Support for assistive devices in Greenland

If you are resident in Greenland and have a long-term need for assistive devices, you have the same right as Greenlandic citizens to apply for support from the public authorities.

Greenlandic legislation does not specify which assistive devices you can apply for support for. This is regulated by the Executive Order on support for persons with disabilities.

The municipal councils grant support for the purchase of assistive devices for persons with disabilities, if it is assessed that:

• The device can significantly alleviate the consequences of the disability
• The device can significantly facilitate the person’s daily life
• The device is necessary for the person to be able to carry out a job or other occupation
   

Assistance may be granted as support for the purchase of more expensive assistive devices, or as a loan of physical devices. In addition, the municipality is obliged to provide advice on the choice of device and guidance in its use. It is also the municipality that must cover the cost of maintenance and repair of the device.

If you are a relative of a person with a disability, you have the right to receive advice and guidance, as well as courses in how to help the disabled person.  

You must in the first instance apply to the social administration in your municipality. If you are studying, you must contact your place of education.

If you have a child in primary school, it is the school that provides most assistive devices, but the municipality can cover some devices through the Act on support for persons with disabilities. The same applies if you have a child in day-care who needs assistive devices.

Assistive devices and the allocation of assistive devices is a municipal responsibility in Greenland. If you move home, you must therefore contact the municipality to which you are moving, where you can apply for support for assistive devices.

Only persons who are resident in Greenland may be allocated assistive devices in Greenland. If you are moving to Greenland and have a disability, it is a good idea to bring your medical record with reports, health papers and medical certificates. The same applies if you are moving from Greenland to another Nordic country.

The Act on support for persons with disabilities applies only to persons who are resident in Greenland. If you are only staying temporarily in Greenland, you should therefore contact the Ministry of Social Affairs and Justice.

If you have specific questions about applying for support for assistive devices, you can contact your municipality’s social administration.

If you have general questions about assistive devices in Greenland, you can contact the National Board of Health and Welfare at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Justice.

If you are seeking advice and guidance on disabilities, you can contact Pissassarfik (Disability Centre), which is part of the National Board of Health and Welfare.

If you are looking for information about persons with disabilities in Greenland, or if you have questions about case processing or complaints about municipal decisions, you can contact Tilioq (Disability Advocate).