Funding from PFRON - Questions and Answers

In this article, we have compiled useful information for those who wish to purchase a massage device with funding from PFRON.
Be sure to read it before you start filling out your application.

PFRON funding for the purchase of home rehabilitation equipment - what you should know!

One of the documents required for the application is a medical certificate. Which doctor should issue this certificate and how long is the document valid?

The certificate must be issued by a medical specialist who is treating the given medical condition. The certificate is usually valid for 3 months, but some institutions shorten this period to 30 days.
It is therefore best to contact the appropriate funding agency and ask about the document's validity period.

How often can one apply for funding for the purchase of rehabilitation equipment?

Funding for this purpose is available annually.  

To obtain funding, there is an income criterion. How is income calculated and what documents must be submitted?

In most cases, you do not need to submit any documents. You only need to fill out a declaration of income, which is an integral part of the application for funding.

And how to calculate income?

Income is the sum of monthly revenues, regardless of the title and source of their acquisition, minus the monthly burden of personal income tax and the costs of obtaining income; health insurance and social security contributions, and the amount of alimony paid to other persons.

Income does not include, among others: one-time social cash benefits; targeted benefits; material aid of a social or motivational nature granted on the basis of education system regulations; the value of benefits in kind; benefits to which an unemployed person is entitled under regulations on employment promotion and labor market institutions on account of performing community service work.

Is a specific form required to submit an application?

Yes, the application for funding is submitted on a form. It is available on the websites of the County Family Assistance Centers (PCPR) as well as on the SOW website – the Support Service System for funding from PFRON sources.

Link to the funding application

To fill out the application online, you must create an account on the SOW portal.

Is it possible to apply for PFRON funding for the purchase of several rehabilitation devices?

Yes. If you need to purchase several devices, it is best to include them in one application. The possibility of funding will be considered individually for each device, so it may happen that you receive a different funding threshold for different equipment.

By what date should applications for funding be submitted?

There is no simple answer to this question.
Funding institutions receive funds at the end of the first quarter. Therefore, it is best to submit applications at the beginning of the year; some units even recommend doing so as early as the end of December. Funding is awarded until the funds are exhausted, so if funds are available, an application can be submitted at any time.

One must also keep in mind the possibility of fund reallocation. It happens that people who have been granted funding are unable to use it for various reasons (e.g., sudden illness or death). In such cases, the funds return to the pool and are awarded to another applicant.

How long do you have to wait to receive the funding?

The waiting time for funding approval depends on many factors: the availability of funds, the correct preparation of the application, and the work of the verification committee. On average, it takes 2-3 months, but this time can also be significantly shorter or longer.

Is it possible to purchase the devices first and then apply for funding and reimbursement of incurred costs?

No, that is not possible. You must first obtain the funding and sign an agreement with the funding institution, and only then finalize the purchase.

In which medical conditions are massage devices used in home rehabilitation?

Conditions for which doctors recommend our rehabilitation devices include multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, sensory integration disorders, age-related degenerative changes, Alzheimer's disease, spine disorders, paralysis and paresis, or pain syndromes.

However, it should be remembered that every case is different and there are no universal applications here. For example, some patients with Parkinson's disease use the PowerBoard vibration platform in their rehabilitation, while for others, this form of rehabilitation is not recommended due to co-existing illnesses.

The same applies to the use of massage chairs in the therapy of sensory integration disorders - not everyone will be able to use them.
 

Will you help me choose the right device?

Based on our knowledge of the devices, our expertise, and years of experience working with rehabilitation centers, we can suggest which devices will work best in a given case.

However, please remember that our advice is not medical advice and the possibility of using a device should always be approved by a doctor.
It is worth approaching them with a prepared detailed specification of the given device, so that the doctor can provide an opinion on the specific model.