This chapter covers:

• disability pension (invalidska pokojnina)
• vocational rehabilitation (poklicna rehabilitacija)
• disability allowance (nadomestilo za invalidnost)
• partial benefit (delno nadomestilo) and
• disability benefit for physical impairment (invalidnina za telesno okvaro)

In what situation can I claim?

Persons classed as disabled are entitled to different rights from disability insurance. Disability is assessed by the ZPIZ disability commission.

Given the remaining capability to work, persons are classified in three categories:

• category I (is no longer able to work);
• category II (working capability is reduced by 50% or more);
• category III (working capability is reduced by less than 50%, work for at least half working hours is not possible or the person is no longer capable of working at the current place of employment).

What conditions do I need to meet?

Persons categorised with the following disabilities are entitled to a disability pension:

• category I;
• category II, if without vocational rehabilitation another suitable job with full working hours would not be possible, however, this is not guaranteed where the person is above 55 years of age;
• category III, if without vocational rehabilitation another suitable job with part-time working hours would not be possible (minimum 4 hours a day), however, this is not guaranteed where the person is above 50 years of age;
• category II or category III if suitable work has not been assured where the person has reached 65 years of age.

The person must also fulfil other conditions.

An insured person is entitled to vocational rehabilitation if they:

• have a category II disability;
• have on the day of the onset of the disability not yet reached 55 years of age;
• can carry out other work which would be carried out with full-time hours, given the remaining work capabilities.

The right to vocational rehabilitation can also be received by an insured person:

• who has a category II disability;
• who on the day of onset of the disability has not yet reached 50 years of age;
• who given the remaining work capabilities can carry out other work, which would be carried out with shorter working hours than full-time at a minimum of 4 hours daily.

An insured person is entitled to disability allowance:

• with the recognised right to relocation on completion of vocational rehabilitation;
• with category II invalidity on reaching 55 years of age;
• with category III invalidity with a working capability of less than 50%;
• if full-time work is possible, but at the onset of the disability the insured person was not employed or affiliated, or if they terminated employment or were employed at another place of work.

Persons with category III of disability are entitled to reduced working hours and benefit in the instance that they are not able to work full time or to carry out work without vocational rehabilitation.

In the case of injury at work or work-related illness, insured persons or retired persons are entitled to disability benefit for physical impairment if they suffered physical impairment during the insurance period or during receipt of a survivor's pension. In the instance that physical impairment is a result of injury at work or a work-related injury, the person shall receive the right to 30% disability benefit for physical impairment.

As from 7 August 2021, insured persons who suffer physical impairment stemmed from an injury outside work or illness are also entitled to a disability allowance for physical impairment.

What am I entitled to and how can I claim?

Disability pension

A disability pension is calculated on the basis of: the pension base amount, cause of disability, additional pension period and age of the insured person on the day of onset of the disability. Exceptionally, a disability pension may be paid as a result of injury at work or work-related illness. More on calculation of disability pensions.

Vocational rehabilitation

The cost of vocational rehabilitation is borne by ZPIZ. The insured person is also entitled to benefit during the period of vocational rehabilitation and labour rights of employment. More on allowance definition.

Disability allowance

The amount of disability allowance is measured according to the base amount of disability pensions to which the insured person would be entitled on the day of the onset of the disability, with the reason for the onset of disability also being taken into account. More on definition of benefit amounts.

Partial benefit

Disability benefit for physical impairment

The amount of disability benefit is measured according to a defined percentage of the base for measuring further rights to and cause of the assessed extent and cause of the physical injury. More on definition of disability benefit amounts.

Jargon busters

A disabled person (male or female disabled worker) - is an insured person who has been assessed for disability in accordance with ZPIZ-2 and who has been granted rights from disability insurance.

• ZPIZ - Pension and Disability Insurance Institute of the Republic of Slovenia
• ZPIZ-2 - Pension and Disability Insurance Act

Forms you may need to fill in

• Request for entitlement to a disability pension;
• Request for entitlement to a partial disability; pension/partial allowance;
• Request for entitlement to disability allowance.

All required forms can be found on the ZPIZ website.

Know your rights

European Commission publications and web pages:

• Social security: Your rights as an EU citizen abroad

Who do you need to contact?

Different rights for disability insurance are assessed on the basis of a decision of the ZPIZ disability commission, which assesses disabilities.

Requests must be submitted to the ZPIZ regional unit.