Albania

I - The resources and income of disabled people.

II - Disability compensation.

I –THE RESOURCES AND INCOME OF DISABLED PEOPLE.

A) An average of 70% of blind and seriously partially-sighted people of working age are unemployed. Are there specific legislative procedures for disabled people in your country to enable them to have a minimum of resources?

A Law exists. Law “for encouraging employment”
There are programs to promote employment. But often they are not applied.
There are two categories of persons with disabilities. The first category who have been employed and are entitled to a disability pension. The second category that has not been employed and not receiving a disability pension. The first category in some cases takes two types of income and income from disability due to blindness. Whereas the second category receives payment only due to blindness. Both categories according to the degree of disability when they have major damage and receive payment for custody or for third party assistance.

  • If yes: what are these allowances?

    Article 21

    The obligation of employers

    '3. Any employer who employs more than 24 employees is obliged to employ a disabled person for every 25 employees to its staff'.

Give specific details of the following aspects:

  • 1 Criteria of eligibility
  1. Age.

    - Minimum:
    - Maximum:
    None

  2. Level of disability.
    Disability is divided into two groups. In the first group who need caregiver and the second group of people who do not need caregivers.
  3. Nationality.
    Every Albanian citizen
  4. Conditions of residence in the country.
    Same as European Union
  • 2 Financial conditions.
  1. Ceiling.
    - Is the allowance means-tested?

    No

  2. Calculation of financial conditions.

    - If the allowance is means-tested, state under what conditions.

    n/a

  • 3 Amount of the allowance.
  1. Normal rate.

    - What is the amount of the allowance given to people with no other income, state briefly how the allowance varies according to other income or resources.
      The amount of payment due to blindness is €81 per month.

  2. Reduction of the allowance.

    - State briefly under what circumstances the allowance may be reduced.

    This aid is reduced when the blind person has done two years of work.
    According to the law 93 of dt.2014 when a disabled person is employed for two years they should be deprived of disability payments. Under conditions where they have worked 174 hours every month.

  • 4 Minimum wage and “poverty line”.

- In order to compare the situation in different EBU member states, please indicate the minimum wage (if this exists in your country) for a full-time worker, and what is considered to be “the poverty line”.

The poverty line in our country is not specified.

The minimum wage is €157 per month.

  • 5 Payment of the allowance.

 - What are the organisations which calculate and attribute the allowance?

These are payments that depend on local govt.

  • 6 Tax treatment of allowances and fringe benefits.
  1. Tax. Is the benefit subject to tax?
    A Blind person is exempt from certain taxes direct and indirect. Except when exercising a private activity. law 8098
  2. Fringe benefits. Does this allowance accord any fringe benefits?
    Electricity consumption reimbursed to the amount of €14 and landline phone to the amount of €7.

B) Do laws exist in your country to enable a minimum of resources for people who become disabled during their working lives?

Yes

  • If yes : what is the name of the allowance ?
    Social security law, following declaration of invalidity to work.

Specify by giving details of the following aspects:

  • 1 Criteria of eligibility
  1. Age.
  2. Degree of disability.
  3. Nationality.
  4. Residency requirements.
  5. Other conditions, please give details.
  • 2 Means test.
  • 3 Amount of the allowance.

The amount of disability allowance is determined by the degree of skill, and is on average €70-120 per month.

  • 4 Attribution, payment of the allowance.

- Who attributes the allowance: State, local government, others, give details.

This gives the state disability pension.

  • 5 Tax treatment of allowances and fringe benefits.
  1. Tax. Is the benefit subject to tax?
    No
  2. Fringe benefits. Does this allowance accord fringe benefits?
    No

II – DISABILITY COMPENSATION.

A visual disability (blindness or serious loss of sight) entails additional costs which must be met. Is there a specific allowance in your country to compensate for these costs?

Yes

  • If yes, give the name of this allowance and reply to the following questions.

http://www.sherbimisocial.gov.al/ (in Albanian, point: 7 & 8) Nr.2365, date 26.11.2008

For blind students continuing to either secondary school or vocational training, the double payment provided for in paragraph 4 of the Council of Ministers decision nr.277, dated 18.06.1997, is amended, therefore to up to 126€ ALL in one month

For blind high school students, or those who engage in postgraduate studies, or the blind who prepare a "Doctor of Science", degree receive three times the payment due to blindness, as defined in paragraph 4 of the decision of the Council of Ministers no. 277, dated 06.18.1997 (as amended), to up to 190€ per month.

  • 1 Eligibility conditions.
  1. Age.

    - Minimum:

    No age restrictions

    - Maximum:

    n/a

    - Duration of the allowance.

    Not more than a year after the normal school cycle

  2. Degree of disability.
    This payment does not depend on the degree of disability.
  3. Nationality.
  4. Conditions of residence in the country.
  5. Other conditions, give details.
  • 2 Financial conditions.
  • 3 Amount of the allowance.

- What is the amount of the allowance?

  • 4 Attribution and payment of the allowance.

- Which organisations attribute and pay the allowance:
The State sets benefits which are ten paid by local govt.

  • 5 Payment of the allowance.
  • 6 Reduction of the allowance.

- State briefly under what conditions the allowance can be reduced.

  • 7 Tax system of the allowance and fringe benefits.
  1. Tax system.
    Is the allowance subject to tax?

    NO, Compensation is not taxed.

  2. Fringe benefits.
    Does the allowance offer fringe benefits?

    For registration of higher education students do not pay the full fee, but 50% of the fee.