Entitlement proceedings, time limits and issuing of decisions

The disability assessment process shall commence when the pension application is submitted. In the process, the attending physician will process and issue documents regarding the individual’s health condition for the needs of CSSA. The assessment of whether the applicant is disabled and of his/her degree of disability shall only be carried out by the DSSA assessing physician. As a rule, the applicant's presence is not required and the assessment may take place in his/her absence. The assessing physician shall take the decision of the necessity of personal presence during the assessment of the health condition on the basis of an evaluation of the available documentation.

Important: The opinion is one of the supporting documents for the decision on entitlement to the disability pension (It is not the decision on disability pension and there is no remedy against it) and is therefore sent to the applicant during the proceedings. The entitlement to the disability pension shall not automatically arise with a recognized disability, any and all of the conditions laid down by law must be fulfilled for the entitlement to arise.

The statutory period for processing is 90 days.

The CSSA will send the applicant a written decision on the award of the pension. The decision will indicate both the date from which the pension has been granted and the amount. The so-called personal record of pension insurance with a summary of the insurance periods and earnings included in the pension will be attached to the decision.

Where the conditions for the pension entitlement have not been met, a decision rejecting the application will be sent to the applicant that will specify the grounds for rejection.