The Prime Minister visited the Deaf National Foundation
The granting of the deafness allowance to deaf and hearing 18 to 65 years old, age group to date was excluded from that benefit, the prime minister announced Kyriakos Mitsotakis During his visit to the Deaf National Foundation.
The expansion of the beneficiaries now covers all citizens who have a disability rate of 67% or more, regardless of age, satisfying a chronic request by the Federation of Deaf Greece. The deafness allowance today is 391 euros per month. It increased, like all disability benefits, by 8% in 2023, after a decade of stagnation, in the context of further support for equal access to society and the labor market.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis was briefed by the President of the Guardian Venetta Lambropoulou about the multifaceted work of the body, especially for their personalized support for young children diagnosed with hearing problems, as well as other issues concerning the deaf community.
During his visit to the Fig, the Prime Minister said: “We are, today, at the Deaf National Foundation for two reasons: the first is to congratulate the administration and the workers for the very great work that is being done, especially on the issues of timely diagnosis and timely issues. Education.
And the second reason, Mr President, is to announce that We correct a timeless injustice at the expense of our deaf fellow citizensas the deafness allowance was given to children from 0 to 18 years old and then given retirees over 65 again. So we are here today to announce that this injustice is in the past. All deaf will now receive the deafness allowance at 391 euros, regardless of their age.
In this way we aim to adopt policies that are truly fair, fully inclusive and to face every form of disability separately and distinct, recognizing its own particularities.
After Easter we will be able to make some other interesting announcements about how our deaf fellow citizens hire information through public television, with subtitling actionsso that every day that passes we take a step towards a more fair, more inclusive society, who will stop confronting our fellow citizens with disabilities as our second -class fellow citizens, as children of a lower God.
And of course all of these interventionsThey can be implemented precisely because our economy and public finances are doing better and we have the fiscal space So that we can correct such timeless injustices, such as the one we are pleased to announce today. “
For his part, Konstantinos Simpsis, president of the Deaf Federation of Greece, stated: “After our firm demands this injustice, on your own initiative, is corrected, with the aim of equal to all social groups. It is a very important day, a landmark day for the deaf community. Thank you very much everyone here today, for your presence and for giving us the opportunity to meet, to chat. Thank you for listening to us and considering our requests. We hope to build a society that will be accessible and equal to all. Thank you very much. “
“I would like, because I have been in the deaf community for many years, thank you for what you did now with the allowance. It’s really great what happened. All the deaf, many years, as long as I am in Greece, they are fighting for this issue and today is a brilliant day for all of us. Thank you very much, “said the President of the National Deaf Foundation, Venice Lambropoulou.
Immediate application in the context of a broad strategy for equality
The implementation of the measure will be immediate and is estimated to benefit about 1,200 people. Applications will begin at the end of April and those who complete the process within the month will receive the first allowance at the end of May. There is also a retroactivity provision for those who apply within six months, as they will receive the money that is appropriate for them from the entry into force of the relevant Joint Ministerial Decision.
The deafness allowance is part of a wide network of support measures now implemented, in the context of the national strategy for the rights of people with disabilities through the National Deaf Center.
Among other things, the Relay program, which allows deaf and hearing citizens to communicate with anyone through their mobile phone, has been activated, with the help of an interpreter of the National Deaf Foundation at all times. It has 12,000 active users and is provided free of charge, with state funding. The program also includes 28 booths in hospitals, metro stations and KEPA, where tablet is served.
Also operate in timely intervention for deaf or hearing infants and toddlers, which also provide parents and guidance. Other support measures are, for example, the Personal Assistant Program, the Service of Greek Sign Language Interpreters and the Deaf/Hearing Service.
During his stay at the Deaf National Center, the prime minister visited the distance interpretation center housed in a specially designed hall of the Center, where he was informed of the operation of the service and talked to the interpreters. The Prime Minister and the Minister of Social Cohesion and Family Domna Michailidou also had the opportunity to talk to a service user and inform her about the announcement that preceded the expansion of the deaf and hearing allowance.
“We are here today to announce to our deaf fellow citizens that the deaf allowance, these 391 euros, will be given to all our deaf and hearing fellow citizens who are entitled to it, regardless of age,” the prime minister said.
Correction of injustice to the beneficiaries of the deafness allowance “will integrate you even more in the job market as you wish. This is what we also believe as equal integration, we do it. We are trying to offer more services, such as the one we are talking about, Relay, “the Minister of Social Cohesion and Family Domna Michailidou said during the discussion.
The Prime Minister was also accompanied by the Minister of State Akis Skertsos and the Deputy Minister of Social Cohesion and Family Elena Rapti.