A request for information is an application for the disclosure of information. It does not require any analysis to be carried out or additional information to be gathered. If analysis is required, the request is classed as a request for an explanation. The Ministry of Social Affairs can be approached with requests for information in writing or over the telephone.

Our contact details, should you wish to submit a request, are as follows:

Gonsiori 29, 15027 Tallinn
Telephone: +372 626 9301
Fax: +372 699 2209
E-mail: info|a|sm.ee

Please provide the following details when submitting a request for information:

• your first name and surname;
• if you are submitting the request on behalf of an authority, institution or legal entity, the name of the authority, institution or legal entity;
• the nature of the information or the name of the document you are seeking; and
• the way in which the request should be responded to (post, fax or e-mail) and the relevant contact details.

We respond to requests for information within five working days. The start of this period is considered to be the working day after the request is received. If the request requires clarification or uncovering the information is time-consuming, this period may be extended to 15 working days. In this event we will inform you of the new deadline and the reason why the request is taking longer to deal with than anticipated. If responding to a request requires analysis or the gathering of additional information, it is classed as a request for an explanation and we will process the request as such.

If the information you request is available on the Internet or as a publication, we will let you know where you can find it.

If the Ministry of Social Affairs does not have the information you require, we will determine who can help you and forward your request to them. We will of course inform you of this.

We have the right to reject an application if:

• there is restricted access to the information;
• the Ministry of Social Affairs does not have the information you require and is unable to determine who can help you;
• the details you provide are insufficient and clarification fails to indicate the kind of information you seek, or you are unable to be contacted because you have not provided any contact details;
• processing the request would be extremely time-consuming and involving and would incur unjustified expenses; or
• the request cannot be fulfilled by issuing a single response.

In the event that we reject your application, we will let you know within five working days and also explain why it was rejected.