Disability Assessment Reform Concerns Everyone

With the reform of the disability assessment system, more than 60,000 persons with disabilities in Montenegro will benefit from a more efficient and fairer system, enabling them to exercise their rights more easily.

This was emphasised at an Info Day organised by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Family Care and Demography, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Montenegro, with the support of the European Union, to mark the introduction of the new Law on Unified Disability Assessment.

The Law on Unified Disability Assessment, adopted by the Government of Montenegro in July, marks a shift from a purely medical model of evaluation to one based on human rights, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and European standards.

Copyright: Bojana Ćupić, Vlada Crne Gore

“The expected adoption of the Law on Unified Disability Assessment will represent an important step towards abandoning outdated models and transitioning to a rights-based approach. The continuation of these reforms is also a priority within Montenegro’s Reform Agenda, which carries significant financial support in this area. The EU is proud to support Montenegro in building a system that simplifies procedures, ensures fair and equal support, and empowers persons with disabilities to fully participate and thrive in society,” said Liselotte Isaksson, Deputy Head of the Cooperation Sector at the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro.

The Law also foresees the establishment of the first central register of persons with disabilities in Montenegro, representing an essential step towards improved public policy planning, more efficient realisation of rights, and the provision of services based on accurate and comprehensive data.

Copyright: Bojana Ćupić, Vlada Crne Gore

“Disability assessment reform is more than just a legislative change – it represents a change in perspective, in line with the standards of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. When the system begins to recognise people’s needs, not just their diagnoses, the reform becomes a vital step towards a society where no one is left behind. UNDP will continue to support the implementation of this reform so that its effects are visible in the everyday lives of persons with disabilities and in Montenegrin society as a whole,” stated Ekaterina Paniklova, UNDP’s Resident Representative in Montenegro.

The Law on Unified Disability Assessment will enter into force on 1 July 2026. From that date, unified assessments will become mandatory for all new applicants seeking to exercise rights based on disability across different sectors.

Copyright: Bojana Ćupić, Vlada Crne Gore

“The Law introduces a unified assessment procedure that considers not only impairments but also barriers to daily functioning and the degree of support required for equal participation in society. To ensure consistent application of the new provisions, it was necessary to harmonise all relevant regulations. Therefore, in addition to drafting the proposal for the Law on Unified Disability Assessment, the legislative framework governing the rights of persons with disabilities across various fields has also been aligned,” said Damir Gutić, Minister of Social Welfare, Family Care and Demography.

He explained that instead of more than 35 commissions, disability assessments will now be carried out by a single specialised institution – the Institute for Unified Disability Assessment. The decisions issued by the Institute will be valid for exercising rights across all sectors.

Persons who have already exercised their rights under previous regulations will continue to do so without the need for a new assessment, except in the areas of vocational rehabilitation and employment, where a request for unified assessment must be submitted within three years from the start of the Law’s implementation.