Disabled people do not receive the right support during the pandemic - a large increase in notifications to IVO

Municipalities have an obligation to report unenforced LSS decisions to IVO.

- We see a doubling of the reports, and the reason is covid-19, says Kaisu Kull, inspector at IVO.

The country's municipalities have a particularly difficult time meeting the legal requirement for daily activities during the pandemic.

The municipalities' reporting has increased from 790 in 2019 to 4,849 in 2020. By and large for the entire increase, the municipalities have stated that it is due to covid-19.

"We are breaking the law"

According to a report from the National Board of Health and Welfare, every third municipality in the country reduced the scope of daily activities in 2020 - an equal proportion eliminated it altogether.

In Skellefteå, the daily activities, after consultation with the county's infection control, have closed and opened several times during the pandemic.

A total of 400 users have been allowed to stay at home in various rounds.

- You can safely say that we are breaking the law.

But I believe that society has respect for the fact that we must ensure that individuals do not become seriously ill, says Iosif Karambotis (S), chairman of the social committee in Skellefteå.

National supervision is planned

Municipalities that violate LSS may be required to pay a special fee.

There is no exception in the law during the pandemic, but it is uncertain whether IVO will apply for a special fee with the administrative court in all cases. As the reports have increased so sharply, IVO has decided to conduct a national inspection where all municipalities have generally been accountable how they meet the needs of the individual in cases where they change efforts.

- We have received an incredible number of cases and IVO must think about how the cases should be handled without burdening either us or the municipalities with unnecessary administrative tasks, says Kaisu Kull, inspector at IVO, says Kaisu Kull, inspector at IVO.

Declared interest organization

At the interest organization For children, young people and adults with disabilities with developmental disabilities, FUB, there is a certain understanding that the municipalities do not meet the legal requirement during the pandemic.

But also a resignation.

- This gives further signals to us that the LSS legislation is a must for this group to have a dignified life, says Ann-Mari Alenius, chairman of FUB in Västerbotten.