Access to the three most basic welfare aids (Minimum Guaranteed Income, housing benefit, child benefit) is being tightened by wealthy beneficiaries of social benefits.

It is estimated that two out of ten current beneficiaries of benefits (mainly child and housing) are expected to lose them due to the application of the asset criteria, with the aim of transparency, fairer distribution and savings.

“The profile of the beneficiary of allowances and vouchers, with luxurious houses, expensive jeeps and 300,000 deposits in the bank is not consistent with our goal, which is to support those in real need. The goal of the reform is transparency, fairness and respect for taxpayers’ money. It is an “honesty agreement” with the citizen. We want to identify the beneficiary who hides his income, while he has assets”, emphasized in a recent interview the Minister of Social Cohesion and Family, Sofia Zaharakis.

According to the NEWS, in addition to the amount of annual taxable income, from January 1, 2025, three more criteria will be introduced for their payment: the amount of movable and immovable property, as well as bank deposits.

From January 1, 2025, the reform of the allowances paid by OPECA includes the following three elements:

1. A “cutter” is introduced in the granting of the three benefits that will result from the counting of deposits, immovable and movable property of the beneficiaries (it remains to be clarified after the meeting of the Social Affairs Committee of the Parliament, in which the reform of the benefits will be introduced for discussion) .

2. An increase in the amounts for the beneficiaries is foreseen, which leads to an annual budgetary cost of 70 million euros.

3. The acquisition of benefits will no longer be hindered by the existence of income from salaried work, since henceforth the percentage of income from salaried work (20% in the child and housing allowance and 30% in the Guaranteed Minimum) will no longer be counted towards the income limits Income), so that there is an incentive to work.