Indicator 2(A): Are personal budgets available which enable people with mental disabilities to choose the appropriate support they need to live in the community?
Conclusion:
No.
Explanation:
The Government provides financial support only for people with severe disabilities over the age of 18 in the form of a disability support payment. The purpose of the benefit is to provide financial support to mitigate social disadvantage.[35] The beneficiaries of the benefit are very limited: people with intellectual disabilities can only receive it if they have been assessed as having a severe disability and are unable to live independently or need the permanent assistance of others.[36] The benefit is not available for people with mental health issues. In 2013, 12,799 people with intellectual disabilities and 334 people with autism received disability support.[37] From 1 January 2014, the monthly amount of the support is 19,968 HUF (approximately 64 EUR).[38] The amount is completely inadequate to assist people with high support needs to obtain necessary services.
[35] Section 22 of the Act XXVI of 1998 on the Rights and Equal Opportunities of Persons with Disabilities.
[36] Ibid., section 23(1).
[37] Hungarian Central Statistical Office, A fogyatékossági támogatásban részesülők száma (2001-2013) (The number of people receiving disability support), available at http://www.ksh.hu/docs/hun/xstadat/xstadat_eves/i_fsg006.html (last accessed: 23 September 2014).
[38] Hungarian State Treasury, Disability support, available at http://www.allamkincstar.gov.hu/maganszemelyek/fogyatekossagi_tamogatas# (last accessed: 23 September 2014).