Active inclusion of young people with disabilities or health problems: National report - Germany
Eurofound has completed a review of existing incapacity benefits aimed at young people of working age in the EU Member States, including data on the take-up of benefits. What is worrying is a relatively new trend indicating a significant increase in their take up among young people - in the Netherlands, Denmark and Finland.
The research shows that the reason for the increase has been predominantly various mental health problems. Research also indicates that debt is a much stronger risk factor for mental disorder than low income.
Additionally, current employment patterns with long hours and more intense work are not conducive for people with health problems. There is also an issue of special education as it seems that in many countries people with health problems move directly from special education into incapacity schemes. To identify effective strategies to tackle this trend, there is clear need to understand the reasons.
This is the focus of Eurofound research over the next two years which is paying particular attention to activation measures in health, social and employment services. The research is also looking at the role of incapacity benefits agencies, education systems, employers and trade unions.
Phase I of the study was carried out in six Member States: Denmark, Finland, The Netherlands, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
Phase II research has been completed in five further countries: France, Germany, Ireland, Portugal and Slovakia. The overview report will be published end 2012.
National Report Germany:
Although a highly elaborated and differentiated rehabilitation system has been established in Germany and many measures may lead to adequate results, a general state of equality does not yet exist. But new opportunities, such as the personal budget since 2008 and supported employment, as well as the signing of the United Nations (UN) Convention on the rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2009, may help to form policies that increase the amount of independence and the degree of disability inclusion within Germany. The case studies in this report highlight the current paradigm shift and show that the existing rehabilitative structures and measures are becoming more flexible.
