Disability pensions

The disability pension schemes of the individual Member States vary considerably. However, we can distinguish two main types:

1. In many states, disability pensions are calculated in a similar manner to old-age pensions. This means that the amount of the disability pension will depend on the length of the insurance period: the longer a person is insured prior to becoming disabled, the higher his pension will be.
2. In some Member States, the amount of the disability pension is not based on the length of insurance periods. This means that the person will be entitled to a disability pension in the same amount as other insured persons, regardless of whether he/she has been insured for 5, 10 or 20 years prior to becoming disabled.

General rules

Aggregation of insurance periods: The institutions of the state where a disability pension is applied for, will take into account the insurance periods or residence periods completed pursuant to legal regulations of any Member State, if this is necessary to be entitled to the benefit.

Residence or stay abroad: should an entitlement to a disability pension arise in any Member State, it will be paid to any Member State, where the beneficiary resides or lives.

Medical assessments: If a person is entitled to a disability pension from one Member State but resides or lives in another Member State, the necessary administrative checks and medical assessment shall normally be carried out by the institution competent at the place of residence or stay upon the request of the institution which has granted and pays the disability pension. However, the insured person may be required to take such assessment in the State that pays the pension, provided that his/her health condition allows it.

Decision on the degree of disability:

The assessment of disability is carried out under national regulations, so a person may be considered to be disabled in one Member State, but under the legislation of another Member State his/her health condition does not correspond to any degree of disability. For the purposes of benefits paid under the Czech pension insurance, the health conditions of the Czech insured persons is always assessed under the Czech law, even if the change in the health condition of the person concerned occurred in another Member State and the examination was carried out or the medical report was issued by a local physician.

In most cases, the amount of disability pension will also depend on the degree of the recognized disability.