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Controversy over benefits paid by Social Insurance Institution

Letters received by the HFHR indicate that SII expert physicians and court experts issue contradictory decisions regarding the health condition of persons applying for accident benefits. This type of payments is awarded for work-related injury or occupational disease.

Published: July 10, 2013

Persons suffering from work disability due to non-work related accident or illness receive smaller benefits. “We are concerned that the less favourable diagnostic classification of conditions by SII expert physicians may be motivated by a general policy of maintaining the lowest possible benefits”, says Anna Grochowska, HFHR lawyer.

The Foundation has addressed a letter to the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy calling the Ministry to investigate the issue. According to the SII’s data from the years 2008-2012 about 53 per cent of applications for accident benefits were accepted.

In its letter the Foundation also notes that detailed principles and the procedure of medical certification are governed in internal regulations of the SII, which are not available for public view.

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Poland – Warsaw

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