A few hundred zlotys of extra money for hypertension. Few people know about this benefit

• Hypertension - especially if untreated - can contribute to, among other things, stroke or heart attack.
• People with hypertension who additionally have a certificate of significant disability can count on an important benefit - care allowance
• The benefit in the amount of PLN 215.84 per month is granted to partially cover the expenses resulting from the need to provide care and assistance to another person due to the inability to live independently.

Untreated high blood pressure can lead to stroke, kidney failure, and heart attack, among other things. In addition, it is estimated that one-third of the global population suffers from hypertension, and the condition is considered a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

As a result, for some people it can even lead to significant disability. In such a case, you can apply for a disability certificate. It is available to a person who:

• is over 16 years old,
• the body's efficiency is impaired,
• by its limitations:

- is incapable of gainful employment or requires adaptation of the workstation to his/her illness,

- requires care or help from others,

- has problems with everyday activities and needs devices that help with proper functioning – for example, a prosthesis, cochlear implant, personal insulin pump.

According to the Act on Vocational and Social Rehabilitation and Employment of Disabled Persons, there are three degrees of disability. The following are distinguished:

• considerable,
• moderate,
• light.

A significant degree of disability includes a person whose body functions are impaired:

• unable to take up employment,
• capable of performing employment in a sheltered workshop or in a vocational activation facility, requiring constant or long-term care or assistance from another person in order to perform social roles due to the significantly limited possibility of independent existence.

Diseases that qualify for a certificate

The Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy reminds that when qualifying for a significant, moderate and mild degree of disability, the extent of impairment of the body's functions caused by various disease factors is taken into account.

Therefore, people with hypertension, for example, can count on being issued with a certificate of significant disability if their condition has led to very serious complications.

According to the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy, these diseases can cause impairment of the body’s functions, including:

• respiratory and circulatory system diseases, including:

a) chronic obstructive and restrictive infectious lung diseases leading to respiratory failure,

b) lung and pleural cancers leading to respiratory failure,

c) congenital and acquired heart defects, ischemic heart disease, cardiomyopathies, cardiac arrhythmias with hemodynamic disorders qualifying for at least degree II heart failure according to the NYHA Classification,

d) arterial hypertension with organ complications,

e) obliterative atherosclerosis of the lower limb arteries, starting from the second degree of limb ischemia according to the Fontaine Classification,

f) deep venous insufficiency with complications in the form of inflammation and long-term ulcers.

Attendance allowance. How much is it?

Since 2019, the care allowance has not been indexed and still amounts to PLN 215.84 per month . This allowance is granted to partially cover expenses resulting from the need to provide care and assistance to another person due to the inability to live independently.

The following groups of people are entitled to care allowance:

• a disabled child;
• a disabled person over 16 years of age if he or she has a certificate of significant disability;
• a disabled person over 16 years of age with a certificate of moderate disability, if the disability occurred before the age of 21;
• a person who is over 75 years of age.

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