Disability certificates began to expire after August 6. Important changes

With the start of the pandemic, disability certificates were automatically extended – this was due to the exceptional state that prevailed in our country. On July 1, 2023, the state of epidemic emergency was canceled. This means that the existing disability certificates will lose their validity, and these important changes are now coming into force. However, this will happen gradually.

Changing the provisions related to disability certificates

On August 6, 2023, the amended regulations on disability certificates came into force. This means repealing the provisions on the basis of which the period of validity of certificates on disability or its degree was extended by law. It is from this date that the new rules will come into force, according to which people with disabilities will be required to renew these decisions – it will happen in stages until September 30, 2024. “Until August 5, 2023, judgments issued by disability assessment teams will be extended on the basis of art. 15h of the Act of March 2, 2020 – the so-called »Anti-Crisis Shield«. From August 6, 2023, certain limit dates for the validity of these decisions apply,” reminds the State Fund for Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons.

Disability certificates: important dates

Disability or disability certificates that expired by August 5, 2023 will need to be renewed. The original expiration date of the current document determines when a new decision must be obtained. Certificate of disability or degree of disability, the validity period of which has expired:

• until December 31, 2020 – valid until December 31, 2023,

• in the period from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021 – valid until March 31, 2024,

• in the period from January 1, 2022 to August 5, 2023 – is valid until September 30, 2024.
  It should be remembered that the application for a new decision must be submitted before the expiration date of the previous decision.

What about judgments that expire on August 6?

In the case of certificates on disability or the degree of disability, which expired on August 6, 2023 or later, different rules apply. Such judgments will not be extendedand their period of validity will end on the date specified in the ruling.

In addition, the new regulations in force from August 6, 2023 do not apply to the decisions of ZUS evaluating doctors. This means that a certificate of incapacity for work or incapacity for independent existence, which expired during the state of epidemic threat or state of epidemic or within 30 days following their cancellation, remains valid only for the next 3 months from the date of its expiry.

How to get a new disability certificate?

An application for a new certificate of disability or degree of disability should be submitted by the person concerned (if he/she is an adult). If such a person is under the age of 18, this obligation rests with the legal representatives of the child, for example parents. In some cases, this is done by the Social Welfare Center with the consent of the persons concerned. The documents needed to obtain such a decision are:

• application,

• medical certificate,

• a copy of medical records and other documents that will enable the decision.

Documents are best downloaded from the website of the relevant adjudicating team, they may differ depending on the place of residence (there is no single template valid throughout the country). The application together with attachments should be submitted to the poviat or municipal disability assessment team (according to the place of residence). If the submitted documents prove to be insufficient, such a person will receive a written request to supplement them within a specified period.