24-hour general care

The purpose of the 24-hour general care service provided outside of home is to ensure a safe environment and coping of an adult who is temporarily or permanently unable to cope independently at home due to health reasons, functional capacity or physical and social environment and whose ability to cope cannot be ensured by other social services or assistance

Coverage by the City of Tallinn:

The City of Tallinn helps to pay for a nursing home spot if a social worker has determined during the assessment of need for assistance that the person has a real need for general care service, i.e. living in a nursing home. Tallinn covers the care costs part of the monthly service fees within the established limit of 734 euros.

The City of Tallinn also covers the difference between a lower income and the average retirement pension. Income includes state pension, funded pension, work ability allowance and income subject to social tax. A person is entitled to lower income compensation if their income is lower than the average retirement pension in the II quarter of the year prior to the budget year published by Statistics Estonia. The average retirement pension in the II quarter of 2022 was 599.90 euros per month. A temporary average retirement pension coefficient of 1.06 has been established until the end of 2023, meaning that if a person’s income is below 635.89 euros, they will receive additional compensation in an amount within the difference between their income and 635.89 euros.

For example: If your pension is 550 euros, then in 2023, Tallinn will cover the lower income difference in the amount of 124.04 euros per month. If the pension is higher than the average retirement pension then the City of Tallinn will cover the care costs part of the nursing home service fees to the extent of the established limit.

The City of Tallinn also partially takes over co-payment obligations up to 70 euros from people with a maintenance obligation in order to reduce their cost and care burden and to help them stay employed. Relatives are exempted from co-payments exceeding 1.06 times the average pension in the II quarter of 2022 only if the income of the person does not cover co-payments.

For example: If a person chooses a nursing home where the spot costs 1439 euros, including 734 euros of care costs and a 705-euro co-payment, and the person’s income is lower than the average pension in the II quarter of 2022 multiplied by 1.06, then the City of Tallinn will reduce the co-payment obligations of a person who has maintenance obligation based on the Family Law Act by covering the obligation to the extent of the limit of 70 euros.

 Coverage by the person:

The recipient of general care service will pay the housing and food costs and other costs related to the service offered by their nursing home.

If the person is not capable of paying for the general care service in full and they do not have assets that could be realised, the person must submit a corresponding application to the social welfare department of the district government that they are registered in based on the population register.

The application must explain the need for additional funding. In addition to the application, you must submit documents necessary for assessing payment ability: proof of income and assets and, if necessary, other relevant documents which are not available in national databases.

If the person owns assets that allow them to pay for the service, the city will partially cover service fees until the assets are realised but no longer than six months.

If the person is not capable of paying the missing part and they have people with a maintenance obligation, then the obligation to cover the remainder of the service fees falls on the people with the maintenance obligation.

 Coverage by people with a maintenance obligation:

 If a person with a maintenance obligation is not capable of fulfilling their maintenance obligation in full, they must submit information about their assets, proof of their income in the last six months and proof of living expenses (rent or mortgage payments, investments in ensuring their future to the same extent as before becoming subject to a maintenance obligation) to the social welfare department.

A person who is capable of fulfilling their maintenance obligation partially or in full must submit written consent, including:

• the amount of co-payment;
• the obligation to pay co-payments every month until the end of service;
• the obligation to pay co-payments to a greater extent if their ability to fulfil maintenance obligations improves;
• a declaration that the information provided is correct;
• consent to the processing of personal information.

If a person with a maintenance obligation is not capable og covering the missing part, the situation will be assessed by a social worker of the social welfare department and they will decide whether the person is capable of fulfilling their maintenance obligation.

A person with maintenance obligation is not obliged to cover care costs if the recipient of the service has severely violated their maintenance obligation or is guilty of committing an intentional criminal offence towards the person with a maintenance obligation or people close to them. Only a court can legally release a person from maintenance obligation.