Process to Determine Disability to Get Stricter

Over the past two decades, the doctor has solely determined whether a person had a disability. However, the current registration system for disabled people will change significantly. From 2010, the Disability Determination Committee will determine if a person has a disability and readjust ratings of disability.

According to the ‘Plans to Reorganize System to Determine Disability’ obtained by the Dong-A Ilbo Tuesday, the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Family Affairs will reform the current system related to determining a person’s disability beginning 2010. In line with its reform efforts, the ministry will give the committee and the Disability Service Determination Center the authority to determine whether a person is disabled or not, instead of allowing a doctor to make that determination.

Since 1998, disabled people have only allowed to register as disabled if they registered at local offices and got a statement from a doctor.

After the reform, however, an applicant will need to submit a doctor’s statement to the determination center, and the committee, consisted of doctors, appraisers, and community service workers, will make a final decision based on how much the applicant has been injured, whether the applicant can work, and whether the applicant has the desire to receive service.

The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Family Affairs hopes the new measure will drastically reduce illegal activities related to determining a person’s disability.

The ministry will keep the current system to divide the disabled into six groups in which the most severely handicapped will get the first grade and the least handicapped get the sixth grade. At the same time, the ministry will readjust the grading scale so as to provide a service fit for each person’s condition and to screen out those who receive higher ratings.

Also, the government will reflect personal desire into its support program as much as possible to provide customized service: △ Disability allowance and pension △ Long-term medical treatment and personal assistance service, △ Support for rehabilitation and employment, △ Support for education, treatment, and housing.

corekim@donga.com