Recognition of the Right to Have and Use a Family Card (family cardholders)

 RECOGNITION OF THE RIGHT TO HAVE AND USE A FAMILY CARD (Family Cardholders)

Family Cardholders (Large families and families that care for children with disabilities, despite their age), can enjoy the benefits of the Family Card, which offers one-time or multiple discounts of Partner offers both in public and private sector: special services, concessions, privileges or discounts for goods and services.

The Department of Supervision of Social Services under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour of the Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter referred to as “Department”) carries out the recognition of the right to have and use a Family Card by permanent residents of the State, with large families and families caring for a disabled child.

The procedure for recognition of the right to have and use a Family Card is free of charge.

Persons request a Family Card must comply with the requirements in accordance with Article 3 of the Law of Family card:

• Large family refers to a family with 3 or more children, adopted children or children in permanent care up to 18 years old. The concept of a large family also includes children, younger than 24 years, if they don’t have children of their own and attend a general education school or a vocational school, studying according to a formal education programme for their first qualifications or are enrolled in university studies according to a full-time study programme.

• Family caring for or nursing a person with a disability refers to a family where parents live with a child with a fixed level of disability or an unmarried person of working age with a special need for permanent care (assistance) or with a special need for permanent nursing.

The applicant must submit a duly completed Application form and copies of the documents to get the right to have and use a Family Card.

A duly completed application and documents must be submitted to the Family Support Information System (SPIS) or delivered by hand or posted to the Department of Supervision of Social Services under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour by the applicant to the following address: A. Vivulskio st. 13, LT-03221 Vilnius, [email protected].

The applicant will receive a confirmation of Family Cardholder status.

The card is valid for 5 years from the date of issue, but no longer than the cardholder is entitled to the card.

List of Required Documents:

The application is accompanied by documents on personal data that are not in state and departmental registers or state information systems (according to the specific family situation):

• a copy of the identity document of the adult applicant – always if a written request is sent.

If necessary, in addition on the request of the Department:

• a copy of the court decision on the determination of the child’s or children’s residence if the parents are divorced.

• a copy of the court decision on the appointment of a guardian, custodian if the child or children are in custody, guardianship.

• a copy of the court decision on the adoption if the child or children have been adopted;

• a copy of the certificate of the educational institution implementing the full-time program of basic, secondary education, vocational training, and higher education, if the child is an adult but is studying.

• a certificate issued by the Disability and Working Ability Assessment Office on the level of disability of a minor child or a copy of the certificate of the disabled child.

• a copy of the certificate for determining the special needs of the person being cared for issued by the Disability and Working Capacity Assessment Office.

• a certificate of the declared place of residence of the family members (when the disabled child is an adult and lives with his / her parents.

Copies of documents must be certified by either notaries or elders. According to the laws, elders perform notarial acts for the residents free of charge in the territory served by the eldership as well as testify to the authenticity of copies of documents and their extracts.

Description of the service delivery process:

1. The application can be filled in on the website www.spis.lt, fill it in writing (the application form can be found on the website www.seimos-kortele.lt) and sent to the Department of Supervision of Social Services by post at A. Vivulskio str. 13, 03115 Vilnius, or submitted directly to the department upon arrival.

2. Upon receipt of an application, it shall be registered and start the investigation process by SPIS.

3. SPIS or Prescribed officer shall check the documents in the State registers whether the applicant meets the required criteria, get additional documents if need, and draw a final reasoned decision by the SPIS to recognize applicant’s right to have and use a Family Card or not to recognize applicant’s right to have and use a Family Card, stating reasons for non-recognition, as soon as possible, but no later than within 5 work days of the date of receipt of all relevant documents.

4. The information of decision shall be sent to the applicant by SPIS, post, or email.

5. The Family Card is produced and sent within 30 working days of the right to receive the card confirmation.

Contact person: Renata Kazlauskė, phone No. +370 658 82237, e-mail: [email protected]