Regarding the upcoming restructuring of Social Welfare Services, the intention to expedite the processing of benefit applications and the immediate implementation of the law on persons with disabilities, the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Klea Papaellina, informed the Parliamentary Committee on Labor.

In remarks following the Committee meeting, Ms. Papaellina said that social policy is a key pillar of government policy and that the goal is to strengthen social cohesion, protecting vulnerable groups, and building a society of equal opportunities, inclusion, and solidarity.

For this reason, he added, the modernization of services and the promotion of substantive reforms are continuing.

Specifically, the restructuring of Social Welfare Services is moving forward to make them more modern and effective, while the completion of important legislative reforms for the protection of children is also a priority.

Among other things, the new Adoption Law is being promoted, along with bills concerning children in the care of the Social Welfare Services, as well as a new legislative framework for nurseries and daycare centers, creative activity centers, child care providers, and child protection units.

At the same time, the organizational and digital modernization of the Welfare Benefits Management Service (YDEP) is moving forward, with the goal of processing benefit applications more quickly and efficiently.

An equally important priority is the implementation of the new law on Social Participation, Inclusion, and Independent Living of Persons with Disabilities, which the Deputy Minister described as a “historic reform.”

At the same time, the Deputy Ministry is working to improve the assessment of disability, increasing opportunities for employment and social inclusion, promoting legislation to support decision-making, and implementing the National Strategies on Disability and Autism.

“The Christodoulides government remains committed to creating a modern, effective, and people-centered social protection system so that no one is left behind,” the Deputy Minister stated.

For his part, the Committee Chair, George Koukoumas, said that further steps are expected toward restructuring the Social Security Funds, noting that the process has been under consideration since 2019.

Regarding people with disabilities, he noted that Cyprus ranks among the lowest in the EU in terms of protection for people with disabilities, adding that the individuals themselves believe their actual needs exceed the benefits that have been approved.

DISY MP Savia Orfanidou stated that the party has set the following priorities:

• restructuring and staffing the Social Welfare Services,
• strengthening protection for children experiencing domestic violence,
• the safety of Social Welfare Services staff,
• strengthening daycare centers and preschools,
• speeding up the review of benefits and increasing the child allowance.

ELAM MP Linos Hatzigeorgiou spoke of “huge delays” in the processing of benefits, calling for the procedures to be expedited.

At the same time, he noted that ELAM had requested data on benefits paid to third-country nationals, arguing that there must be a complete record of such payments.

DIKO MP, Andreas Apostolou, welcomed the immediate implementation of the new legislation for people with disabilities, saying that increases in benefits and new beneficiaries are expected by summer.

He added that the legislation is only the beginning and that further increases and support for people with disabilities are needed.

He also referred to delays in the review of appeals by the Deputy Ministry of Welfare, calling for additional staff to be assigned to the department.

Regarding the child allowance, he said that changes are expected that will increase both the number of beneficiaries and the amounts of the allowances.

Finally, he called for Cypriots repatriating from non-EU countries to be granted immediate access to the child allowance and the daycare allowance from day one, without having to wait five years.

Source: KYE