Disability rights and support in Bulgaria
In Bulgaria the rights of people with disabilities are governed by the Law on Persons with Disabilities (Закон за хората с увреждания, ЗХУ). According to the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy (МТСП), support rests on an individual needs assessment carried out by the Social Assistance Directorate at the person's current address.
Healthcare · Last reviewed: 2026-10-08
This is not legal or financial advice
The individual needs assessment
The assessment looks at the person's functional difficulties and barriers and is prepared by the 'Social Assistance' (Социално подпомагане) directorate of the Social Assistance Agency (АСП) at the current address. The person, a legal representative, a guardian or an authorised person can apply. The application includes a declaration form, a self-assessment form and medical documents or a decision of the expert medical commission (ТЕЛК/НЕЛК). According to the page the assessment is completed by the end of the month following the month of submission.
Monthly financial support
According to the page, monthly financial support compensates the costs caused by the disability and is set as a percentage of the poverty line. For permanently disabled people over 18 the rates are:
| Degree of disability | Rate |
|---|---|
| 50 to 70.99 percent | 7 percent of the poverty line |
| 71 to 90 percent | 15 percent of the poverty line |
| Over 90 percent | 25 percent of the poverty line |
| Over 90 percent with a determined need for outside help, receiving an invalidity pension for general illness or work accident or occupational disease | 30 percent of the poverty line |
| Over 90 percent with a determined need for outside help, receiving a social invalidity pension | 57 percent of the poverty line |
The poverty line is indexed every year; ask the Social Assistance Directorate for the current euro amount. Permanently disabled people aged 18 to 20 are eligible if they do not receive the monthly benefit for children under the Family Allowances for Children Act.
Targeted benefits, aids and personal assistance
- Targeted benefits are granted by the Social Assistance Directorate on the findings of the individual assessment: buying a personal motor vehicle, adapting a home, spa treatment and rehabilitation, and municipal housing rent. Each has further conditions, for example an income limit or degree of disability.
- Aids, appliances and medical devices outside compulsory health insurance are determined by a medical document from the ЛКК, ТЕЛК or НЕЛК and the specification of the National Health Insurance Fund (НЗОК). The application goes to the НЗОК through the regional health insurance fund (РЗОК).
- Personal assistance is governed by the Law on Personal Assistance (Закон за личната помощ). The application goes to the mayor of the municipality at the person's address, with the referral issued under the ЗХУ after the individual assessment; the number of hours is set in the assessment.
- Free annual electronic vignette: people with 50 percent or more disability, and families raising children with permanent disabilities, are exempt from the road vignette fee for one passenger car owned by them or in joint marital property, with an engine up to 2000 cm³ and power up to 117.64 kW; the application is a declaration to the Social Assistance Directorate.
Working life
Under Article 38 of the ЗХУ, employers with 50 to 99 staff must employ one person with a permanent disability, and those with 100 or more must reach two percent of their average headcount. An employer that does not meet the quota, applies no alternative measure and has no valid reason pays a monthly compensation contribution of 30 percent of the minimum wage per unfilled position.
This page is not legal advice
Frequently asked questions
Where do I apply for disability support?
According to the page, at the 'Social Assistance' directorate of the Social Assistance Agency at your current address, where the individual needs assessment is prepared.
How much is the monthly financial support?
It is not fixed; it is 7, 15, 25, 30 or 57 percent of the poverty line depending on the degree of disability. Ask the Social Assistance Directorate for the current euro amount.
Sources
The information on this page is based on the official sources listed below. Legislation changes — open the links and verify the current position.
- Министерство на труда и социалната политика — Често задавани въпроси (хора с увреждания) — https://www.mlsp.government.bg/chesto-zadavani-vprosi-1 · 2026-10-08
- Министерство на труда и социалната политика — Нормативни актове за хора с увреждания — https://www.mlsp.government.bg/normativni-aktove-1 · 2026-10-08
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