Dialogos

Parliamentary Committee Demands Clear Answers on Disability Benefits Bill

Published March 21, 2026, 12:03
Parliamentary Committee Demands Clear Answers on Disability Benefits Bill

The Parliamentary Committee on Labor is requesting specific written answers to open issues regarding the bill on disability benefits, before continuing the discussion next Tuesday. The discussion focuses on the number of new beneficiaries who will be released from the Minimum Guaranteed Income (MGI), their gradual inclusion, delays in appeals, and the need to strengthen services. Members of Parliament and organizations emphasize the need for clear clarifications, given the tight deadlines. There is confusion regarding the number of new beneficiaries and the way they will be included, while the Deputy Minister of Welfare has committed to gradual increases in benefits and the inclusion of new beneficiaries with a budget of €106 million for the period 2026-2028. Delays are noted in the examination of appeals due to insufficient staffing, while representatives of organizations are calling for an immediate amendment to the MGI so that people with severe disabilities are not excluded and for the strengthening of early childhood intervention. Despite reservations, it is recognized that the bill will significantly improve the situation, as one in two people with severe or moderate intellectual disabilities is currently excluded from state welfare. The bill is expected to continue in the Committee next Tuesday, on the condition that specific and binding answers are submitted before the vote.