GREECE

General section on Independent Living

1.1. Overall implementation of Article 19

Implementation of this article is found to be inadequate.

1.2. Choice of living arrangements

Disabled adults cannot freely choose their living arrangements. There are still segregated settings for disabled adults (incl. older people with disabilities) and children.

1.3. Deinstitutionalisation strategy

Greece does not have a deinstitutionalisation strategy and in recent years there has not been any progress on this topic. There are currently working groups on deinstitutionalisation in the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and in 2017 a law was adopted. It is said that the law is not in accordance with the UNCRPD.

1.4. Access to mainstream services

Improvements are required in the areas of education (primary, secondary and tertiary), health care, public transport and culture. Access to housing is inadequate, as well as access to employment in the open labour market. There is a law protecting disabled people in the labour market, but its implementation is inadequate.

1.5. Access to personal assistance

Greece is in the process of introducing a pilot project on Personal Assistance (PA). The details are described in a joint ministerial decision.

General information about the PA scheme/policy

2.1. Personal assistance scheme: general information and corresponding legislation

Personal Assistance in Greece is inadequate. The provision of personal assistance under the scheme is recognised as a right. The scheme is codified in a separate national law. The scheme is delivered as a pilot project.

It is going to be delivered as a pilot project for the first 2 years and after that, according to the law, it is going to be implemented nationally.

The PA-scheme will be available on the regional level. Whether people living in rural or remote areas have access to the scheme depends on the region. Disabled people living in residential care settings can not apply for personal assistance.

There are no restrictions on what PA can be used for. There is no waiting list for access to PA in Greece. The number of PA users has remained the same in the last 5 years.

There have been changes in the legislation/policy which affect access to PA. Those changes are viewed as positive.

2.2. Funding of Personal Assistance

The schemes is funded by the state, out of the state budget (centralised funding). The scheme is co-funded by the EU (through the European Structural and Investment Funds). The scheme is funded through social insurance. The scheme is funded on a project basis.

PA is paid through direct payments, such as personal budgets. The PA funding does not allow users to cover all their needs in practice. The PA funding allows users to hire assistants from the open labour market. The PA funding allows users to hire other services not directly related to personal care. The scheme is limited by a cost ceiling per user. Users whose support needs exceed the cost ceiling are directed towards residential care (e.g., social care institutions, group homes, nursing homes etc.).

There is no access to research on the costs of PA. The PA scheme covers additional employment costs such as employer´s contributions, payroll work and other administrative costs. The PA scheme also covers additional training costs, such as personal assistance training for the users and assistants.

Receiving assistance under the scheme does not restrict the users eligibility for any other benefits, support and/or services.

Family members are allowed to be paid as PAs but only in certain circumstances.

2.3. Eligibility and needs assessment procedures

Children older than 16, persons of working age, persons with physical impairments, persons with cognitive impairments and persons with sensory impairments are eligible for PA. The PA budget does not decrease after the age of 65.

Access to the PA-scheme requires medical certification of the applicant as a prerequisite for applying. The scheme is provided irrespective of individual or family income. The scheme is provided irrespective of family (including marital) situation. The scheme is provided irrespective of the level of social activity, including the user’s involvement in paid work and/or education and/or volunteering. The scheme is provided irrespective of insurance status. The scheme is provided irrespective of citizenship status.

The eligibility assessment is done by professionals (for example, medical professionals, social workers, psychologists, etc.). The assessment is led by the user (through self-assessment), possibly aided by peers and professionals.

The support a disabled person receives is based on an assessment of their needs. The needs assessment is led by the user. The needs assessment is led by professionals (e.g., medical professionals, social workers, psychologists, etc.). Assessors who carry out the needs assessment do not receive training on Independent Living and the social model of disability. The assessment is conducted in the form of a self-assessment questionnaire filled in by the user. The assessment covers the needs for assistance in all areas of life, including family, intimacy, education, employment, leisure, etc.). People do not have access to adequate information and/or peer support before and during the assessment.

After the assessment, the applicants are ranked through a point-based system and only those beyond a certain cut-off line receive assistance.

The number of assistance hours per user is limited. Disabled people do not have the opportunity to appeal (file a complaint against) the outcome of their assessments.

2.4. Characteristics of PA provision and recruitment

Users can choose who provides the PA services. PA services are provided by non-governmental organisations, incl. disabled people’s organisations (DPOs), for-profit organisations/companies. Disabled people can employ a PA directly. Users are sufficiently informed about the different providers they can use to access PA services. Users can not keep their assistance when moving to another region or local authority within the country. Users can not keep their assistance when moving to another country.

The quality of provision is not monitored. PA users are not provided with training on how to manage their assistance. PA users do not have access to peer support, i.e. support provided by other users of personal assistance. Supported decision-making is not available to those who need it to manage their assistants. A person can hire an unlimited number of assistants, depending on individual needs.

2.5. Working conditions of assistants

Users can select and hire their assistants. People with cognitive impairment are allowed to manage their own PA. The user determines the times when assistance will be provided, but with some restrictions (for example, nightshifts are excluded). The PA system is based on a personal budget, not on hours. Users can freely decide where and how to access assistance. There are no contingency arrangements for providing support in case the assistant(s) become unavailable.

Personal assistance is officially recognised as a profession. There are specific qualifications required for people to work as PAs. The wages of personal assistants are protected by minimum wage regulations. Personal assistants are entitled to benefits such as social security and paid leave (annual, sick and parental).

PA users have to account for their user of assistance (for example, by providing invoices and/or filling in time sheets). There is no support available to meet these administrative requirements.

The assistants have access to training on providing personal assistance. The training is mandatory.