Serious flaws in disability benefit assessments

Serious allegations have been made by the President of KYSOA, Christakis Nicolaides, regarding the examination process of applications for disability benefits by medical boards. Speaking on the show "Alpha Kalimera" and when asked why the recipients of disability benefits do not exceed 20%, Mr. Nicolaides stated that they have never agreed with the evaluation system in Cyprus, even describing it as "humiliating."

Specifically, he referred to the behavior of the individuals conducting the evaluations, stating that they engage in insults. "They evaluate people in a very cold manner. We have had cases where individuals who are proven unable to walk were lifted by two people and their leg was pushed to make it move slightly, just to reject them. Another thing that happens is with individuals with quadriplegia who may not be able to move their hands, but evaluators open their palms and may place a glass. If it stays in place, they reject them. For children with spasticity, they give them a pencil, and if they manage to hold it, they reject them."

Mr. Nicolaides clarified that the situation has somewhat improved now, but in the last 6-8 months alone, KYSOA has received 600 complaints for investigation, which involve reductions, rejections, and suspensions of benefits.

When asked if they know the names of the individuals who make up these boards, he said, "Despite the decision and the amendment of the legislation that requires evaluators to disclose their names, it doesn't happen." According to him, these evaluators include doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychiatrists, and others.