– I had a stroke over 25 years ago. It has been tough. But as the years went by and I started using activity aids, the situation has improved. But think of everyone who doesn’t get that opportunity. That’s what Arne Mjåland of the National Association for Stroke Victims says. At just 28 years old, he suffered a massive stroke. The doctors thought he could neither run nor cycle again. On Tuesday – on a specially adapted bicycle – he arrived at the Storting together with members from his association as well as the National Association for Spinal Cord Injury and the Norwegian Association for the Disabled to campaign. They demand that the politicians increase the pot for activity aids. Activity aids Subsidy for activity aids for people over the age of 26 is given as a framework grant. This means that aids are purchased within a budget set by the Storting, and when it is empty, no more activity aids will be granted to people over 26 in the budget year. Funds are set aside for service and repair. You can get aids for training, activation and stimulation specially designed for people with impaired physical or cognitive functioning. Aids can be various bicycles, skis and sleds, wheelchairs for indoor sports activities, special carts, aids for standing and walking training, aids for fine motor training, aids for cognitive stimulation. If you are over 26, you must document that you need the aid to keep you physically active, and you must be a member of the National Insurance Scheme. If the conditions are met, your application will be approved as long as there are funds left in the budget. (Source: Nav) This year’s pot of money was emptied in February – We are here to mark the big betrayal the politicians are making towards the country’s disabled people, says Jørgen Foss, head of organization at the Norwegian Association for the Disabled. – I expect the politicians to consider the country’s disabled people as equal citizens. Then we need money to be allocated, says Jørgen Foss from Norway’s Handikapforbund. Photo: Henning Rønhovde / news He receives support from Roger Amundsen, head of the National Association for stroke victims. – The budget that has been presented regarding AKT-26 is completely wrong! As early as February, the pot was actually empty. So many people are affected. That the money for 2023 was used up long before the end of the year is not new. This has been the case for a number of years. Grants in the state budget Every year, money is granted from the state for activity aids. In recent years, the “pot” has been used up long before the turn of the year. 2018: The allocation in the state budget of NOK 49 million was used up in September. 2019: The allocation in the state budget of NOK 50.5 million (strengthened by NOK 15 million in the revised national budget in May) was used up in June. 2020: The grant of NOK 52.1 million was used up on 17 March. In the revised national budget, the government put in an extra NOK 48 million. The money lasted until September. 2021: The framework was a total of NOK 104 million according to the revised national budget. 2022: NOK 55 million. Ran out in February. 2023: The framework for 2023 was NOK 56.8 million. “The frame is now used up. Since 13 February, no new activity aids will be granted to people over the age of 26 until 2024. People over 26 who apply for activity aids will now be refused,” writes Nav. – This is a matter of small money, but which gives so much back. It’s not glitz and glam, it’s about disabled people getting to be active, asserts Jørgen Foss. Stroke victims Thom Røisgaard and Inger-Lise Palm cycled to the Storting to take part in the campaign. Photo: Henning Rønhovde / news – The aids help us to live a good life even after a diagnosis, but the grants have been far too small for many years. This means that many are excluded from activities and working life, continues Roger Amundsen. Can be waiting for help for four years Confederation leader of Norway’s Handikapforbund, Tove Linnea Brandvik, explains that in Norway we have a scheme for people over the age of 26: “Via Nav you get aids for, among other things, being physically active”. – An arrangement that is delimited by a pot of money. This year, almost no one had time to apply before it was empty. That’s why we mark: More money or other arrangements, says Brandvik. – Since 2014, we have had a scheme that runs out early. We cannot continue like this, says Tove Linnea Brandvik, head of the Norwegian Association for the Disabled. Photo: Henning Rønhovde / news – What does it mean that the pot is empty? – If, for example, you are applying for a customized bicycle. If you then do not get it approved for the small group that makes it during January and February, you have to wait for a year. At worst three or four years, as some have done. Then you stay at home and don’t get active. – Unfair! The increase in this year’s framework allocation was 5.5 per cent. According to Brandvik, that is far from enough. Taking as a starting point the fact that the consumer price index increased by 4.8% from August last year to August this year – and that it is estimated to increase by almost the same in 2024 – this means a real decrease in the framework allocation. Brandvik says it was previously calculated that 200 million will last for one year. – But since 2014 we have had a backlog, so it is not certain that it will be enough, Brandvik replies. Roger Amundsen is not satisfied with the budget. Photo: Henning Rønhovde / news Roger Amundsen also believes that the aid is not distributed based on how great the need is. – No, it is rather based on how quickly the Nav office processes the application. Many have to wait for one to two years, and it often ends with a refusal. – That makes it even more complicated and worse in terms of unpredictability. This is unfair! adds Brandvik. Should only take 17 days to process Department Director of Nav, Jan Erik Grundlitjern, says the case processing will start after the New Year. The applications are then processed continuously at the aid centers until the frame is used up. Department director at Nav, Jan Erik Grundlitjern. Photo: Nav – Nav experiences a very large influx of applications for activity aids on 1 January, and the funds are quickly used up. – How long should the processing time normally take? – The requirement for the average processing time for applications for aids is 17 days, replies Grundlitjern. This was answered by Nav on activity aids This year, approximately 600 activity aids were granted to people over the age of 26, the limit was NOK 56.8 million. It will be announced when the framework grant has been used up. Any applications received after that will not be accepted. Then the person may have to apply again the following year. The framework for activity aids varies from year to year. In 2022, 705 cases were granted (the limit was NOK 55.5 million), in 2021 1773 cases were granted (the limit was NOK 118 million) and in 2020 1421 cases were granted (the limit was NOK 87 million). The number of cases in 2020–2022 includes cases about service and repair of the aids. The framework for next year is proposed at NOK 59.9 million. Cannot promise more grants from the state budget Erlend Larsen (H), Freddy André Øvstegård and Grete Wold (both from SV), as well as Heidi Greni and Per Olaf Lundteigen (Sp) took the time to listen to the campaigners. Some also spoke. Jørgen Foss speaks here. Among the audience we see, from left, Roger Amundsen from the National Association for stroke victims, Freddy André Øvstegård and Grete Wold (both from SV), and Heidi Greni and Per Olaf Lundteigen from Sp. Photo: Henning Rønhovde / news One of them was parliamentary representative Øvstegård. In his speech, he emphasized that in the budget proposals in recent years, SV has proposed more money in the pot. – Shouldn’t the disabled’s needs determine what they get in support, and not a budget frame? – Yes. We have been advocating for it for most years recently. This is a right that people have, replies the representative of the Swedish Socialist Party, Freddy André Øvstegård. He is head of the work and social committee, but says he cannot promise more money. – We are in opposition and are negotiating with the government. We can’t promise anything, but do our best. I hope that Ap and Sp listen and agree to a change. – Sp, as a government party, is anchored in the budget proposal at the same time as we work for improvements, said Per Olaf Lundteigen. Photo: Henning Rønhovde / news Per Olaf Lundteigen answers as follows: – Sp and I listen to proposals for both changes in principle (rights-based versus framework-based), the size of the grant, incentives for re-use of equipment through, for example, a deposit scheme as well as organization in Nav of aids, repairs and distribution to users. Cycled Norway along Arne Mjåland has fought back since he had a stroke in 1998. He has expectations after the event. – I hope it will not be the same board next year, that the pot runs out so early. Arne Mjåland says that the activity aids have helped him. Photo: Henning Rønhovde / news He says many in the association have partially returned to work thanks to the bicycles. – I hope more people get help. There is health in every step, even for us with disabilities, he says and adds with a modest but proud smile: – I have cycled the length of Norway.
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Slammed campaigned at the Storting – feel let down by the politicians – news Oslo og Viken – Local news, TV and radio
