About 90% of people with severe disabilities will not have to reappear before the medical board, when they turn 16 years old. This is another simplification measure for people with Down Syndrome, or other severe disability. With this reform, there is no need to conduct any means testing for people with severe disabilities a second time.
This was announced during a press conference, as part of a ‘Government for the People’, in San Pawl il-Baħar. The event was addressed by the Minister for Solidarity and Social Justice, the Family and the Rights of the Child Michael Falzon as well as the Minister for Inclusion and Quality of Life Julia Farrugia Portelli.
Minister Farrugia Portelli explained that last November the Ministry for Inclusion and Quality of Life launched a stakeholder consultation process. The point is that 16-year-olds, including those with Down Syndrome, have to go back to a medical board to confirm whether the person has a severe disability. This is when we know that like other medical conditions, a baby born with down syndrome will live with this condition for the rest of its life.
Minister Michael Falzon explained that with the planned changes, the parents of children who are about to turn 16, and who are receiving Disabled Child Allowance (DCA), will start being notified directly in order to provide the necessary information about their child. With the information provided then the automatic application is processed and the person entitled will receive the benefit without the child appearing before a panel again.
