Government Approves Personal Assistant Services for Individuals with Disabilities

Today, the Armenian government made a decision allowing individuals with disabilities who are in greater need to access personal assistant services.

Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Anna Zhamakochyan stated that individuals with mobility, visual, and mental disabilities, who have significant functional limitations and whose families are registered in the family benefit system, will be eligible for a personal assistant.

“Currently, a vulnerability level above 10 has been established. This may be revised, especially in the context of a review of the vulnerability system,” the deputy minister said.

“A family member can also serve as a personal assistant. This is particularly important in cases where an individual with a disability requires more than 10 hours of service,” she added.

The obligations of a personal assistant include not only caring for and escorting the individual but also maintaining the cleanliness of the residence, as well as purchasing food and medication.

The decision will take effect on January 1, 2024, but a pilot program will be implemented in 2023, during which corrections will be made based on the program's results.

According to preliminary estimates, the provision of personal assistant services will require 5,186,160,000 AMD. The calculation was based on an hourly rate of 1,050 AMD per hour.