A/70/297 to their age, yet pensions and other available benefits may not f ully address disability-related needs. Therefore, States must take into account the situation of persons with disabilities when targeting specific age groups. 61. Lastly, targeting methods have to take account of persons with disabilities. While self-targeting (i.e. where persons with disabilities self-enrol into programmes) can be an interesting alternative to disability assessments, it may have a limited impact if the information and procedures for applying are inaccessible. Similarly, although community-based targeting to identify recipients for cash or in-kind benefits promotes the involvement of local agents or institutions, there is a risk that the decision makers exclude persons with disabilities. 62. Further work, including research and international cooperation, is required to support States in the design of simpler, more effective and more holistic targeting mechanisms, which would also inform States about the barriers faced by persons with disabilities and the support they need. E. Relevance of benefit packages 63. States must ensure that social protection programmes meet the standards of quality, adaptability, acceptability and adequacy for all persons with disabilities. Accordingly, social protection programmes must be adapted t o the needs of persons with disabilities in their local context; be acceptable in the light of the multiple discrimination that they face; and provide benefits of an adequate amount and duration to enable beneficiaries to enjoy an adequate standard of livi ng. 55 In other words, States must ensure that benefits and services offered by social protection programmes are relevant and consistent with the right of persons with disabilities to an adequate standard of living. 64. Disability-related needs should be considered and addressed in all areas of the social protection system. In many countries, the lack of availability of services is problematic: health coverage, for instance, does not always include specialized health services or assistive devices that persons with disabilities may need. Thus, they must bear, with their households, the cost of accessing those services or devices. Similarly, public employment and housing programmes often do not guarantee appropriate conditions for persons with disabilities to actually benefit from those programmes. 65. States should ensure that benefits are sufficiently high to enable persons with disabilities to afford the goods and services required to enjoy at least a minimum essential level of economic, social and cultural rights. 56 The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has stressed the importance of taking into account disability-related costs to ensure a sufficient allocation of benefits, in particular for children with disabilities and their families. 57 The Committee has also recommended calculating benefits on the basis of the personal characteristics and circumstances and the needs of persons with disabilities. 58 __________________ 55 56 57 58 15-12544 Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, general comment No. 19, para. 22. Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, general comment No. 3, para. 10. CRPD/C/CZE/CO/1, para. 53; CRPD/C/PRY/CO/1, para. 67; CRPD/C/NZL/CO/1, para. 60; CRPD/C/MNG/CO/1, para. 43. CRPD/C/HRV/CO/1, para. 44; CRPD/C/KOR/CO/1, para. 54; CRPD/C/CHN/CO/1, para. 80. 19/25