On December 1st, 2024, Marina Artemenko highlighted Belarus’s advancements in disability support during a segment on the state-run TV “Belarus 1.”
“We’ve made significant strides in social support for people with disabilities, evidenced by progress across the board: financial aid — pensions and benefits — technical aids for social rehabilitation, sanatorium-resort treatment and wellness programs, and, crucially, employment opportunities for people with disabilities,” the official stated.
Over the past five years, Belarus has seen improvements. For instance, parents of disabled children can now reduce their workday by an hour without pay cuts. New facilities for people with disabilities have emerged, including supported living homes and remote social services. The Constitution now explicitly guarantees equal rights and non-discrimination for people with disabilities.
Disability pensions have nearly doubled in that time. However, Artemenko failed to mention that these payments remain among the lowest in Europe. The maximum pension for those with the most severe disabilities (first-group disability) is just over 480 Belarusian rubles, approximately €140.
The WTF team found EU-wide pension data only for 2021, but it's highly revealing. The average European disability pension then was nearly €650 — 6.5 times higher than in Belarus. With a top pension of €100 (for first-group disabilities) at the time, Belarus ranked among the lowest in Europe, trailing behind Romania and Albania.