The Council of Ministers has approved the phased implementation of the Law on Social Participation, Inclusion and Independent Living for Persons with Disabilities, with the first five benefits taking effect over the coming months.
The decision covers increases to the car purchase grant, the mobility allowance, the personal assistance and home care allowance, and the day centre participation allowance, among other measures.
Deputy Minister of Social Welfare Clea Papaellina said the Council of Ministers had approved and begun implementing what she described as a landmark proposal from her Deputy Ministry, covering the 2026 law on social participation, inclusion and independent living for persons with disabilities, which parliament passed unanimously last April.
The law aims to upgrade and modernise social benefits and services for citizens with disabilities. Under the Council of Ministers’ decision, the first five independent living benefits will be introduced as follows.
Car purchase grant
The provisions on the car purchase grant will take effect once the relevant notice approved today is published in the Official Gazette in the coming days. The grant amount will rise by 50%, from 3,500 euros to 5,250 euros, from 4,500 euros to 6,750 euros, and from 9,000 euros to 13,500 euros. The pool of eligible recipients will also expand to include children under 18 and people aged between 70 and 77 who have received the grant only once before.
Mobility allowance
The provisions on the mobility allowance will also take effect from the date the notice is published. The monthly allowance will rise by 33%, from 75 euros to 100 euros and from 150 euros to 200 euros. The increase will apply retroactively from January 1, 2026, with a lump sum covering the first six months. Eligibility will expand to include, among others, people with quadriplegia over 65, and people with moderate or severe disabilities who are in work or education.
Personal assistance and home care allowance
From August 1, 2026, the personal assistance and home care allowance will take effect, introducing what the Deputy Ministry described as one of its most significant reforms, decoupling the allowance from income and asset criteria. The existing allowances being merged into this new benefit, namely the disability allowance, the home care grant, the blind persons’ grant, the severe mobility disability allowance, and the paraplegic and quadriplegic care allowances, will all rise by 10%, with retroactive payment from January 1, 2026. Further reforms include free choice of personal assistance and care arrangements, and recognition of informal personal assistance and care.
Day centre participation allowance
From September 1, 2026, the day centre participation allowance will take effect. The existing amount will double, from 150 euros to 300 euros a month, and will be paid directly to day centres.
Supportive consumables allowance
From October 1, 2026, the supportive consumables allowance will take effect, incorporating all existing recipients into the new system.
The total additional cost over the three years from 2026 to 2028, resulting from the increases and the phased expansion of eligibility to cover 5,000 more people, is expected to reach around 104 million euros. This includes an additional 23 million euros in 2026, 36 million euros in 2027 and 45 million euros in 2028.
Papaellina said the decision represented “an additional important step” towards a modern, fair and inclusive welfare system that strengthens the autonomy, dignity and equal participation of people with disabilities in society.
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