TIRANA, July 28 – Around 432 children with disabilities aged 0–18 in Shkodër have started receiving a doubled monthly benefit. The measure covers all disability categories, including beneficiaries under the bio-psycho-social assessment scheme, blind persons, and people with paraplegic or tetraplegic status.
Alma Mehmetaj, Director of the Social Service in Shkodër, said the increase took effect on July 1, 2026. She added that more than 432 beneficiaries in the county now qualify under the latest legal amendments. Meanwhile, the law removes the requirement for annual medical reassessments for people whose disability status extends beyond one year.
Another legal change will take effect on October 1, 2026. It will expand social insurance coverage for personal assistants. Until now, only assistants of people with paraplegic or tetraplegic status qualified for pension and maternity insurance credits. However, the new provisions extend that right to assistants of all disability categories.
Mehmetaj explained that the measure will also cover assistants of beneficiaries under the bio-psycho-social scheme and blind persons. She noted that applicants must not hold paid employment or receive income subject to compulsory social insurance.
As a result, the new measures aim to improve living conditions for children with disabilities and strengthen institutional support for their families and personal assistants.
/a.p./
The post Shkodër doubles disability benefit for 432 children appeared first on RTSH English.
