Rights and support for autistic children in North Macedonia: where to start

* This article was translated from Macedonian with the help of artificial intelligence (AI). The names of institutions and rights are also given in Macedonian, as they are used in official procedures.

After the diagnosis, many parents ask the same thing: is my child entitled to any support, and where do I ask for it? The system isn’t always simple. Here is an overview of the main rights, from kindergarten to school and beyond, and of the steps to start with.

1. Functional assessment is the first step

Most rights for children with disabilities depend on a functional assessment report and opinion (наод и мислење за функционална проценка). This is not the same as the diagnosis. The assessment shows how the child functions in everyday life and what kind of support they need.

According to UNICEF, with the amendments to the law from February 2026:

• the assessment of children and young people is aligned with the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF);
• the assessment for children and young people remains free of charge for families, with the costs covered by the Health Insurance Fund;
• parents continue to take an active part in the assessment.

Access to educational, health and social services, as well as disability-related cash benefits, depends on the assessment.

Where to ask: at the social work centre (центар за социјална работа) in your municipality, or with your child’s paediatrician, who can tell you where and how to book an assessment.

2. Special allowance (посебен додаток)

This is the main cash benefit for a child with a disability. According to the Law on Child Protection and the website of the responsible ministry:

• it is provided for a child with a disability up to the age of 26, and the law explicitly lists autism;
• the report and opinion are issued by the Functional Assessment Service (Служба за функционална проценка);
• the right belongs to one of the parents, the guardian, or the person to whom the social work centre has entrusted the child;
• the application is submitted to the social work centre where you live;
• for a single parent, the amount is increased by 50%;
• the amount is adjusted every January in line with the rise in the cost of living;
• using one child protection right does not rule out using another, for example the child allowance (детски додаток), if you meet the conditions.

For the exact current amount, ask at the social work centre.

3. Health insurance

Under the same law, a child with a disability is entitled to health insurance, in accordance with the health insurance regulations.

4. Kindergarten

This is important for preschool children, and few parents know about it:

• When a public kindergarten has more applicants than places, the admissions committee gives priority to a child with a disability for whom a report and opinion from the Functional Assessment Service has been submitted.
• When a child with a disability is included in a group, the number of children in the group is reduced by two.

When enrolling, the parent needs to submit the report and opinion. That is why it is a good idea to have the assessment done in time, before the enrolment calls.

5. School

According to the Law on Primary Education, to support the learning of a pupil with a disability, the primary school provides:

• an educational assistant (образовен асистент);
• professional support from a primary school with a resource centre and from a support centre;
• an inclusive team for the pupil, which prepares an individual education plan (IEP, ИОП) or a modified programme;
• assistive technology.

All of this is determined on the basis of the disability assessment. When enrolling in school, the parent also needs to submit the assessment, so the same applies here: it is best to have it done in time.

6. Other social protection rights

In addition to the special allowance, the Ministry of Social Policy, Demography and Youth also pays rights such as care allowance (туѓа нега) and disability cash assistance (парична помош за попреченост), according to the announcement on the January 2026 payments. The conditions for these rights differ and do not apply to every child. Ask at the social work centre whether your child meets them.

7. Support from your municipality

Some municipalities have their own measures. For example, the Municipality of Kumanovo subsidises utility costs in 2026, including for recipients of the special allowance. Check your municipality’s website or ask directly.

Practical tips

• Keep a folder. Copies of the diagnosis, the functional assessment report, the decisions and every application you submit.
• Submit in writing. Ask for a registration number or a confirmation that the application has been received.
• Take notes. The date, who you spoke to and what they told you.
• Ask about deadlines. When you submit an application, ask by when you should receive a response.
• Connect with other parents. They often know practical details that aren’t written down anywhere.

Laws change

The rights and procedures for children with disabilities have changed several times in recent years, and a new functional assessment system is being prepared in 2026. Before you submit an application, check the latest information at the social work centre or on the ministry’s website.

What did you struggle with most when claiming your child’s rights? Write to us. We will collect the questions and seek answers from the responsible institutions.

Sources

All sources are in Macedonian.

• Law on Child Protection (Закон за заштита на децата), consolidated text, May 2025, published on the website of the Municipality of Gazi Baba (Articles 32–35, 33-a, 44, 60 and 64).
• Law on Primary Education (Закон за основното образование), consolidated text, May 2025, published on the website of the Municipality of Gazi Baba (types of support for pupils with disabilities).
• Ministry of Social Policy, Demography and Youth: Special allowance.
• UNICEF North Macedonia (2 February 2026): New amendments to the Law on the System for Assessment of Persons with Disabilities enable the advancement of children’s rights.
• Television 24 (9 January 2026): Ministry: Payment of special allowance, care allowance and disability assistance under way.
• Municipality of Kumanovo: Announcement on subsidising utility costs for 2026.