Disability Is Not an Obstacle to Work: VDEĀVK Explains New Rules

VDEĀVK: there are new opportunities, but the approach remains unchanged.

The State Commission of Health and Working Ability Expertise (VDEĀVK) has clarified the new provisions for people with existing disabilities, for those needing to apply for disability, and for doctors.

Assignment of Disability: What Was and What Is Now

The main function of VDEĀVK is to conduct disability assessments. There are not many cases of assigning status: for example, a person is disabled from birth/childhood, or at some point develops health limitations that hinder their ability to live, function, and participate in the labor market. The assessment procedure is conducted based on the applicant's statement, a doctor's referral, and a self-assessment questionnaire.

What Has Changed

Thanks to the new digital system for submitting all documents, the processing times have been reduced, and in many cases, a decision is made within two weeks.
With the e-veselība digital system and the VDEĀVK information system, it is planned to send notifications starting in the second half of 2026, informing that the previously assigned disability period is approaching its end. This will allow individuals to plan examinations in advance that need to be completed before submitting documents (especially considering the often inadequately long queues) and will help avoid situations where the deadline for submitting documents is missed.

What Remains

The assignment of disability status is based not on the fact of illness but on functional limitations that affect a person's ability to live and work. The commission's thought is that even if a person unexpectedly loses their ability to work due to an accident or illness, and sometimes is even unable to move, eat, or care for themselves, it is not a fact that they will remain that way for life.

Firstly, there are modern methods of treatment and medical rehabilitation that often have a positive effect, restoring functionality—sometimes completely, sometimes partially.
Secondly, any organism, even one that has lost some important functions, typically adapts to its new condition over time. It is not a fact that a person who is completely helpless today will remain the same six months to a year from now.

That is why when assigning a "group" of disability, it is the specific condition of the person at the time of assessment that is evaluated.

Relationships and Inclusion

Experts particularly noted that it is necessary to develop:

accessibility of the environment for people with disabilities,
new solutions for adapting housing to the needs of the disabled,
obtaining technical assistive devices and rehabilitation services.
inclusive thinking: having a disability does not mean that a person cannot work.

On the contrary: a large number of people with disabilities are both willing and able to participate in the labor market. At the same time, specialists urged everyone to take care of their health, undergo examinations in a timely manner, and make the most of the support resources provided by the state and municipalities.

If You Want Tax Benefits - Ensure E-Communication!

The Financial Department of the Riga Municipality reminds property owners in the capital about an important condition that affects the amount of property tax (NĪN) and the application of benefits. Anyone wishing to receive a property tax discount must have an official email address or a registered email address for communication with the municipality.

However, some categories of residents are exempt from this condition:

pensioners,
disabled persons of group I or II,
victims and liquidators of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster,
low-income and low-wealth households,
politically repressed individuals,
minors.

Important!

If you did not have an email address before January 1, 2025, but you are entitled to receive benefits automatically (for example, a family with children), you can still receive the benefit throughout 2025 UNDER THE CONDITION:

either you register an electronic communication channel by December 15, 2025,
or you submit an application explaining the reason why you cannot do this by 00:00 on January 1, 2026. It will not be possible to do this later.

How to Register an Electronic Channel with the State:

activate your official email address on the portal Latvija.gov.lv
submit an application on the website eriga.lv or epakalpojumi.lv
send a signed application to the address pip@riga.lv
submit in person or by mail (Terēzes Street 5, Riga, LV-1012)

If you or a family member belong to one of the categories of benefit recipients (for example, a pensioner, a disabled person of group I or II, a child with a disability, etc.) and you have not previously received a benefit for NNS, you can submit an application by December 15, 2025 (in subsequent years, it will not need to be submitted again if the conditions of the benefit do not change).

If You Want to Get a Discount on Reduced Property Tax

To apply the reduced NNS rate to your apartment or house in 2026, at least one person must be registered in the property (as of 00:00 on January 1, 2026).
In apartment buildings or non-residential buildings with residential functions, the reduced rate is applied based on 30 m² per person registered at the place of residence.
If as of January 1, no one is registered in the property, the main rate for the entire year will be 1.5%—as opposed to the reduced 0.2-0.6%.

Property owners in the capital can check the number of persons registered in their property on the portal Latvija.gov.lv or at the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs.

Additional Information: