Financial Assistance for Purchase of Wheelchair Cyprus : Ministry of Labour Welfare & Social Insurance

Name of the Organization : Ministry of Labour, Welfare & Social Insurance
Type of Facility : Financial Assistance for Purchase of Wheelchair
Country : Cyprus

Official Website : https://www.mlsi.gov.cy/mlsi/mlsi.nsf/home-el/home-el?OpenForm

Financial Assistance for Purchase of Wheelchair :

Aim :
1. The aim of the scheme is the facilitation of mobility, encouragement of independence and the full participation in the social and financial life of people with severe motor disability, through providing financial support for the purchase of wheelchairs.

Related : MLSI Scheme For Wheelchair Loans To Persons With Motor Disability Cyprus : www.statusin.org/5692.html

Beneficiaries:
2. Cypriot and EU citizens who experience severe motor disability and live permanently in the area controlled by the Republic of Cyprus for at least 12 consecutive months.
3. For the purposes of this scheme a person with “severe motor disability” shall mean the person who due to a genetic condition, an illness or an accident is experiencing severe limitations on the functionality of walking to a degree that the use of a wheelchair is consistent and permanent and the person cannot walk at all or is able to walk for very short distances on level ground with the use of ancillary means such as canes, walker or special leg braces.

Financial Assistance:
4. Financial assistance shall be provided for five types of wheelchairs depending on the applicant’s needs (following evaluation by a physiotherapist) as follows:
(a) Simple / Ordinary Type (weight above 18kg) Up to €700
(b) Lightweight Type wheelchair (weight 12 – 18kg) Up to €1,750
(c) Very Lightweight Type wheelchair (weight under 11kg Up to €2.800
(d) Wheelchair – Orthostate Up to €4,000
(e) Electric wheelchair (including electric wheelchair – orthostate) Up to €13,500

5. If in some cases due to the type of the disability the value of the wheelchair and its supplements exceeds the above amounts, then 50% of the additional cost will be granted.

Applications and Procedure:
6. Applications should be submitted to the Department for Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities. A specific form should be filled. The part of the form that concerns the evaluation and the recommendations shall only be completed by physical therapists of governmental general hospitals and the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics.
7. Electrical wheelchairs will be provided to persons with quadriplegia or in specific cases where it is thought necessary, provided that the individuals will be able to manage them.
8. The beneficiaries may submit an application for a second wheelchair as well. The fulfilment of this request will depend on the circumstances of each case and the extent of the need.

Employed beneficiaries are entitled to a second wheelchair. A second electric wheelchair is not provided under any circumstances.

Replacement – Repair:
9. Wheelchairs can be replaced every 5 years, except the electrical wheelchairs which can be replaced every 7 years.

All wheelchairs may be replaced in a shorter amount of time if they are assessed and found unsuitable, due to extended damages or due to change on the applicants disability needs.

10. For the type (a) Simple / Ordinary wheelchair an amount up to €200 may be provided partially or in whole for repairs after the completion of the second year from the date of purchase and up to three years.
11. For the type (b) lightweight wheelchairs, (c) very lightweight wheelchairs and (d) wheelchair – orthostates an amount up to €500 can be provided partially or in whole depending on the needs for repairs after the completion of the second year from the date of purchase and for up to four years.
12. For the type (e) electrical wheelchairs an amount of €3000 can be provided partially or in whole, depending on the needs for repairs after the completion of the second year from the date of purchase and for up to five years.

Restoration of wheelchairs:
13. In the case that a wheelchair that has been purchased with financial support from this scheme, is no longer in use or the beneficiary passes away, the wheelchair must be returned to the Department for Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities so that it can be given to other beneficiaries according to the Scheme For Lending of Wheelchairs.

Examination of Applications:
14. The examination of the applications is conducted by an Officer of the Department for Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities.
15. The final decision shall be made by the Director of the Department for Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities or by an authorised Officer of the Department.
16. When the Director or the authorised Officer of the Department for Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities rejects an application, the applicant shall receive an explanatory notification of rejection.
17. Applicants who disagree with the decision of the Director or the authorised Officer of the Department for Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities may within one month from the time of the notification of the decision to challenge it and sent an explanatory appeal to the Minister of Labour and Social Insurances.
18. The Minister shall examine the appeal without delay, make a decision and notify the applicant.

Payment of Allowance to under-aged beneficiaries:
19. In the case that a beneficiary has not completed their eighteenth year of age, the allowance / financial support shall be placed in a bank account of:
(a) the father or mother of the minor
(b) a natural person who can prove that the minor is an orphan from both parents or has been abandoned by his/her parents, and is the one who is looking after the applicant at his/her own expenses or
(c) any other person, if it is considered that it is for the minor’s benefit.

20. Where disagreement or doubt arises as to the person to whom the allowance/ financial support shall be paid, the Director will investigate the case and decide accordingly, always in the best interest of the child.

Note:
21. It is noted that with the implementation of the scheme no further assistance will be given either from the Lottery Fund (for the electrical wheelchair) nor from the Financial Assistance Scheme for the Provision of Technical Means, Instruments or Other Aids for Persons with Disabilities (for other wheelchairs)