2.4 million citizens of the country are expected to see aid of 600 million euros this month, as the payments of the aid announced by the prime minister at the Thessaloniki International Fair begin, while measures that have already been legislated before the summer are implemented.

This is the measure of the return of rent to 1 million households, but also the payment of the aid of 250 euros to approximately 1.4 million pensioners, uninsured elderly and beneficiaries of disability allowances. The total fiscal cost of the measures in question amounts to approximately 600 million euros.

These amounts are part of the broader aid package recently described by the Minister of National Economy and Finance, Kyriakos Pierrakakis. The package is worth a total of 2.5 billion euros, which is to be gradually paid out over the next 7 months and will cover a perimeter of more than 5 million citizens.

Included are measures such as reductions in direct tax scales, regular annual increases to pensioners, phasing out the personal difference with simultaneous increases to pensioners, re-increasing the minimum wage in the private sector and pay scales for civil servants, increases in uniforms that average more than one extra salary, etc.

What is paid in November

The beginning of the payments is made by the beneficiaries of the rent refund and the 250 euro subsidy. Both payments are scheduled for Friday, November 28. In detail, with regard to the return of rent, the beneficiaries reach one million households with a maximum aid amount of 800 euros, increased by 50 euros for each dependent child.

Applies to tenants who paid rent in 2024, either for primary or student housing. This is a permanent measure, which will be repeated every November and aims, as stated by the officials of the ministry, to mitigate the negative effects of the housing problem on the daily lives of households living in rented accommodation.

An application is not required to pay the rent refund, but the following criteria must be met cumulatively. Specifically:

Income criteria

– Single: up to 20,000 euros

– Couple without children: up to 28,000 euros

– Couple with 1 child: up to 32,000 euros

– Couple with 2 children: up to 36,000 euros

– For each additional minor: +4,000 euros

Assets:

– Single: up to 120,000 euros real estate value

– Married without children: up to 140,000 euros

– With 1 child: up to 160,000 euros

– With 2 children: up to 180,000 euros

For the orderly payment of the rent refund, the Lease Information Statement (“Lease”) for the property should have been submitted to AADE. Also, the number of this statement had been declared in the tax return for tax year 2024 (form E1, Table 6). The return number could also be included in a late income tax return, which does not incur penalties, until the last working day of September. In case of modification of the lease, it is sufficient to have declared the number of the last lease statement.

If the number of the lease was not declared in E1, the AADE proceeds with cross-checks and if from the details of the lessee’s income tax return and the active lease information declaration submitted to the AADE, the lease details are identified through the declared electricity supply number, the aid will be paid normally.

On November 28, the permanent aid of 250 euros will also be paid to more than 1.4 million pensioners, uninsured elderly and beneficiaries of disability benefits. The amount is automatically doubled in the case of a couple who are both entitled to the allowance.

In this case too, specific criteria are provided: The 65-year-old limit has been set for the payment of the aid. This means that eligible pensioners are those over 65 years of age, who have an annual income of up to 14,000 euros (single/widowed) or up to 26,000 euros (married). And their real estate must not exceed in value 200,000 euros and 300,000 euros respectively

The allowance of 250 euros is tax-free, non-assignable and non-confiscatable. Also, it is not offset against debts to the State and is not subject to any fee, levy or other withholding in favor of the State or e-EFKA.

Thousands of citizens will receive both supports in their accounts. These are pensioners, uninsured senior citizens and beneficiaries of disability allowances who live in rent and who will see both the 250 euros in their accounts (or 500 euros if it is a retired couple, etc.), and the return of rent up to 800 euros, provided they meet all the above income, age and property conditions.

Finally, next month, with the January pensions due just before Christmas, 2.5 million pensioners will see additional increases, and especially for those who still have a personal difference, they will also receive a rise for the first time in many years. This increase will be equal to 50% of the increase of those who do not have a personal difference.