Fewer people challenge work ability assessments

The number of challenges to work ability assessment decisions in Estonia has declined steadily, ERR reported, citing a written response from Economic and Industry Minister Erkki Keldo to member of parliament Aleksandr Tšaplõgin.

The number of upheld appeals has remained broadly stable, but their share has increased as the total number of appeals has fallen. In 2023, 17.5 percent of appeals were upheld, compared with 23.1 percent in 2025.

Last year, 2,564 work ability assessment decisions were challenged, representing 5.8 percent of all such decisions. Of those appeals, 577 were upheld.

New information submitted or identified during the appeal process about a person’s health condition accounted for 89 percent of upheld appeals. In 11 percent of cases, existing information was assessed differently.

The number of work ability assessment decisions taken to court has remained at a similar level. In 2023, 51 decisions reached court, compared with 48 in 2025.

The ministry said the decline in challenges had been supported by continuous quality control of work ability assessments, updated guidelines and improvements in the quality of health data.

Health conditions can change over time

A change in the result of a work ability assessment does not necessarily indicate an error in the assessment system, as a person’s health may improve or deteriorate over time.

Last year, the work ability assessment remained unchanged in about 72 percent of reassessments. In 17 percent of cases, work ability was assessed as lower than previously, indicating that the person’s health had deteriorated. In 12 percent of cases, work ability was assessed as improved.

In 1,234 cases last year, people previously assessed as having no work ability were found to have partial work ability in a reassessment. In 140 cases, people previously assessed as having no work ability were found in a reassessment not to have reduced work ability.

The number of people with reduced work ability may be partly affected by risks arising from the working environment, which in turn reduce the number of years people live and work in good health. A safe working environment that protects health should support the preservation of work ability and help prevent its decline.