Authorities "will scratch the bottom of the barrel": Christmas benefit

Confirmation of the news of the payment of benefits to citizens for Christmas has been received from both Finance Minister Kostis Hatzidakis and Deputy Minister Haris Theoharis. An official announcement is expected in the coming weeks.

Both emphasized that if “fiscal space” is available, additional assistance will be provided to financially vulnerable groups. As for replenishing the state treasury, sources in the Ministry of Finance report that a positive trend in income was recorded in October, which makes it possible to carry out this step.

Budget execution figures are expected to be announced next week, on Wednesday 16 November, which will confirm existing estimates. The same information states that the amount of the new “Christmas check” will be in the range of 200-250 euros and will affect low-income families, people with disabilities, as well as unsubsidized unemployed people and low-income pensioners.

As Finance Minister K. Hatzidakis said, “We will scrape by the skin of our teeth and support those in need as much as we can,” while Deputy Finance Minister Haris Theoharis said that “depending on the financial outcome that the budget brings in the final months, the last available euro will be will be used to support citizens. What form this measure will take is a matter for the Prime Minister to decide.”

The information indicates that a final decision and announcement on the benefit amount and number of beneficiaries is expected to be made either towards the end of November or early December once the amount is finalized.

It should be noted that last year, before Christmas, an extraordinary benefit of 250 euros was provided to approximately 1 million pensioners, 172,000 recipients of disability benefits CUSTODY, as well as 35,000 uninsured retirees. Also, 225,000 beneficiaries of the minimum guaranteed income received a double payment, and 800,000 beneficiaries of OPECA child benefits received a 50% increase in benefits. Before Christmas, hundreds of thousands of households were given a chance to breathe through six emergency and permanent benefits:

1. Market Pass 2.
2. Farmers’ benefit: They will receive an excise tax refund for 2023.
3. Youth pass. Around 200,000 young men and women aged 18 and 19 will receive a Youth Pass worth €150 by 10 December. The application platform for young people will open on Thursday 9 November. The Youth Pass is a permanent measure and is a digital debit card that beneficiaries will be able to use in businesses operating in the cultural, tourism and transport sectors.
4. Heating allowance. In the coming days, the AADE myHeating platform will be open for beneficiaries to submit applications until December 8, 2023. An advance payment of heating allowance in the amount of 100-1000 euros will be paid by December 22. Those who also received a heating allowance during the 2022-2023 winter season will receive as an advance heating allowance the entire amount of the allowance paid to them during the previous year’s season. For those who received double heating benefits last year because they switched from natural gas or became new beneficiaries, the advance payment is set at half of the total amount of the benefit paid to them.
5. One-time benefit for pensioners: 750,000 pensioners of all funds with a personal difference of more than 10 euros will be paid an extraordinary benefit of between 100 and 200 euros, depending on the amount of the pension.
6. Increasing EEE (KEA) for vulnerable households. The minimum income guarantee for 225,000 vulnerable households is adjusted by 8%. Thus, those who receive 200 euros today will receive 216 euros, those who receive 300 euros will receive 324 euros, and those who today receive 400 euros per month will receive 432 euros.

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