ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR CASH ASSISTANCE FOR OLDER AND DISABLED PEOPLE IN HUNGARY - A MODEL FOR COUNTRIES IN PASSAGE FROM A PLANNED TO A MARKET-ECONOMY

The political and economic changes presently taking place in the Centr al and Eastern European countries are accompanied by profound social c hanges for which, in terms of personal well-being, older and disabled people pay the highest price. Having lost the security of a minimum st andard of living, many are exposed to poverty in its broadest sense. T he collapse of governmental arrangements to provide for the minimum ne eds of this population led to the establishment of non-governmental vo luntary social agencies. Unfortunately, these are characterized by lim ited resources on the one hand, and rack of trained and skilled social work staff on the other. Based on the experience of a Hungarian non-g overnmental social agency, a model for eligibility criteria for cash a ssistance under these circumstances, taking vulnerability as a key con cept, is suggested for the benefit and dignity of those most in need.