Submitting an application under a guardianship or a power of attorney
If the applicant for the work ability allowance is a person subject to guardianship or has been appointed a legal representative, proof of guardianship or representation must be provided upon submission of the application. By way of exception, someone else can apply on behalf of the applicant even if the applicant is permanently unable to apply in person due to a medical condition.
For children aged 16–18 and adult wards, the application for an assessment of their work ability is submitted by the legal representative of the child or person (e.g. a parent, guardian, authorised representative of the guardianship authority).
The application must be accompanied by one of the following.
- A document proving the legal representative's right of representation (e.g. birth certificate of the child, court judgment). there is no need to submit the document if its details and scope are entered in the Estonian population register.
- A power of attorney from the local authority (a general power of attorney is sufficient if a court judgment on the guardianship of a specific person is also provided).
Submitting an application for the work ability allowance under a power of attorney
The power of attorney can be either notarised, unattested or electronic and must be handwritten or digitally signed by the applicant. The power of attorney must contain the following information:
- name and personal identification code of the principal;
- name and personal identification code of the authorised person;
- exact name of the act which the authorised person is authorised to perform: for example, the submission of applications for the assessment of work ability and for the work ability allowance (if the person applies for both at the same time) and the related procedural acts;
- expiry date of the power of attorney;
- signature of the principal.
The power of attorney must be notarised if the work ability allowance is to be transferred to another person’s bank account.
Please note that if the application is signed on behalf of an applicant with active legal capacity by a member of his or her family or an authorised employee of the municipality or city government, the work ability allowance cannot be granted to the applicant after the decision on the assessment of his or her work ability until the application is signed by the applicant himself or herself, his or her guardian or an authorised person.