Around 90% of people with downs syndrome and severe disability will not need to go before the medical board to assess their disability in order to receive disability allowances, Minister for Social Justice Michael Falzon said, thereby reducing red tape.

This was announced in a press conference addressed by Minister Falzon and by Minister for Inclusion and Social Wellbeing Julia Farrugia Portelli.

It was noted that people with disability had to go before the health board to see if they were eligible and if they qualify for the disability allowance.

“It was uncovered through a consultation exercise that one of the negative factors people with disability face was that, when children who are receiving the child’s disability allowance reach 16 years of age and come to take allowance for severe disability as an adult, they would have to go before the medical board for the latter to confirm that they have a disability,” Farrugia Portelli said.

“Families should not go through this painful procedure,” Farrugia Portelli said.

She pointed out that it is for this reason that a new measure would be introduced to tackle this issue.

Minister Falzon said that the measure will both preserve the dignity of people with disability, while preserving their financial support.

The minister explained that such persons used to go before the medical board to confirm their disability, so they would need to take other tests. “The reality is that some conditions can improve, but some cannot.”

Falzon noted that the changes being proposed will simplify the lives of parents and children with disability alike when it comes to switching from the Disabled Child Allowance to the adult disability allowance that they receive.

He did note, however, that in certain cases the medical board may decide to see the child again, “but there would be no need 90% of the time.”