The Social and Child Protection Inspectorate, as part of its supervision of the implementation of the Law on Travel Benefits for Persons with Disabilities, has noticed abuses because the scope of travel reported for compensation is difficult to implement in terms of time and physical capacity, but it is impossible to limit them because the law itself creates room for manipulation.
This was stated by the Chief Inspector of Social and Child Protection, MA Aleksandar Zuber, in his answers to questions from "Vijesti", stating that a change in the law is necessary in order to specify the exercise of rights.
This Law has existed in Montenegro since 2008, according to which these persons are entitled to receive a subsidy in the amount of the ticket and toll costs for 12 trips per year in bus and rail transport on the territory of Montenegro. They are also entitled to compensation in that amount if they travel in their own vehicle, in which case they only need to submit a statement that they traveled.
“Vijesti” has repeatedly written about fraud in this area, which is devastating the state budget. When these benefits were introduced, they amounted to about one hundred thousand annually, and now this amount exceeds 10 million annually and continues to grow. In February alone and in Rožaje alone, these individuals reported 10.147 trips for which they collected fees of over 700 thousand euros. Almost all trips were on the route Rožaje - Herceg Novi (the longest and most expensive route from the city under Hajl) and everyone used the right to bring a companion with them who is also entitled to this fee.
Law changes in the Parliament, but without restrictions
After "Vijesti" wrote, the Government proposed amendments to this law to the Parliament, but these amendments do not address limiting these abuses. The only novelty is that the inspector for social and child protection will carry out inspection supervision over the implementation of this law, while the current law stated that inspection supervision is carried out by the state administration body responsible for social welfare.
Therefore, "Vijesti" asked the Inspectorate for Social and Child Protection, which operates within the Ministry of Social Welfare, Family Care and Demography, how it will carry out this supervision.
"As the chief inspector of the Social and Child Protection Inspectorate, within the framework of supervision over the implementation of the Law on Travel Benefits for Persons with Disabilities, I can confirm that the procedure under this law is being implemented continuously. During the inspection controls, a certain number of complaints were recorded relating to unpaid benefits based on the right to the benefit, both for a person with a disability and for his or her companion. The law, in Articles 7 and 8, defines the right to twelve journeys in road and rail transport during one calendar year, without a time limit between individual journeys. The companion also has the right to the same number of journeys," Zuber told "Vijesti".
They travel for 12 days in a row from Rožaje to Novi
He points out that the procedure for exercising rights, including submitting a request, required documentation and the role of social work centers, is described in detail in Articles 9-12, and that the law also provides for benefits provided from the center's budget, with conditions and evidence attached to the request.
"However, during the inspection, abuses were observed, most often related to the application of the first paragraph of Article 7. Namely, users often submit requests for twelve consecutive days, although such a travel schedule - e.g. on the route Rožaje - Herceg Novi or Pljevlja - Ulcinj - is difficult to implement in real conditions. Unfortunately, the law does not provide a norm that would limit the frequency of use of the right, at least on a monthly basis, which opens up room for manipulation. In this context, the inspection inspection indicates the need to amend legal provisions that would more precisely regulate the dynamics of use of the right, while preserving the basic goal of the law - supporting persons with disabilities in exercising their right to movement or mobility in general," said Zuber.
Over ten thousand trips per month from Rožaje to Herceg Novi
As "Vijesti" previously wrote, the fraud is reflected in the fact that these individuals massively report that they have made these 12 trips in their vehicle on the longest route from their city. Thus, people from Rožaje massively report trips for themselves and their entourage to Herceg Novi, while people from Pljevlja regularly "travel" to Ulcinj.
As the number of people with disabilities is drastically increasing in Montenegro, the state's expenditure on this basis exceeded eight million last year, and this year it will increase to ten million.
Users from Rožaje withdrew 700 thousand euros in cash in February alone for an alleged 10.147 trips, mostly made in their own vehicles to Herceg Novi. The only evidence is their statement that they went on that trip. The amount of compensation in this municipality is almost equal to the amount paid out in all other municipalities combined.
In Podgorica, which has nine times more inhabitants than Rožaje, this subsidy in the same month amounted to 90 thousand euros, and in Kotor, which has the same number of inhabitants as Rožaje, it amounted to 5.779 euros.
In 2016, people with disabilities from Rožaje used subsidies for about a hundred trips per month, and now that number has increased a hundredfold. In total, 75 thousand euros of these benefits were paid out to Rožaje that year, and now that figure in one month has been ten times higher.
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