39 years have passed since the horrific accident that occurred at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine on April 26, 1986. Many people from Azerbaijan also participated in the elimination of the consequences of this tragic accident.

At the initiative of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev, in 1993, the "Law on the status and social protection of citizens who participated in the elimination of the Chernobyl disaster and were affected by the consequences of the accident" was adopted, and significant steps were taken in the field of social protection of citizens in this category. President Ilham Aliyev’s special attention and care for persons with disabilities have also led to the strengthening of the social security of persons with disabilities related to the Chernobyl disaster year by year.

Currently, there are 3800 people with disabilities related to the Chernobyl accident in our country. They are divided into two groups according to the causes of their disabilities:

• Persons with disabilities due to military service at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (more than 2000 individuals);
• Persons with disabilities due to the elimination of the Chernobyl accident (up to 1800 individuals).

The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population provides the following:

• Persons with disabilities due to military service at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant are provided with housing and cars;
• Persons with disabilities due to military service at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant are paid a monthly stipend from the President (500 manats for those with 81-100% disability, 400 manats for those with 61-80%, 330 manats for those with 31-60%);
• Persons with first-degree disabilities related to the Chernobyl accident are also provided with a monthly stipend from the President (200 manats, and 300 manats for those with visual impairment of the first degree);
• Persons with disabilities from both groups receive a monthly pension or benefit (currently, the benefit for disability degrees is 270 manats, 220 manats, and 150 manats, respectively);
• Caregivers for all individuals with first-degree disabilities are provided with a monthly stipend from the President (100 manats);

Additionally, people with disabilities from both groups are provided with annual one-time allowances for treatment, and children of parents who have been diagnosed with first- and second-degree disabilities due to the Chernobyl accident, or who have passed away, as well as children of those registered in dispensary care due to their participation in the elimination of the accident’s consequences, are provided with monthly allowances.

Since the implementation of the five social reform packages in 2018, the average monthly pension has increased by 2,6 times, while allowances and pension payments have increased five times.

Work is also being carried out in the areas of rehabilitation services, providing access to sanatorium-resort institutions, and other relevant directions for people with disabilities related to the Chernobyl accident.