2012, with the clear aim of establishing the remaining working potential rather than the measure of disability. In addition to the persons’ health status, the revised assessments also took into account their social conditions and local labour market potential.

The success of the revised system is clearly indicated by the significant reduction in the number of new applications, falling to 38,000 in 2013 from over 71,000 in 2009. The number of rejected applications has also fallen to 12 percent in 2013 from 35 percent in 2009. This shows that the majority of new applicants are in real need of rehabilitation and disability benefit. The percentage of rejected applications during the reviewing of old cases has remained unchanged in recent years.

The overhaul was necessary in order to establish a unified and transparent system, whereby those handicapped and disabled people who are able to work can earn wages rather than receiving an allowance. This goal has clearly been reached as the number of disabled people with jobs has risen by 10,000.

The Ministry for Human Resources supports the rehabilitation of disabled and handicapped people with annual funding of HUF 39 billion (EUR 130 million), supplemented by a further HUF 21 billion (EUR 70 million) available for such purposes within the framework of the New Széchenyi plan.
As of 1 January 2014, disability and rehabilitation allowances have been increased from last year at the same 2.4 percent rate as pensions. Legislative changes have also made possible a more favourable calculation of the basis for these allowances.

(Ministry of Human Resources)