The National Confederation of Disabled Persons (ESAMeA) with two memorandums related to the Ministry of Finance on persons with disabilities and chronic diseases, requests a meeting with the Minister K. Hatzidakis that people have to deal with people with disabilities, chronic diseases and their families.
In addition to the prolonged economic crisis and then the pandemic crisis, disabled people are facing an unprecedented wave of precision in products, energy, fuel, etc., which makes it impossible to meet even their basic daily needs.
Given their low pensions and the unaffordable additional costs required to meet the needs of their disabilities, their political and financial support is more important than ever, they say.
What do disabled people want from the government?
In summary, disabled people ask:
- Increase the benefits of persons with disabilities and chronic conditions for 2024 and align the increase from the next year with the mechanism of the increase given to pensions every year, provide substantial support to disabled persons, persons with chronic diseases and their families in the current period.
- Doubling of emergency financial assistance to pensioners who have not received an increase, pensioners with disabilities.
- An increase of at least 50% of the income criteria for the disabled with a percentage of 50% or more for granting the heat allowance.
- Foreign funds from the auction of the first house owned by the disabled or persons with severe health limitations in their family, as well as from the non-sale of housing or consumer loans belonging to the disabled.
- Increasing the amount not deducted from the salary or pension account of persons with disabilities due to increased needs due to disability to 5,000 euros.
- Adjustment of reimbursement for hemodialysis Nephropathies and transfers of patients with Thalassemia (Mediterranean Anemia) and Sickle Cell Disease to dialysis units and blood transfusion units and blood transfusion units according to the increase in volumes associated with these movements, e.g. fuel, taxi tickets and fares.
- Restoration of the code of the Greek sign language interpretation program implemented by the Hellenic Federation of the Deaf under Official Gazettes 1708/2006 and 1808/2006 in the State Budget.
Issues related to taxes:
- Exemption of disabled people from income presumptions. Only real income is not taxed at 50% or more on the assumed income of persons with disabilities.
- Exemption from ENFIA for the first residence of all disabled people with a disability rate of 50%, regardless of the category of disability, as well as taxable families with severe disabilities without income criteria.
- Taking protective tax measures for disabled people and people with chronic diseases engaged in entrepreneurial activity.
- Freelancers with disabilities €10,920 tax exemption.
- Exemption from rent tax for unemployed people with disabilities if they are the only source of income.
- Reduction of VAT for necessary household appliances-tools for people with vision, severe mobility and other disabilities to the lowest level allowed by legislation.
- The restoration of Article 18 of Law No. 4172/2013 provides for the reduction and expansion of the tax on medical expenses for the disabled, persons with chronic diseases and their families.
- VAT exemption for products manufactured by Disabled Protected Laboratories, such as the Blind Greece Lighthouse, etc.
The second memorandum deals with the serious issues arising from the implementation of the provisions regarding the exemption of the disabled and persons with chronic diseases from the registration fee and road traffic fee (attached).