People with disabilities can now use their ID cards via the mObywatel app. “This will make it easier to handle matters and take advantage of discounts, for example, on public transport,” said Deputy Minister of Family, Łukasz Krasoń. He also announced further changes aimed at digitizing services.
The mobile version of the ID card for persons with disabilities will be available in the mObywatel application, after authentication using a basic certificate or a student certificate.
“Thanks to this, many people with disabilities will no longer have to use paper ID cards. This solution will make it easier for people with disabilities to handle everyday matters and take advantage of discounts, but not only that, it also brings specific benefits to their legal guardians,” Łukasz Krasoń, Deputy Minister and Government Plenipotentiary for People with Disabilities, told PAP.
The Deputy Minister noted that the mLegitymacja is useful, among other things, when using public transport. “When someone buys a discount ticket, according to the regulations, they are required to prove their entitlement to the discount. Until now, they had to carry a physical document; now, an electronic ID card is sufficient. Such an ID will also be useful at university or in the workplace,” he said.
He also announced changes intended to streamline the disability assessment system. “We have amended the regulation, which will allow physicians undergoing specialization or with at least five years of medical experience to serve on district and provincial assessment boards,” Krasoń noted.
He pointed out that there is a shortage of medical examiners in Poland, and that due to demographic reasons, there will be even fewer of them. “We want the certificates to be issued more efficiently – this is another step that will improve the situation,” added the deputy minister.
He recalled that an amendment to the regulation had recently entered into force, according to which disability certificates for people with rare and genetic diseases would be issued for a longer period.
– We see a sufficiently quick response from the district disability assessment teams, because this is a solution that not only organizes and relieves the system, but also gives people a greater sense of security – emphasized Krasoń.
He noted that an important change is the extension of the validity period of medical certificates attached to the application from 30 days to 3 months.
“Every disabled person who appears before a panel must present appropriate medical documentation confirming their specific disability. Until now, such examinations were valid for only one month, which caused a number of problems. We have introduced changes in this regard in the regulation; now the deadline is three months,” said the government representative.
The government plenipotentiary announced that further changes are planned to digitalize services for people with disabilities.
“Following the path of deregulation, we are currently working on regulations that would allow people with disabilities to apply for a parking card via the mObywatel app or the Empatia portal. Currently, this can only be done physically, in paper form, but we want to change that,” said Krasoń.
– I am aware that meeting many needs of people with disabilities involves major changes in the system, but this does not mean that when working on systemic change we ignore the “smaller” needs, the implementation of which is simpler and will make people's lives easier – emphasized the government representative. (PAP)
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