FAQs
The Disability Act defines disability as: A substantial, long-term physical or mental impairment that affects special functioning, learning or day to day activities.
- Normal day to day activities include but are not limited to; social interaction, physical coordination, continence, mobility, speech hearing, sight, calculating risk, memory and concentration.
- An impairment is substantial if it prevents the individual from carrying out a normal day to day activity.
- Long term impairments are those which have a degree of permanence, longer than 12 months and are likely to recur.
In order to determine if you or your loved one has a disability you need to meet the criteria above. There is no list of diagnosis / conditions that automatically classifies you as a person with a disability because most conditions affect different people in different ways. Disability is a wide-ranging term that covers many different areas and varies in severity. No two disabilities are exactly the same.
The first thing that you should do is relax, do not worry, disability is more common that people realise. Remember, the term disability is wide ranging; early diagnosis is key to provide the child the support they need.
Monitor your child by keeping a diary and noting down examples of any difficulty they may have, the date and time of when you make these observations. Then make an appointment at the GHA with your General Practitioner (GP) and they will refer you to the paediatrics team.
It is important to note that if your child is diagnosed, you should inform their school so that a personalised plan can be put in place to provide the support that your child needs.
Contact Primary Care Center, St Bernard’s Hospital, Harbour Views Road, Tel: 20052441 to make an appointment. Alternatively, you can make an appointment online using the following hyperlink https://portal.egov.gi/Content/Health.
There are various things available to the community:
Disability Benefit
This is a monthly allowance aimed at helping you cover any additional costs your disability may incur that is not already covered by any other concession.
The disability benefit cannot be used as a certificate of disability as you may still have a disability but not require this benefit. Not every disability requires a monthly allowance. The disability benefit is therefore a discretionary allowance which means that each case is assessed individually by a medical panel.
The application process is explained and forms can be downloaded using the following hyperlink: Social Security Guide.pdf
Alternatively, if you require support, you can contact the Supported Needs and Disability Office on Tel: 200 46253 or attend our offices located at Suite 955 Europort, 5th Floor of Block 9, Europort.
Once the forms have been filled in, they are to be submitted to the Department of Social Security situated at Unit 79-80 Harbours Walk, New Harbours, Rosia Road.
Frontier Pass
Allows users to bypass the frontier queue when exiting Gibraltar in a motor-vehicle. Please note that this is only to go into Spain and this pass will not help you bypass the queue on your way into Gibraltar. You still need to queue on the Spanish side of the border.
The Frontier Pass is not a certificate of disability. It is for persons who could be at risk of harm if they wait in long queues.
The forms can be downloaded using the following hyperlink: Driver and Vehicle Licensing Downloads
Alternatively, if you require support you can contact the Supported Needs and Disability Office on Tel: 200 46253 or attend our offices located at Suite 955 Europort, 5th Floor of Block 9, Europort.
Once the forms have been completed, they are to be signed by your medical professional and stamped by the GHA. Then you must take it to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Department (MOT Test Center) Eastern Beach Road (North Front Area).
Blue Badge
A Blue Badge allows persons with mobility issues to park in accessible parking bays in Gibraltar.
The Blue Badge is solely for persons with mobility issues. This is not proof of a disability. It simply means that the person has restricted mobility for whatever reason and needs to park in an accessible parking bay.
Please note that once you get a Blue Badge, it does NOT automatically entitle you to a Blue Badge for the rest of your life. Blue Badges are issued for different amounts of time as a medical panel may deem that the person’s nature of disability could change and they may not require a blue badge in the future.
Blue Badges are issued to a person and not to a vehicle as it can ONLY be used by the person with a mobility issue. This means that the Blue Badge can ONLY be used if and when the person is travelling in the vehicle. Policing of this will occur and penalties are in place if this is abused.
Accessible bays tend to be larger than the normal parking space so that users can fully open the car door and place their mobility aid (walking frame, wheelchair, etc) in close proximity.
Accessible bays are limited in Gibraltar due to our natural landscape and the community are therefore asked that only persons who really need it apply.
The application process is explained and forms can be downloaded using the following hyperlink: Provisions for the disabled - Blue Badge Scheme
Alternatively, if you require support, you can contact the Supported Needs and Disability Office on Tel: 200 46253 or attend our offices located at Suite 955 Europort, 5th Floor of Block 9, Europort.
Once the forms have been filled in, they are to be submitted to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Department (MOT Test Center) Eastern Beach Road (North Front Area)
All Zones Pass
This service is only available to service users who already have a Blue Badge. It allows individuals with the Blue Badge to park their vehicle in any of Gibraltar's parking zones.
For example, a resident who lives in the South District would normally only be able to park within the South District. With this pass, they would be able to park in the North District or Town Area for a maximum period of 3 hours.
The purpose of this pass is to help persons with mobility issues park closer to their destination. Many persons who have a Blue Badge may not require a larger parking space but still require help in parking close to where they need to go. The Supported Needs and Disability Office urge those who do not need a bigger parking / an accessible parking bay to please leave those spaces for persons with mobility aids and to instead use this All Zones Pass.
The forms can be downloaded using the following hyperlink:
Blue Bagde - All Zones Parking Permit Application Form
Alternatively, if you require support you can contact the Supported Needs and Disability Office on Tel: 200 46253 or attend our offices located at Suite 955 Europort, 5th Floor of Block 9, Europort.
Once the forms have been filled in, they are to be submitted to Carparks, Unit B 7 Admirals Rooke Road.
Invalidity credits
Assists service users who are unable to work as a result of illness cover their social insurance payments.
The forms can be downloaded using the following hyperlink:Application for Invalidity Credits
Alternatively, if you require support you can contact the Supported Needs and Disability Office on Tel: 200 46253 or attend our offices located at Suite 955 Europort, 5th Floor of Block 9, Europort.
Once the forms have been filled in, they are to be submitted to the Department of Social Security situated at Unit 79-80 Harbours Walk, New Harbours, Rosia Road
Disability Tax Relief
If you are working and you or your child receives the Disability Benefit, you are entitled to tax relief. For more information please contact the Tax Office, St Jagos Stone Block, 331 Main Street on Tel: 20075260 or email paye.enquiries@gibraltar.gov.gi
GSLA Accessible Pool Pass
The Accessible Pool is primarily for use for persons with learning disabilities and those with mobility issues.
Children attending St Martin’s School can access this pool automatically by showing their school ID card.
Adults with learning disabilities can access this pool through the Care Agency.
For children with supported needs, access to this pool is based on their medical practitioner’s discretion. Parents / guardians need to ask their child’s therapy team whether the child can and should access this pool.
Children and adults with mobility issues need to ask their medical practitioner whether they can and should access this pool.
For more information, please contact Physiotherapy Department St Bernard’s Hospital, Harbour Views Road.
Tel: 200 72266 Ext: 2184.
Alternatively, if you require support you can contact the Supported Needs and Disability Office on Tel: 200 46253 or attend our offices located at Suite 955 Europort, 5th Floor of Block 9, Europort.
Radar Key
This is a key that opens accessible toilets in public places after hours. This is solely for the use of persons with continence or mobility issues.
The forms can be downloaded using the following hyperlink Disability Related Application Forms
Once the forms have been filled in, they need to be signed and stamped by a medical practitioner. This then needs to be submitted at Supported Needs and Disability Office, Suite 955 Europort, 5th Floor of Block 9, Europort.
If you require additional support filling in the form, please contact the Supported Needs and Disability Office on Tel: 200 46253.
Housing Medical A List
Individuals who have a medical condition or disability may qualify to be placed on a priority list if their current place of residence is deemed unsuitable because of the barriers the individual faces as a direct result of the disability or medical condition.
The forms can be downloaded using the following hyperlink: Application For Medical Categorization
Alternatively, if you require support you can contact the Supported Needs and Disability Office on Tel: 200 46253 or attend our offices located at Suite 955 Europort, 5th Floor of Block 9, Europort.
Once the forms have been filled in, they are to be submitted to the Housing Department Suite 9.7-9.9, 9th Floor International Commercial Center (ICC), Main Street.
Disability Information Card
The disability information card is a valuable tool aimed at creating awareness in the community. It assists individuals by explaining the nature of their disability and how they can be assisted by members of the community. The initiative is needs based and does not require a formal medical diagnosis.
The forms can be downloaded using the following hyperlink Disability Related Application Forms
Once the forms have been filled in, a medical practitioner needs to sign and stamp it. Then please submit at Supported Needs and Disability Office, Suite 955 Europort, 5th Floor of Block 9, Europort.
If you require additional support filling in the form, please contact the Supported Needs and Disability Office on Tel: 200 46253.
Sensory Library
This is a library of sensory toys and equipment based within the Supported Needs and Disability Office. There is an array of sensory items available which can be borrowed for up to two weeks. The purpose of this is to determine if these sensory toys/equipment are beneficial to you before you commit to buying them.
For more information, contact the Supported Needs and Disability Office on Tel: 200 46253 or attend our offices located at Suite 955 Europort, 5th Floor of Block 9, Europort.
There are numerous service providers and organisations available to help you if you would like counselling, advice or need someone to talk. the services available are listed in the following hyperlink: https://www.gha.gi/services/mental-health-services/.
There are also numerous charities and support groups specialising in different areas which you can reach out to. These can be accessed on: https://disability.gov.gi/
You can also contact the Supported Needs and Disability Office on Tel: 200 46253 or attend our offices located at Suite 955 Europort, 5th Floor of Block 9, Europort.
5th Floor, Building 9, Suite 955, Europort, Europort Road
