A letter shared on social media by a disabled person raises big questions about the home care allowance and the support people actually get.
The writer is 58 years old, lives alone, and has a recognized disability, along with a documented need for daily home care. However, they say that the monthly allowance of 400 euros doesn’t really help.
‘I am a person with a disability. My disability is officially recognized by the Directorate of Social Integration of Persons with Disabilities, and my need for daily home care is also officially acknowledged. Based on this, I was granted a home care allowance of 400 euros per month.’‘At first glance, everything seems humane. But the reality is very different.’
The choices available are limited to working with a certified home care provider or hiring a domestic helper, which comes with full financial and legal responsibility. In the first case, they mention being offered only four to six hours of care each month, using up the entire allowance.
‘I was left with just two options and no third choice: First, to sign a contract with a certified home care provider from the Social Welfare Office. Second, to hire a foreign domestic helper and take on all financial and legal responsibilities myself. Let me explain the first option because it deserves attention. A certified provider told me they would come for one hour each week, giving me four hours a month for the whole 400 euros. Another one was slightly better, offering one and a half hours weekly, totaling six hours a month, also for 400 euros.’
The individual wonders if such few hours can really meet the needs of a disabled person living alone.
As for the second option, they point out that hiring a domestic helper is too expensive since they live on guaranteed minimum income and have to pay basic bills, like rent and utilities. The letter also mentions informal help they currently get twice a week, which isn’t recognized by the system even though it better meets their needs.
‘Right now, I pay five euros an hour to an Asian worker who comes twice a week for three hours each time.’‘Even this doesn’t meet my basic needs. Yet this solution isn’t recognized while the official one takes all 400 euros without providing real care. If I got direct financial support of just 300 euros, I could manage my life with dignity and have help five days a week for three hours each day. It seems dignity isn’t part of any contracts.’
In closing, they ask if new legislation, which separates disability benefits from guaranteed minimum income, will allow home care payments as direct financial support without current limits.
‘My question is simple and straightforward: Will new legislation separating disability allowance and benefits from guaranteed minimum income allow home care payments as direct financial support without these unreasonable restrictions? Because what’s happening now doesn’t feel like support or care; it feels like an administrative task on paper that leaves disabled people alone at home to bear the costs.’
