Cyprus parliamentary committee discusses disability reform bill

The Cypriot Parliamentary Committee on Labour is reviewing a new bill on disability, social inclusion, and independent living. The legislation aims to align state support with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by shifting from a pure benefit-based model to a holistic support system. Participants in the discussion agreed on three key positive aspects: the decoupling of the guaranteed minimum income from disability benefits, the expansion of benefit eligibility to thousands of previously unsupported individuals, and universal access to support services. However, members of parliament, patient organizations, and disability groups raised significant concerns regarding definitions of disability, rights for children, pensioners, and individuals with dementia or autism. Representatives, including the Cyprus Confederation of Organizations of the Disabled, criticized the existing benefits as inadequate and noted that the proposed bill does not increase current payment levels. The Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare has been requested to address these outstanding questions before the discussion proceeds. It remains uncertain whether the bill will be enacted by the current or the next parliament.