Procedure for Admission to State Social Care Homes

Pursuant to the Law on Social Services of the Republic of Lithuania, the municipality is responsible for organising social services for residents within its territory.

After the municipal administration has adopted a decision to refer a person to a state social care home (the ownership rights and obligations of which are exercised by the Ministry of Social Security and Labour), a copy of the decision is sent to:

For persons under 18 years of age: the State Child Rights Protection and Adoption Service under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour (hereinafter referred to as the Service).

For persons over 18 years of age: the Agency for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour of the Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter referred to as ANTA).

The state social care home to which a person is referred is selected taking into account the preferences of the person (guardian, curator or person providing care and representation) and the ability of the state social care home to provide the social services required by that person.

Before a person is accommodated in a state social care home, a referral to the state social care home is issued.

If there are vacancies in a state social care home, ANTA or the Service issues the referral not later than within 3 working days from the date of receipt of the decision on the allocation of social care services. The referral is provided (sent) to the person (guardian, curator or person providing care and representation). A copy is provided to the state social care home to which the person is being referred and to the municipality that adopted the decision to allocate social care services to the person.

The issued referral is valid for 20 working days from the date on which it is provided (sent) to the person (guardian, curator or person providing care and representation). The validity period of the referral may be extended if the person (guardian, curator or person providing care and representation) submits a written explanation setting out objective reasons why they are unable to move into the state social care home within the specified period.

If the person does not move into the state social care home within the validity period of the referral, the referral becomes invalid.

If there are no vacancies in a state social care home, the person is placed on a waiting list maintained and administered by ANTA or the Service. The waiting list is compiled according to the dates on which decisions made by the municipalities are received. One person may be included on only one waiting list for long-term social care. Persons may not be accommodated in state social care homes out of turn or through an expedited procedure on the grounds of urgency.

ANTA or the Service has the right to refuse to include a person on the waiting list and to refuse to issue a referral to a state social care home if: the municipality’s decision to allocate social care in a state social care home does not comply with the requirements of the legal acts governing the allocation and provision of social services; not all mandatory documents have been submitted, or the documents have been completed incorrectly; the decision concerns a person who does not belong to the category of recipients defined in the regulations of the relevant state social care home. ANTA or the Service shall inform in writing the municipal administration that made the decision about this matter.