In Latvia, it is necessary to reconsider the disability system as a whole—this opinion was expressed by the Minister of Welfare Reinis Uzulnieks (SCP) in the LTV program "Morning Panorama," reports LETA.
The politician positively assessed the recent audit by the State Control regarding the disability system in Latvia, noting that the Ministry of Welfare is already implementing some of the recommendations.
According to the minister, the disability system in Latvia requires a comprehensive review; however, this will require financial investments that will ultimately save funds. Uzulnieks estimated that around 50 million euros will be needed for changes at the initial stage.
If he remains in power after the Saeima elections, reforming the disability system will become one of his priority tasks.
In response to a question about custody court cases, the minister noted that certain improvements are necessary in this area, but it is not possible to talk about their complete abolition. Improvements in this area will be developed by the ministry in collaboration with the Ombudsman’s Office.
As previously reported, during the audit, the State Control concluded that no institution in Latvia assesses the needs of a person with a disability in a comprehensive manner—covering health, social support, mobility, and daily functioning. As a result, receiving assistance largely depends on the knowledge of the individual or their relatives and their ability to navigate the fragmented system.
In 2024, there were more than 221,000 people with disabilities in Latvia, and since 2018, their number has increased by more than 15%.
For disability assessment and support in 2024, the state allocated at least 1.039 billion euros, or 6.4% of all state expenditures, while municipalities allocated at least another 20 million euros. A significant portion of these funds goes to pensions and benefits, while a smaller portion is directed towards services that help cope with daily challenges, including care, transportation, rehabilitation, and housing adaptation.
The audit also showed that disability assessments are generally conducted in accordance with regulatory acts; however, the process is not organized optimally. For example, referrals for assessments are still made in paper form, and the ability to do this in e-veselība will only be available in 2029.
Furthermore, the State Commission for Medical Assessment of Health and Work Ability (VDEĀVK) does not have access to data from other institutions regarding conducted examinations, technical aids, received care, or rehabilitation, which places the burden of information collection primarily on family doctors, increasing administrative load.
The State Control also emphasizes that the medical approach still predominates in the process of establishing disability, and the transition to assessing functional limitations and activity according to the World Health Organization's classification has been prolonged—the implementation of the new methodology is planned only for 2030.
Auditors also point to staffing issues at VDEĀVK—approximately 60% of experts are working overloaded, and decisions are not always made on time.
The situation is further complicated by the VDEĀVK's mandate to extend sick leave after 26 weeks, although this is essentially a responsibility of the healthcare system. According to auditors' estimates, about four expert physician positions are needed for this function, and transferring it to the healthcare system could reduce decision-making delays by up to 46%. The State Control notes the need to reconsider both the number of staff and the functions of VDEĀVK to ensure that the disability establishment process is sustainable and timely.
Auditors remind that in December 2024, the law defined a minimum package of social services that must be fully implemented by 2029. However, in 2025, only two out of seven types of services that should be provided to people with functional impairments are available in all municipalities.
For example, the group living (housing) service for people with mental disorders is currently available in only 38 municipalities.
The audit particularly highlights the problem of care support—it is fragmented, insufficient, and complex to administer, as one need is covered by several instruments, none of which is adequate.
The State Control reports that 63.6% of children and 83.2% of adults with severe functional impairments receiving state care benefits do not use municipal care services. At the same time, the care benefit does not even cover the average costs of the service—it exceeds the benefit amount by at least 220 euros.
The State Control notes that the Ministry of Welfare proposes only increasing the care benefit as a solution, and that only from 2030. According to auditors, this will not significantly improve the situation, as some people will still be unable to receive the necessary volume of services. Funding planned for increasing the benefit should primarily be directed towards developing the care services themselves.
Auditors also point to shortcomings in transportation support—it is fragmented and poorly tailored to specific needs. The state benefit of 105 euros every six months covers only a small part of the actual transportation costs, and the transportation adaptation service is too limited, as it is mainly intended for cases where the person drives the car themselves. The State Control also notes that the process of obtaining a parking card for people with disabilities is inconvenient for individuals, as the card is issued by the Road Traffic Safety Directorate, although the necessary information is already available to VDEĀVK.
