New first aid payments to those affected by the floods that occurred in early September in various regions of the country and especially in Thessaly, took place today, Monday. In particular, they were credited 8,606,711.81 euros in citizens’ bank accounts.

In particular, as the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection points out in its announcement, 8.56 million euros were paid to 1,602 natural persons for the treatment of basic living needs and simple repair work and/or the replacement of household goods in the Regional Units of Karditsa, Larissa, Magnesia, Trikala and Fthiotida. These are payments that arose both through the automated identification process by the Independent Public Revenue Authority (AADE) for specific villages that were completely and significantly affected by the flood phenomenon, as they arose after cooperation with the Fire Brigade, and through the intersections made by the officers of the general secretariat of Natural Disaster Recovery and State Aid in the applications submitted to the first aid platform, arogi.gov.gr. In addition, payments of 42,257.60 euros to 7 victims from the floods in the Region of Thessaly and in the Region of Central Greece as first aid against housing assistance, through the applications submitted to the first aid platform, arogi.gov.gr.

“To date, a total of 34.2 million euros have been paid to 6,073 natural persons, who have been affected by the unprecedented flood phenomenon that affected Thessaly, but also areas of Central Greece. At the same time, the process of cross-checking the data submitted through the first aid platform, arogi.gov.gr, continues, as well as the automated identification process, where available data is available – since there is an increase in the submission of IBANs by beneficiaries to the tax administration . Therefore, other payments will follow in the next few days”, notes the announcement.

It is reminded that the flood victims in the said areas, whose details are not obtained through the automated identification process by the AADE, can submit an application at arogi.gov.gr, so that they too receive the compensation they are entitled to. Of course, the flood-affected citizens who are in the other, several, affected areas are also invited to submit an application, as has been done to a significant extent until today. It is noted that until noon on Monday, September 25, 2023, 26,683 finalized applications and 4,794 provisional applications have been made.

It is worth noting that beneficiaries may not have emerged from the automatic identification process of the AADE, because, among other things, they may: (a) not have or have not submitted an IBAN, (b) the address details were not clearly registered of the property, (c) the residential address in E1 did not match the residential address based on the electricity supply, and (d) the details of the electricity supply were not completed or there were issues with the relevant number.

It should be noted that within the framework of the aid through arogi.gov.gr for basic needs, damage to household goods and simple repair work, the following are granted:

a) Support for simple repair work or the replacement of household goods, which varies up to the amount of 6,000 euros for a main residence, depending on the recording of the severity of the damage by the General Directorate for Rehabilitation of the Effects of Natural Disasters (DAEFK) of the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection. Especially for residences located in specific areas that were universally affected by the floods, as they arose in collaboration with the Fire Brigade, the aid for simple repair work or the replacement of household goods, amounts to the amount of 6,000 euros.

b) Support for basic living needs, which amounts to 600 euros for a main residence that has been affected.

Cumulatively, the amount of aid amounts to the amount of 6,600 euros per main residence.

These subsidies also apply to secondary residences, limited to 50% of the amounts paid for the main residences. The above aid is paid through the arogi.gov.gr platform, after the necessary crossings and checks, with special care for the areas that have been universally affected.

Finally, it is pointed out that according to the payment of the aid, checks and cross-checks of data are carried out, according to the autopsies of the services of the general directorate for the restoration of the effects of natural disasters. Correspondingly, for the cases where the aid payment was made automatically, autopsies and data cross-checks will be carried out. In the event that it is established that the entitled amount of the aid is less than the amount received by the beneficiary or that the recipient of the aid is not a beneficiary, then the excess amount or the total amount, respectively, is returned to the Greek State as unduly paid.

As it has been noted from the beginning and provided for in the relevant Joint Ministerial Decision, the intersections and controls also concern the villages that have joined the automatic procedure. In any case, therefore, those who are not entitled will not receive or, in the few cases that may arise, sums will be returned – after crossings and offsets – as unduly paid.

With reference to the first aid against housing assistance, the amount of aid amounts to 10,000 euros for buildings with severe damage that makes them dangerous for use (“red”) and to 5,000 euros for buildings with serious damage that makes them temporarily unfit for use ( “yellow”).

It is noted that the amount of the first aid received by each property owner is offset against the amount of the final housing assistance, as this will be determined by the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection with a relevant decision delimiting and granting housing assistance.

The deadline for submitting applications to arogi.gov.gr for the granting of aid to deal with basic living needs and simple repair work and/or the replacement of household goods for flood-affected citizens, for the granting of first aid against housing assistance from owners of affected buildings and first aid against a grant from affected businesses, expires on 9 October.