People with severe mobility impairments are raising a cry of anguish and leveling a resounding accusation against the government. The President of the Cyprus Paraplegic Federation emphasized that the cost of living for 2,500 people who rely on wheelchairs every day is constantly rising. And while steps may have been taken to strengthen the rights of people with disabilities, they do not meet their actual needs.

“Progress is not measured solely by intentions but also by the extent to which support policies address actual living conditions and the financial demands of modern daily life.”
_{^{Dimitris Lambrianidis – President of the Cyprus Paraplegic Federation}}

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Disability Benefits

The organization’s President also presented a detailed breakdown of the benefits that individuals have received over time compared to today, emphasizing that the increases granted were negligible.

• Severe Mobility Disability Allowance – 1990: 171 euros – today: 408 euros.
• Allowance for the care of paraplegics – 2019: 350 euros – today: 400 euros.
• Care allowance for quadriplegics – 2019: 850 euros – today: 900 euros.

According to the data provided, the first severe mobility disability allowance, when it was first introduced, amounted to 171 euros, while today, 36 years later, it has increased by only 237 euros. The care allowance for paraplegics, which was 350 euros in 2019, has now increased by a mere 50 euros, while the care allowance for quadriplegics, which was 850 euros in 2019, is now 900 euros.

“We call on the government to immediately implement increases of at least 30% in benefits for severe motor disabilities and to commit to granting a small increase each year so that, within a few years, we can achieve adequate financial support which, combined with services, will ensure a better quality of life for people with severe mobility disabilities.”
_{^{Dimitris Lambrianidis – President of the Cyprus Paraplegic Federation}}

Government spending on benefits in 2025 was 33 million euros, and he emphasized that people with disabilities are at a 29% higher risk of poverty and social exclusion compared to 18% for people without disabilities.

Watch Eleni Michael’s report: