Support and assistive devices for people with disabilities in Åland
Åland has its own laws and regulations on healthcare and social services, with certain exceptions. People with disabilities can get support and assistance in their daily lives through Kommunernas socialtjänst (KST), which is responsible for social services in the municipalities of Åland. Åland Healthcare Service (ÅHS) and Kela also offer certain forms of support, benefits and assistive devices.
Disability services
Disability services are intended for individuals who, due to a disability or long-term illness, require various forms of support to maintain, strengthen or preserve their functional abilities and to be able to participate in and be included in society on an equal footing.
KST assesses the need for support and the measures required based on the disability as described in the submitted application, and determines how these measures can facilitate participation in daily life, as well as whether the services granted are necessary and reasonable. Read more about the services KST offers on the page Disability services or in the menu tabs below.
Day activities, employment support activities and work activities are an overall system designed to promote participation and employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The various services are designed, among other things, for people who need support to enter the workforce or are unable to work. Employment is arranged within both special care and disability services.
For more information on the various types of employment, visit KST’s webpages on Employment, Day activities and Fixtjänst.
People with severe disabilities may be granted personal assistance. Personal assistance involves help with daily tasks, work and studies, during leisure activities and similar situations. More information on the scope of personal assistance, personal assistance for children and how to apply is available on the KST website.
KST provides housing for people under the age of 65 with physical and mental disabilities, offering round-the-clock care at the Lagunen assisted living facility in Jomala municipality. The facility has staff on hand to provide assistance and support, and the living arrangement also fosters a sense of community in daily life. Learn more about the Lagunen assisted living facility on the KST website.
Assisted living is also available for people with disabilities as part of specialised care; learn more on the Housing page of the KST website.
KST may grant reimbursement for transport services for persons with severe disabilities and, in certain cases, also for their companions. Transport services means trips that are part of daily life, such as trips for work, school, recreation and similar purposes. Transport services may not be used for travel expenses that are reimbursed by Kela.
KST may also provide services that support mobility. This assistance is primarily intended for people with disabilities and is provided to help them carry out everyday tasks.
Learn more about the requirements, how to apply and who is eligible for transport services and mobility support on the KST website.
How to apply for disability services
Applications for disability services are made to KST using a paper form or through their online services. The application must be accompanied by a medical certificate and an expert opinion. The expert could be, for example, an occupational therapist, physical therapist, speech therapist or similar. If the application is for modification work, equipment or fixtures, a cost estimate must be attached. More information on how to apply is available on the KST website.
Assistive devices and reimbursements
Examples of assistive devices that make daily life easier include wheelchairs, toilet seat risers and communication aids. Depending on the situation, assistive devices may be obtained through ÅHS, Kela, or KST. Some assistive devices are covered under medical rehabilitation and are generally provided free of charge. Read more on the ÅHS webpage on the Assistive devices centre.
Assistive devices for leisure activities and items that are permanently installed in the home, such as handrails and ramps, may be financed by KST or the Government of Åland. Persons with a severe disability may also receive compensation for necessary home modifications required to manage daily life independently, such as bathroom modifications. KST also covers additional costs for clothing, special diets and nutritional supplements used regularly over an extended period. For persons over the age of 65, elderly care services also cover certain home modifications.
It is also possible to apply for financial assistance to purchase a car following an individual needs assessment. Grants may also be awarded to people who do not drive themselves but who need a car, for example to get to work. The costs of necessary modifications to the vehicle are generally also covered by KST.
Always contact KST’s disability services before making any modifications to your home, or if you are unsure about what additional costs may be reimbursed. For more information, go to KST’s webpage on Home modifications and equipment.
Social benefits and grants
Information on social security, such as rehabilitation, income support and sick pay, is available on the Info Norden pages on health and social security. The menu tabs below list additional social benefits and grants related to disabilities.
Informal care refers means that a person with a disability receives care and support at home from a family member or other close person. In order for informal care to be approved, it must constitute the primary form of care for the person in need of care, with the possibility of supplementary support services. The family caregiver has overall responsibility for the care, and the care provided must be more extensive and demanding than the care normally provided within couple and family relationships. Read more on the KST website.
You can get reimbursement for travel from Kela if you travel to a public or private healthcare facility and the reason for the trip is, for example, illness or rehabilitation. As a rule, the right to reimbursement applies to travel to the nearest doctor, medical examination or treatment facility, as well as to the healthcare facility where the public healthcare system (ÅHS) has purchased the service. This also applies to travel to Sweden.
If the patient needs a companion during the trip, it is possible to get reimbursement for that person’s travel expenses as well. Travel expenses are reimbursed when healthcare staff have determined that an accompanying person is necessary, for example due to the patient’s illness or because a family member must be present during treatment.
Disability benefits for persons under the age of 18 are intended to support the home care of children who, for at least six months, due to illness or disability, have a greater need for care and rehabilitation than is typical for children of the same age. Disability benefits for persons over the age of 18 are intended for persons whose functional capacity has been impaired for at least one year due to illness or disability and who are not receiving disability or old-age pension benefits.
The care allowance for pensioners is intended for persons who, due to illness or disability, have had reduced functional capacity for at least one year. You may be eligible for a care allowance if you receive an old-age pension, guarantee pension, disability pension or other benefits due to an inability to work.
The disability and care allowance is a tax-free benefit that you apply for through Kela. Learn more about the grants on the Disability webpage.
Special care allowance is compensation for lost income paid in situations where a parent or guardian is unable to work because they must provide care or rehabilitation for a child under the age of 16 who has an illness or disability. Learn more about special care allowance on the Kela website.
Other forms of support and assistive devices
Information on other forms of support, services and assistive devices available for persons with disabilities in Åland can be found in the menu tabs below.
Following a needs assessment, KST may offer home services to persons who, due to illness, injury or a disability, require assistance with tasks related to housing, health and personal care, child-rearing, running errands or similar activities. Read more on the KST website.
The purpose of housing support is to help a person live as independently as possible. Housing support from KST may include guidance in everyday tasks such as cleaning, cooking and contacts with authorities. The support is free of charge for people under the age of 65 and is granted on a means-tested basis. You can find more information on housing support on the KST website.
If the support from your own network is insufficient, KST may, following a needs assessment, assign a support person or support family. This support may include, for example, contact with an adult role model, training in social situations, or respite care for the family. Find out more on the KST website, where you can also express your interest in volunteering to support someone else.
Parking permits for people with disabilities are issued by the Åland police authority. Applications must be submitted in person at the police station in Mariehamn. Parking permits are issued on presentation of a medical certificate showing that the degree of disability meets the requirements for the permit. Find out more on the Police website on passports, ID cards, driving licences and other permits.
People with reduced mobility can have their mail delivered to their door free of charge if they have a doctor’s note recommending it. Contact customer service at Åland Post for more information.
Kela can grant in-person or remote interpreting services for various everyday situations involving visual or hearing impairments or speech and language disorders. Interpreting is available in sign language, sign-supported speech, speech-to-text interpreting, and using communication methods for people with speech and language impairments. Learn more on the Kela webpage Interpreter service for the disabled.
Taxation and disabilities
There are certain tax deductions that may apply to people with disabilities who live in Åland. These include the right to a disability deduction in municipal taxation, the possibility of a car tax refund when buying or importing a car and exemption from the basic amount of vehicle tax.
Read more in the menu tabs below; you can find more information on taxation on the Info Norden webpage Tax in Åland.
Persons whose municipality of residence is Åland are entitled to a disability deduction in municipal taxation, even though the disability deduction has been discontinued for people residing on the Finnish mainland. The disability deduction is granted to persons with a permanent disability rating of at least 30% resulting from illness, a physical defect or physical injury. The deduction is a maximum of 440 euros. Read more about the disability deduction on the Tax Administration’s webpage on Åland deductions.
A refund of car tax due to disability may be claimed when a person with a mobility impairment, visual impairment or any other disability resulting in a permanent condition is registered as the owner of a vehicle being registered for the first time. The refund applies to new cars and used cars imported to Åland from abroad. The amount of the refund depends on the situation, and the refund is granted only once. You can find more information on car tax refunds due to disability on the Tax Administration’s website.
Exemption from the basic amount of vehicle tax applies to persons who own a car or to users of a car who hold a valid parking permit for persons with reduced mobility by the Åland police authority. Exemption from the basic amount of vehicle tax also applies to persons who use their car to transport a person with a mobility impairment and to persons who have been granted a vehicle tax refund due to their own or a family member’s illness, injury or disability.
Exemption from the tax applies to only one vehicle at a time per person with a disability. If the parking permit expires or if you change cars, you must submit a new application for tax exemption. If a car that has been exempt from tax is sold, the buyer is responsible for the vehicle tax starting the day after the purchase.
More information and the form for exemption from the basic amount of vehicle tax on the basis of a disability are available on the website of the State Department of Åland.
Right to support and assistive devices
To be eligible for support and assistive devices, the person must be registered as a resident in an Åland municipality. During a temporary stay in Åland, you are entitled only to essential medical care. Read more on the Info Norden page Right to healthcare services in Åland.
Nordic citizens and others who are legally resident in a Nordic country are covered by the Nordic Convention on Social Assistance and Social Services. The convention governs moves between Nordic countries for persons who require long-term care or treatment. This means that the responsible authorities must work together in the client’s best interest and coordinate to ensure that the move between countries is as smooth as possible. As a rule, benefits supports ends when you move to another Nordic country. Contact both your current and new responsible authorities before moving to find out what applies in your particular situation.
Dissatisfaction and complaints
If you feel you have been discriminated against or are dissatisfied with social services, the Office of the Åland Ombudsman or Funktionsrätt Åland are available to provide support and advice. The ombudsmen are independent of municipalities, authorities and healthcare providers and can assist in drafting complaints and comments. Complaints, comments and appeals can also be submitted directly to KST or ÅHS.
It is also possible to file an administrative complaint with the Åland Environmental and Health Protection Authority (ÅMHM). Such a complaint may concern shortcomings and irregularities in how social services are planned, implemented and followed up. You can find more information on the respective authority's website.
More information
The Info Norden website provides information on support, assistive devices and services for people with disabilities in the other Nordic countries, as well as contact information for the authorities that can answer questions.
Please fill in our contact form if you have any questions or if you have encountered an obstacle in another Nordic country.
NB! If you have questions regarding the processing of a specific case or application, or other personal matters, please contact the relevant authority directly.