Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs Clarifies Reports of Revoking Disability Status from 100 Children

The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of Armenia has released a clarification on its Facebook page regarding reports that 100 children with diabetes have had their disability status revoked.

“Today, a media outlet published a piece claiming that approximately 100 children with diabetes have been deprived of their disability status. In response to this publication, the Ministry finds it necessary to point out that there are numerous inaccuracies and errors present in the report.

According to the decision No. 780-N of the Government of Armenia dated June 13, 2003, in the first point of Annex 1, disability refers to social insufficiency resulting from stable impairments in the functions of the organism due to diseases or injuries (regardless of the type of pathological condition) that lead to limitations in a person's livelihood and a need for social protection.

According to the 29th point of the decision, the criteria for determining the status of 'disabled child' for individuals under 18 years old include moderate, pronounced, or severely pronounced stable impairments of the organism's functions caused by diseases or injuries, leading to first, second, or third-degree limitations in any type of livelihood (according to age norms).

Thus, for the diagnosis of 'Type 1 Diabetes,' the status of 'disabled child' is established only if the child exhibits moderate, pronounced, or severely pronounced stable impairments in the functions of the organism (metabolic, circulatory, sensory, musculoskeletal, excretory). Therefore, merely having the disease or injury is not sufficient to establish disability.

According to the 30th point of the same decision, the status of 'disabled child' is established for a period of two years or until the individual turns 18. Based on decision No. 276-N of the Government dated March 2, 2006, according to the established procedure in point 5, a person is recognized as disabled and a disability group is assigned (1st, 2nd, 3rd, disabled child) exclusively through medical-social expertise, based on the types and degrees of limitations in life's activities emerging from stable impairments of any body function due to existing diseases or injuries.

The MSE commission uses the relevant specialists' objective examination of the individual, as well as the data from medical documents on examinations and treatment results to determine the type and degree of limitations in life's activities caused by stable impairments in any organ function.

Additionally, we inform that the Ministry has never implemented a 'pilot program' for not assigning disability to children with diabetes.

It should also be noted that from January 8, 2019, to July 1, 2019, the status of ‘disabled child’ with the diagnosis of ‘Type 1 Diabetes’ was established for 50 children following primary examination outcomes and for 51 children following repeated examination outcomes. Disability was not granted for the mentioned diagnosis for only 16 children.

Regarding the claim in the report stating, 'There are cases in the Yerevan commission where status was provided in exchange for bribes. Initially denied, the parent offered a bribe of 60,000 drams, and it was accepted, leading to the status being granted. The parent does not wish to speak out, saying there are no guarantees that he won’t lose that status after speaking out,' the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs calls upon all citizens to report such matters properly to law enforcement agencies or to the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of the Republic of Armenia to address the issue legally.