Persons with Disabilities: Termination of allowances for "Who Cares for a Person with a Disability" for ineligible recipients

Sources at the Public Authority for Persons with Disabilities (PAPD) confirmed that the data-update process for women caring for individuals with severe disabilities, which the Authority launched at the beginning of this year, has resulted in identifying a number of ineligible cases, as well as those who failed to respond to the PAPD’s repeated calls to revise their records within the stipulated deadlines. The Authority clarified that payments to these women were immediately suspended, and procedures were initiated to recover all financial amounts they had received without entitlement in previous periods.

According to the sources, the PAPD will reclaim any funds disbursed to persons with disabilities or their caregivers without legal entitlement, emphasizing that these are public funds that must be protected. The Authority stressed that any woman caring for a person with a disability who fails to update her records with the PAPD may face legal and administrative action in accordance with the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The sources further noted that if it is established that the data submitted by a woman caring for a person with a severe disability is inaccurate, she will be subject to Article 7 of the Executive Regulations, which stipulates that “a woman caring for a person with severe disability must repay all amounts disbursed to her by the PAPD if it is proven that the data she submitted was false.” The Authority confirmed that the data-update process has generated financial savings for the PAPD amounting to hundreds of thousands of dinars.

For further details:

- The Authority confirmed that any woman caring for a person with a disability who fails to update her records will be subject to legal action.

- The PAPD has suspended allowances for “care for persons with disabilities” for ineligible recipients and is requiring them to repay the funds.

Sources at the Public Authority for Persons with Disabilities (PAPWD) stated that the data update process for women caring for individuals with severe disabilities, initiated by the Authority at the beginning of this year, has resulted in identifying a number of ineligible cases, as well as those who failed to respond to the Authority’s repeated calls to revise their records within the stipulated deadlines. The sources explained that payments to these women were immediately suspended, and procedures were launched to recover all financial amounts they had received without entitlement in previous periods.

According to the sources, there are direct directives from the Minister of Social Affairs, Women’s Development, and Childhood, Dr. Amthal Al-Huwaili, to the Authority’s executives and officials to reclaim any funds disbursed to persons with disabilities or their caregivers without legal entitlement, emphasizing that these are public funds that must be protected. She stressed that any woman caring for a person with a disability who fails to update her records with the Authority may face legal and administrative measures, as stipulated in Articles 6 and 7 of the Executive Regulations of Law No. 8/2010 concerning the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and Administrative Decision No. 340/2022.

The sources noted that if it is proven that the data submitted by a woman caring for a person with a severe disability is inaccurate, Article 7 of the Executive Regulations will be applied, which mandates that “the woman caring for a person with a severe disability must repay all amounts disbursed to her by the Authority if it is proven that the data she submitted was incorrect.” They confirmed that the data update process has achieved financial savings for the Authority amounting to hundreds of thousands of dinars.

Regarding prosthetic and assistive devices, the sources affirmed that these measures are part of efforts to strengthen financial and administrative oversight within the Authority, ensuring that financial and in-kind benefits are directed exclusively to eligible beneficiaries. They pointed out that an integrated supervisory system within PAPWD is actively reviewing files, updating data periodically, and verifying eligibility in coordination with relevant government entities.

The sources indicated that the Authority has recently addressed a number of accumulated cases, primarily concerning assistive devices. It successfully provided and distributed a large number of wheelchairs and hearing aids to eligible beneficiaries after years of waiting. They added that approximately 10 companies are currently contracted with the Authority to supply wheelchairs according to the appropriate technical specifications for users.

Regarding the work of medical committees, the sources mentioned that the Authority is committed to ensuring the regular functioning of these committees according to scheduled timetables, and is continuously managing any increase in the number of visitors by enhancing operational capacity and establishing extraordinary committees when necessary. They clarified that the maximum waiting time for appointments with the medical committees currently does not exceed three weeks.