Published: 10.10.2022.

The disability pension may be received by the following persons:

  • who have not reached the set retirement age,
  • to whom the old-age pension, including the early old-age pension, has not been granted,
  • whose disability has been confirmed (except, when the cause of disability is an accident at work or a professional disease after the 1st January 1997), and
  • whose insurance period is at least three years.

The disability pension is paid until the age required for granting the old-age pension - when a person reaches the retirement age set in the country, the old-age pension is granted. During the period of disability, it shall not be below the disability pension which has been received until the moment of granting the old-age pension. Thus, if the disability pension is higher than the calculated old-age pension, the person receives the old-age pension equal to the amount of the disability pension. If the disability is no longer confirmed at the moment of granting the old-age pension, the calculated olg-age pension is paid to the person.

The rule of maintaining the amount of the disability pension at the moment of granting the old-age pension is not applicable if the entitlement to receive the old-age pension has been obtained exclusively on the basis of international agreements in the field of social security or the Regulation of the European Parliament and Council (EC) No. 883/2004 (29 April 2004) on the coordination of social security systems, and also in the case when the insurance period for which the old-age pension has been calculated is below the insurance period for which the disability pension has been calculated.

During the employment the full amount of the disability pension is paid.

The amount of the disability pension depends on the disability category confirmed for the person.

As of 1 July 2023, for persons with III disability group, the disability pension is granted at the level of the disability pension calculation basis, which is 157 euro, for persons with disability since childhood – 188 euro.

The amount of the disability pension of the I and II group depends on the following aspects:

  • the person's average monthly wage from which social insurance contributions are paid and which is set for any period of successive 36 months during the last 5 years prior to the granting of the disability pension;
  • the person's individual social insurance term;
  • the maximum possible insurance term which is defined from the age of 15 years until the reaching of the retirement age stipulated by the law.

If the disability insurance has not been applicable to the person for a period of 5 years prior to the granting of the disability pension, the minimum disability pension is granted.

In the calculation of the minimum disability pension for persons with I and II disability group a coefficient is applied to the disability pension calculation basis: 1.6 for persons with I disability group (251,20 euro, for persons with disability since childhood – 300,80 euro) and 1.4 for persons with II disability group (219,80 euro, for persons with disability since childhood – 263,20 euro).

Compensation for the loss of working capacity is granted if the State Commission of Doctors for Health and Work Capability Expertise [Veselības un darbspēju ekspertīzes ārstu komisija] (SCDHWCE) has determined a partial or complete loss of working capacity, caused by an accident at work or an occupational disease. Compensation for loss of working capacity is determined taking into account the loss of working capacity (in percentage) and the corresponding compensation for loss of working capacity (in percentage).

The types of insurance compensation due to accidents at work or occupational diseases are:

  • sickness benefit;
  • compensation for loss of working capacity;
  • compensation for additional expenses related to treatment and medical rehabilitation, personal care, purchase and repair of technical aids, travel expenses when visiting a doctor.

If the death of the insured person has occurred as a result of a work accident or occupational disease, the family members are entitled to:

  • compensation for the loss of a breadwinner (support person);
  • funeral allowance.

Insurance compensation and related services can be requested at any department of the State Social Insurance Agency/SSIA [Valsts sociālās apdrošināšanas aģentūra/VSAA]. A written request for granting the benefit can be submitted:

  • by personally coming to the SSIA department;
  • by means of an electronic document, indicating in it all the necessary information or using the form on SSIA's website (www.vsaa.lv), signing it with a secure electronic signature;
  • by sending it by post, indicating all the necessary information or by using the form on SSIA's website (www.vsaa.lv);
  • using the unified state and local government services portal www.latvija.lv by filling out a special online form using the personal authentication tools available on the portal.

Additional information on the procedures for requesting and awarding compensation can be obtained on the SSIA website https://www.vsaa.gov.lv/en, by calling +371 64507020; or by writing an e-mail to pasts@vsaa.gov.lv.

The state social security benefit is granted in accordance with Article 13 of the Law on State Social Benefits [Valsts sociālo pabalstu likums] to an adult (a person over 18 years of age) who does not have the right to receive a state pension (except for pension of a breadwinner (support person) for a person with a disability) or insurance compensation due to an accident at work or an occupational disease.

The state social security benefit can be received by:

  • due to disability or the specified retirement age – Latvian citizens, non-citizens, foreigners and stateless persons who have been assigned a personal code and who permanently live in the territory of Latvia, if they have lived in Latvia without a break for the last 12 months before requesting the benefit, but in total – for no less than 60 months;
  • in case of loss of a breadwinner (support person) – Latvian citizens, non-citizens, foreigners and stateless persons who have been assigned a personal code and who live independently in the territory of Latvia, breadwinner (support person).

The amount of the state social security benefit for a person with a disability:

For a person with a disability who works

In general cases:

Disability group I: – EUR 175.00 a month

Disability group II: – EUR 150.00 a month

Disability group III: – EUR 125.00 a month

In case of a disability since childhood:

Disability group I: – EUR 219.80 a month

Disability group II: – EUR 188.40 a month

Disability group III: – EUR 157.00 a month

For a person with a disability who does NOT work

In general cases:

Disability group I: – EUR 227.50 a month

Disability group II: – EUR 180.00 a month

Disability group III: – EUR 125.00 a month

In case of a disability since childhood:

Disability group I: – EUR 285.74 a month

Disability group II: – EUR 226.08 a month

Disability group III: – EUR 157.00 a month

The minimum monthly amount of the state social security benefit in case of survivor's loss for each child:

  • Up to the age of six years (incl.) – EUR 157.00;
  • From the age of seven years and upwards – EUR 188.00.

If the state social security benefit is claimed by a previously dependent person who is no older than 20 years old and studies in a foreign educational institution, then, in addition to the request, a statement from the general education or vocational education institution must be submitted to SSIA.

If the recipient of the state social security benefit leaves Latvia to live permanently in a foreign country, the payment of the benefit is terminated by paying the benefit for the next two months before departure.

Benefit can be requested at any department of the State Social Insurance Agency/SSIA [Valsts sociālās apdrošināšanas aģentūra/VSAA]. A written request for granting the benefit can be submitted:

  • by personally coming to the SSIA department;
  • by means of an electronic document, indicating in it all the necessary information or using the form on SSIA's website, signing it with a secure electronic signature;
  • by sending it by post, indicating all the necessary information or by using the form on SSIA's website;
  • using the unified state and local government services portal by filling out a special online form using the personal authentication tools available on the portal.

Additional information on the procedures for requesting and awarding the benefit can be obtained on the SSIA website, by calling +371 64507020; or by writing an e-mail to pasts@vsaa.gov.lv.

 

For an adult person with a disability, the allowance for the need for special care is granted and paid if the person has severe disorders of the body's system functions, and if the State Commission of Doctors for Health and Work Capability Expertise [Veselības un darbspēju ekspertīzes ārstu komisija] (SCDHWCE) has issued an opinion on the need for special care.

The amount of the benefit is EUR 213.43 per month.

For persons who have been disabled since childhood, the amount is EUR 313.43 per month.

While receiving the benefit, persons with disabilities can also continue to receive the state social security benefit or pension (for old age or disability).

Benefit can be requested at any department of the State Social Insurance Agency/SSIA [Valsts sociālās apdrošināšanas aģentūra/VSAA]. A written request for granting the benefit can be submitted:

  • by personally coming to the SSIA department;
  • by means of an electronic document, indicating in it all the necessary information or using the form on SSIA's website (www.vsaa.lv), signing it with a secure electronic signature;
  • by sending it by post, indicating all the necessary information or by using the form on SSIA's website (www.vsaa.lv);
  • using the unified state and local government services portal www.latvija.lv by filling out a special online form using the personal authentication tools available on the portal.

Additional information on the procedures for requesting and awarding the benefit can be obtained on the SSIA website https://www.vsaa.gov.lv/en, by calling +371 64507020; or by writing an e-mail to pasts@vsaa.gov.lv.

An allowance to compensate for transport expenses can be received by a person who himself/herself or whose child has a certain disability and who has been issued an opinion by the State Commission of Doctors for Health and Work Capability Expertise [Veselības un darbspēju ekspertīzes ārstu komisija] (State commission) on determining the medical indications for receiving this benefit.

TThe amount of this benefit is EUR 105 for each full six-month period.

The right to receive this allowance starts from the day when the opinion of the State commission has been issued to the person. If an opinion has not been issued to a person upon determining disability, he can turn to his attending physician after being referred to the state commission for an opinion.

When requesting a benefit for the compensation of transport expenses, the applicant for the benefit in any department of the State Social Insurance Agency/SSIA [Valsts sociālās apdrošināšanas aģentūra/VSAA]. A written request for granting the benefit can be submitted:

  • by personally coming to the SSIA department;
  • by means of an electronic document, indicating in it all the necessary information or using the form on SSIA's website (www.vsaa.lv), signing it with a secure electronic signature;
  • by sending it by post, indicating all the necessary information or by using the form on SSIA's website (www.vsaa.lv);
  • using the unified state and local government services portal www.latvija.lv by filling out a special online form using the personal authentication tools available on the portal.

Additional information on the procedures for requesting and awarding the benefit can be obtained on the SSIA website https://www.vsaa.gov.lv/en, by calling +371 64507020; or by writing an e-mail to pasts@vsaa.gov.lv.

A person with disability group I, determined due to severe visual impairment, has the right to receive an allowance for the use of an assistant, if the person does not already receive the care allowance for persons with disabilities or assistant service in the municipality.

The amount of the allowance is EUR 17.07 per week (for 10 hours of assistant service per week).

Benefit can be requested at any department of the State Social Insurance Agency/SSIA [Valsts sociālās apdrošināšanas aģentūra/VSAA]. A written request for granting the benefit can be submitted:

  • by personally coming to the SSIA department;
  • by means of an electronic document, indicating in it all the necessary information or using the form on SSIA's website (www.vsaa.lv), signing it with a secure electronic signature;
  • by sending it by post, indicating all the necessary information or by using the form on SSIA's website (www.vsaa.lv);
  • using the unified state and local government services portal www.latvija.lv by filling out a special online form using the personal authentication tools available on the portal.

Additional information on the procedures for requesting and awarding the benefit can be obtained on the SSIA website https://www.vsaa.gov.lv/en, by calling +371 64507020; or by writing an e-mail to pasts@vsaa.gov.lv.

A care allowance is granted to a child with a disability if the State Commission of Doctors for Health and Work Capability Expertise [Veselības un darbspēju ekspertīzes ārstu komisija] (State commission) has issued an opinion on the need for special care for a child who has severe functional impairment.

The purpose of the benefit is to ensure the fuller development of a child with a disability and safer care at home.

The amount of the benefit is EUR 313.43 per month. Along with this benefit, the state also grants a supplement to the family state benefit for a child with a disability – EUR 106.72 per month. Thus, the state support provided to families reaches EUR 420.15 per month.

Allowance is granted to a person who takes care of a child with a disability up to the age of 18 or until the term when the child's disability or special need for care expires. A person can receive benefits even if he/she works.

Benefit can be requested at any department of the State Social Insurance Agency/SSIA [Valsts sociālās apdrošināšanas aģentūra/VSAA]. A written request for granting the benefit can be submitted:

  • by personally coming to the SSIA department;
  • by means of an electronic document, indicating in it all the necessary information or using the form on SSIA's website (www.vsaa.lv), signing it with a secure electronic signature;
  • by sending it by post, indicating all the necessary information or by using the form on SSIA's website (www.vsaa.lv);
  • using the unified state and local government services portal www.latvija.lv by filling out a special online form using the personal authentication tools available on the portal.

Additional information on the procedures for requesting and awarding the benefits can be obtained on the SSIA website https://www.vsaa.gov.lv/en, by calling +371 64507020; or by writing an e-mail to pasts@vsaa.gov.lv.