Disability and Ageing: The Principality Strengthens Its Social Policy

The Prince’s Government welcomes the adoption, during today’s public legislative session, of two major laws designed to strengthen the rights, protection and autonomy of persons with disabilities, provide better support for their families, and fully recognise the essential role played by carers. These measures mark a new step forward in the development of a more inclusive and protective social policy.

The first law adopted introduces a comprehensive reform of the framework legislation on disability, representing a further step towards a disability policy that fully reflects the diversity of situations experienced by the persons concerned.

Following the adoption in 2022 of measures to individualise the disability allowance for adults and the disability and old-age allowance, aimed at guaranteeing beneficiaries’ financial independence, and the launch in 2023 of the ambitious national Handipact policy, the Government has taken a further step forward in the field of social policy.

This new law notably provides for:

- A scheme aimed at strengthening financial support for measures intended to offset the effects of disability in everyday life;

- Greater recognition of the actual circumstances of persons with disabilities by putting an end to the automatic transition from disability status to old-age status at the age of sixty;

- Enhanced support for parents of children with disabilities through the creation of a new allowance.

In the same social policy spirit, the second law introduced by the Government recognises the fundamental role played by relatives in supporting older persons through the creation of a genuine legal status for family carers, formally recognising their role and acknowledging that their contribution is indispensable to society.

The framework adopted by the National Council attaches a number of rights to the status of family carer, enabling carers to access the tools and support necessary to strike a fair balance between their personal and professional lives while fulfilling their caring responsibilities.

The adoption of these two laws represents a further milestone in the Principality’s social policy. It reflects the Government’s determination to strengthen the autonomy, protection and support of the most vulnerable members of society, while also supporting those who assist them on a daily basis.