Name of the Organization : Ministry of Labour, Welfare & Social Insurance
Type of Facility : Allowance for Provision of Disability Car
Country : Cyprus
Official Website : https://www.mlsi.gov.cy/mlsi/mlsi.nsf/home-el/home-el?OpenForm
Allowance for Provision of Disability Car :
Scheme for the Provision of Financial Assistance to Persons with Disabilities for the Acquisition of a car
Related : MLSI Disability Parking Card Scheme Blue Badge Cyprus : www.statusin.org/5693.html
1. Beneficiary:
(a) “person with disability” for the purposes of this specific Scheme means a Cypriot or a European citizen, who is over eighteen (18) and under seventy (70) years of age and is considered either by a genetic condition or due to a subsequent event, according to the Medical Council’s report, that consists for the purposes of this specific Scheme, as a person with a permanent disability and his disability involves:
amputation or severe weakness of the upper or lower limps due to any cause and results in a disability above thirty nine percent (39%),
restriction of the acuity of vision in both eyes, that does not exceed 6/60 even by the use of corrective lenses, even in the most functioning eye.
(b) European citizens are considered beneficiaries if they have been living in Cyprus permanently for at least 12 consecutive months.
(c) The provision of financial assistance is approved by the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurances or any other authorized representative.
2. It should be noted that the person with disability is not an owner of another car that has been imported duty free and is a holder of a driving license. Persons with disabilities that due to the nature of their disability cannot drive safely according to the Road Transport Department or/and the Medical Council are exempted from the ownership of a driving license.
3. The financial assistance that is provided to persons with disabilities for the acquisition of a car includes taxes, excise and the Value Added Tax (VAT) and it amounts to:
(a) up to €15.378 (£9.000) for the purchase of an ordinary car, and
(b) up to €18.795 (£11.000) in the cases of which the person has obtained
his disability by a war injury and has an amputation of a lower limp above the knee or in the case that the person has to use a wheelchair permanently.
4. The above assistance will be determined based on the proposed process for both new and used cars. There will be no restriction on horsepower or the type of car, provided it allowed by the responsible Authority (Senior Driving Examiner).
5. Financial assistance will not be provided to persons with disabilities who meet the terms of the Scheme but in the opinion of the Senior Driving Examiner of the Road Transport Department, these persons can drive cars that do not require special equipment. It is clarified that the automatic gearbox is considered special equipment.
6. The beneficiaries have the right to obtain a new grant for a new car after so many years from the date of exercise of their right, as is the quotient of dividing the amount they received as a grant by the amount which is equal to 1 / 10 of the maximum grant they are entitled to get. It is noted that in no circumstances they are entitled to exercise the right to a new grant for a new car purchase before the expiration of at least 5 years from the previous exercise of this right.
7. To a beneficiary who may possess a driver’s license, but does not have it at the date of purchase of this specially adapted vehicle, the Minister of Labour and Social Insurances, or his authorized representative, may grant him the financial assistance designated under this scheme, provided that the beneficiary owns a student license.
8. The car which is acquired from this Scheme needs to be registered on the name of the person with the disability and can’t be transferred to any other person after the duration of 5 years from the day of purchase or a shorter period of time after authorization by the Minister of Labour and Social Insurances, or any authorized representative. If in violation of the above provisions, a transfer is done earlier, the Minister of Labour and Social Insurances, or his authorized representative reserves the right to claim the appropriate amount of financial assistance granted.
9. In case the beneficiary dies, the car becomes part of his estate and passes to his heirs and the grant is not required to be returned to the State.
10. The car that will be bought in the provision of this specific Scheme can be driven by family members assigned from the beneficiary, provided that they will be approved by the Minister of Labour and Social Insurances, or an authorized representative. Also when the person with disability is in the car or due to the nature of the disability is not able to hold a driver’s license, any person can drive the car. In the case that the above terms are violated, the Minister of Labour and Social Insurances, or an authorized representative reserves the right to claim the appropriate amount of financial assistance granted.
11. Car owned by a beneficiary of the Scheme and used for the needs of the person with disability is exempted from paying registration fees and road taxes.
12. In the case that both spouses are persons with disabilities, and there is need for second car, even if one of them can drive the car of his / her spouse, financial assistance is provided for the acquisition of a second car.
13. It is noted that for the car that is acquired under the provision of this Scheme, all the required duties and consumption taxes are paid. It is noted that the car should be either fully insured or to a third party. In the case of accidents and total destruction of the car, financial assistance will be provided to the recipient equal to 30% of the grant given or the difference between the grant that has been given and the maximum amount that the person is entitled to. The person with disability is entitled to decide the way the financial assistance will be provided. If any compensation from insurance companies is given, the grant amount and the compensation together must not exceed € 15.378 or € 18.795 depending on the disability of the beneficiary.
14. The beneficiary must use the right of the financial assistance granted within one year from the date of approval of the request.
15. In case of objections to the decisions of the Medical Council, these objections will be examined by a different Medical Council.
Note:
The purchase and registration of the car shall be done after the final approval by the Minister of Labour and Social Insurance, or an authorized representative.