Updated on 3 December 2023
If you are a person with a disability and are granted international or temporary protection in Bulgaria, you have the same rights as Bulgarian citizens. You have the right to seek social, financial and personal assistance in Bulgaria. To exercise your rights, however, you need to have your disability established with a decision of the competent Bulgarian authorities – the Territorial Expert Medical Commission (in Bulgarian, these commissions are called TELK) or by the National Expert Medical Commission (in Bulgarian – NELK). You can read more about the procedure in this article:
Procedure for establishing a disability
In this article, we will list some of the available support and how to apply for it.
You can submit your applications to receive any of the assistance listed below, to the territorial Social Assistance Directorate per your current address registration.
To apply, you would at least need to submit the following documents:
- Filled in application form
- Filled in self-evaluation form
- Your identity documents
- Medical documents or TELK/NELK expert decision establishing your disability and need for assistance.
- Notarized authorization, if someone else is submitting the document on your behalf.
If additional or different documents are needed, this will be mentioned below for each different support you can apply for.
When you submit your application, the Director of the Social Assistance Directorate will conduct an individual needs assessment. If a need for support is established then you will be issued a medical referral.
Monthly financial support
You can apply for this financial support if you have a permanent disability and you are over the age of 18.
The amount of money that you can receive depends on your degree of disability, measured in percentages and the line of poverty for the respective year (526 BGN for 2024). In 2024 the financial support is as follows:
- From 50 to 70,99% degree of disability - 36,82 BGN
- From 71 to 90 % degree of disability - 78,90 BGN
- Over 90 % degree of disability – 131,50 BGN
- Over 90 % degree of disability for people with defined need of personal assistance who receive a disability pension due to a general illness or due to an accident at work or an occupational disease – 157,80 BGN
- Over 90 % degree of disability for people with defined need of personal assistance who receive a social disability pension or military disability pension, or civil disability pension, or survivor's pension - 299,82 BGN
The financial support in points 4 and 5 can be different if you are also receiving a pension.
Personal assistant
To be eligible for a personal assistant you need to meet the following requirements:
- You need to have a TELK/NELK decision that states that you have a permanent disability or permanently reduced working capacity because of which you need the help of a personal assistant. OR
- You have a child with 90 and more than 90 % type and degree of disability or degree of permanently reduced working capacity.
If a need for personal assistant is established by the Social Assistance Directorate then you will be issued a medical referral for the provision of personal assistance for a specific number of hours – from 15 to 168 hours depending on your needs.
After you receive this referral, you need to submit an application and attach the referral to it at the municipality per your current address. You can find a sample application for personal assistance on this link.
You can choose who to be your personal assistant in your application to the municipality.
Support to buy a personal car
To receive this support, you need to meet all of the following requirements:
- Your average monthly income per family member for the last 12 months is equal to or lower than 526 BGN for the year 2024;
- You have a type and degree of disability or permanently reduced working capacity above 90% determined by TELK /NELK;
- You are employed or a student
In addition to the standard documents mentioned at the beginning of this article, you also need to submit:
- a copy of the registration certificate of the car
- a document certifying that you bought a car (e.g. a contract);
- documents certifying the gross income of your family.
If necessary, the Social Assistance Directorate may require other documents.
For 2024 the amount of financial support you can receive to buy a car is 2104 BGN
If you have already taken advantage of this support once, you can reapply only after at least 5 years have passed and a need for a new car is established.
Free of charge annual vignette for your car
You can read more about the car vignette requirement in Bulgaria in this article:
You can apply for a free annual vignette, if:
- You have 50 and more than 50% reduced working capacity; OR
- You are raising children with permanent disabilities up until they turn 18 years old and complete their secondary education, but no later than 20- years old.
You can take advantage of this opportunity only for one car, of which you are the owner or it is the family property of you and your spouse.
The vignette is valid for one year from the date of issue.
To apply for this support you need to fill on a different application form that you can download at this link. You also need to attach the identity document of the person who has an established disability to the application.
Financial support for housing reconstruction
This support is provided to carry out alterations that you need to do in your home to overcome mobility difficulties. Whether the was a need for the reconstruction is verified by the Social Assistance Directorate.
To apply for this support you need to meet the following requirements:
- Your average monthly income per family member for the last 12 months has to be equal to or lower than 526 BGN (this is the maximum for the year 2024).
- You have a type and degree of disability or permanently reduced working capacity above 90% determined by TELK /NELK OR you have a child/children who use a wheelchair.
In the year 2024, the amount of financial support that you can receive is 1052 BGN.
If you have already taken advantage of this support once, you can reapply only after at least 10 years have passed and a need for a new reconstruction is established.
When you are applying for this support, you will need the following additional document:
- an invoice for the cost of repairs by type of expenses and a fiscal receipt;
- documents certifying the family's gross income over the last 12 months.
Support to cover thermal cure or rehabilitation treatment
You can apply for such a support if:
- You have more than 90% reduced working capacity; OR
- You have children with permanent disabilities.
- You have a medical prescription from a specialist doctor that you need to carry out thermal cure or rehabilitation treatments. This document needs to be attached to your application.
You can take advantage of this support only once a year.
In the year 2024, you can receive up to 420 BGN for such a treatment, but not more than what you actually spent. The same applies to the personal assistant who needs to accompany you.
You will be reimbursed for your expenses only after you present documents proving that you have paid and were provided thermal cure and/or rehabilitation treatment.
If the treatment is provided to you in facilities of the National Social Insurance Institute, the Ministry of Health, or in specialised rehabilitation hospitals authorised by the Minister of Health, the financial aid is paid directly to the facility. In this case, apart from the medical prescription and the proof of expenses made (invoices, receipts), you need to present to the Social Assistance Directorate:
- A document issued by the relevant facility/specialised rehabilitation hospital where the services have been provided, certifying that you have actually been provided the treatment.
- A copy of the order granting you the right to go through the treatment. This order is issued by the director of the Social Assistance Directorate after they make an individual needs assessment.
Support to cover rent when living in municipal housing for people with permanent disabilities
You can apply for this support if you are:
- A single person; OR
- A single parent with a permanently disabled child.
- You are renting municipal housing.
- Your name is included in the rent agreement.
When you apply for this type of support you need to attach to your application a copy of the rent agreement.
The financial aid is paid by the Social Assistance Directorate per the rent price defined by law. You need to provide a cost justification document from the municipality where you received housing.
Cash compensation for travel expenses
You can use this type of support when you need to travel to get specific appliances, equipment or medical devices that were prescribed to you (including in situations when they need to be repaired) because they cannot be sent to your address and your presence is required (e.g. to take measurements).
Within 1 month from the receipt of the needed specific appliances, equipment or medical devices, you need to submit to the Social Assistance Directorate a special application (download here) and attach:
- A return ticket for travel within the country - in second class on an express or passenger train, or by bus;
- A document proving that you actually went for your measurements to be taken, to try the equipment or that you have received your appliances, equipment or medical devices.
This document should be issued by a person entered in the register of persons carrying out activities for the provision and repair of appliances, equipment or medical devices maintained by the Executive Agency for Medicinal Products.
If I am approved, how will I receive my financial support?
There are two ways:
- by cash through a licensed postal operator in accordance with the address where you live
- via bank transfer to your personal bank account for which you have provided an International Bank Account Number (IBAN). In this case, you are required to provide a bank account in a Bulgarian bank licensed by the Bulgarian National Bank.
What if my application for support is rejected?
You can always appeal the decision with which your application for support was rejected. You need to do that within 14 days from the day the decision was served to you before the administrative court in accordance with your place of residence. The decision of the administrative court can be appealed before the Supreme Administrative Court in Sofia. We advise you to seek the help of an experienced lawyer as soon as possible.
- Log in to post comments
