RIGA, Jan 7 (LETA) - Disability status in Latvia only partially achieves its purpose, and the support system is fragmented and unequal, the State Audit Office has concluded.

The auditors point out that no institution in Latvia generally assesses the health, social, mobility and daily functioning needs of a person with a disability, and therefore the receipt of support depends largely on the knowledge and ability to navigate the fragmented system of the person themselves or their relatives.

In 2024, there were more than 221,000 people with disabilities in Latvia, and the number has increased by more than 15 percent since 2018.

In 2024, the state will allocate at least EUR 1.039 billion, or 6.4 percent of state budget spending, to disability expertise and support, and local governments will spend at least another EUR 20 million. A significant part of this money is spent on pensions and benefits, while less is spent on services that help people cope with everyday difficulties, including care, transport, rehabilitation and adaptations to housing.

The audit also concluded that disability assessments are generally carried out in accordance with legislation, but that the process is not optimally organized. For example, referrals for expert examinations are still made on paper and will only be available online through the eHealth (e-Veseliba) portal in 2029.

At the same time, the State Commission for Health and Work Capacity (VDEAVK) does not have access to other institutions' data on examinations, technical aids, care or rehabilitation received, so the information has to be largely collected by family physicians, thus increasing the administrative burden.

The State Audit Office also stresses that the medical approach to disability assessment is still predominant, while the transition to the World Health Organisation's classification of limitations in functioning and activities has been delayed - the new approach is not planned to be introduced until 2030.

The auditors also point to capacity problems in the VDEAVK, with around 60 percemt of experts working above their optimum workload and decisions not always being taken in a timely manner.

The situation is worsened by the task entrusted to the VDEAVK to extend sick leave after 26 weeks, which is essentially the responsibility of the health sector, the State Audit Office points out. This function requires around four expert doctors each year, and its transfer to the Health Ministry could reduce delays in decisions by up to 46 percent, according to the auditors' estimates. The State Audit Office points to the need to review both the number of posts and the tasks assigned to the VDEAVK in order to ensure that disability determinations are sustainable and timely.

The State Audit Office describes the overall support system as fragmented and unequal, especially at municipal level, where the availability and scope of services vary considerably depending on the place of residence.

The auditors remind that a minimum basket of social services was established by law in December 2024 and should be fully implemented by 2029, yet in 2025 only two out of seven services for people with functional disabilities are provided in all municipalities.

For example, group home (apartment) services for people with mental disabilities are currently available in only 38 municipalities.

The audit identified care support as a major problem: it is fragmented, insufficient and difficult to administer, as one need is met by several instruments, none of which are sufficient.

The State Audit Office reports that 63.6 percent of children and 83.2 percent of adults with very severe functional impairments who receive state care allowance do not use municipal care services. At the same time, the state care allowance does not cover even the average cost of the service, which is at least EUR 220 more than the amount of the allowance.

The State Audit Office points out that the only solution envisaged by the Ministry of Welfare to improve the situation is to increase the state care allowance, which is planned from 2030. In the auditors' view, this will not significantly improve the situation, as some people will not have access to the care services they need anyway. The State Audit Office stresses that the funding planned for the increase should be primarily invested in the care service itself.

The auditors also point to shortcomings in transport support, which is fragmented and insufficiently targeted. The state transport allowance of EUR 105 per six months, in the auditors' view, covers only a small part of the real costs of moving around, while the vehicle adaptation service is too narrow as it is mainly intended for cases where the person drives him/herself. The State Audit Office also points out that the procedure for obtaining a disabled person's parking card is not people-friendly, as the card is issued by the Road Traffic Safety Directorate, although the necessary information is at the disposal of the VDEAVK.

The State Audit Office informs that nine recommendations have been made to the Ministry of Welfare to ensure that disability status can be used as a basis for targeted support in the future, including improving the flow of information, strengthening the capacity of the VDEAVK and making state and local government support more oriented towards people's actual needs rather than formal criteria.