Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced a series of benefits to support low-pensioners, people with disabilities and tenants in rented accommodation. The PM’s announcement came after the release of data on Greece’s fiscal over-performance by statistics authorities ELSTAT and Eurostat.
According to the figures announced, Greece surpassed targets for a record surplus of 11.4 billion euros (4.8% of GDP) in 2024.
The measures announced by the prime minister are reportedly estimated to cost approximately 1 billion euros and will aim to support pensioners, but also to address the critical issue of housing for tenants.
Of the total package of measures, 250 million euros will be allocated to support low-pensioners, uninsured seniors and people with disabilities who already receive disability allowance. These three groups will receive 250 euros net end of November.
Housing is another critical issue that requires immediate attention. Rising rents and the lack of affordable housing have created serious problems for many citizens. A significant portion of the support package will be directed towards supporting tenants, with the aim of reducing the financial pressure they face.
Tenants will receive 1/12 of the annual rent they pay at the nominal value as registered at the tax office. Maximum is the amount of 800 euros plus €50 per child. financial criteria will be taken into consideration, however, they have not been specified yet. Also tenants will receive the subsidy at the end of November.
Financial criteria
For Tenants
Regarding rents (main and student residence) for the refund of 1/12 of the declared rent to the bank account, the criteria include:
The maximum subsidy amount is 800 euros plus 50 euros per child up to 900 euros. The maximum amount for student residence is 800 euros.
Income (annual) criteria: 20,000 euros for singles, 28,000 for married couples plus 4,000 euros per child. Single parents 31,000 euros.
The asset criteria are 120,000 euros plus 20,000 for each dependent member. There is no asset limit for student residence
The annual cost is 230 million euros. The measure will be applied proportionally for cases of rental for less than 12 months a year. Any other benefits are not affected by the payment.
For the 250 euros benefits
For pensioners and the 250 euro benefit, the beneficiaries are:
Those who are single have an annual income of up to 14,000 euros and assets of up to 200,000 euros. For married people, the limits are an income of 26,000 euros and assets of 300,000 euros. The age limit is 65 years (KTG estimates pensioners over 65 years old).
There are apparently no financial criteria for the Uninsured elderly and people with disabilities, that is the beneficiaries of OPEKA and EFKA disability benefits.
The measure concerns 1.44 million citizens. The cost is 360 million euros.
Package for 2026
In his televised message on Easter Tuesday, the Prime Minister stressed that these benefits measures are permanent and not only for 2025.
According to the rules, the surplus of 2024 has to be distributed in 2025. the package for 2026 will be announced by the Prime Minister in September 2025, at the International Fair of Thessaloniki.
Measures such as rent subsidies and the construction of new social housing will contribute to addressing the housing crisis, Mitsotakis stressed.
Peanuts for votes
In the last couple of months, the conservative government of New Democracy and PM Mitsotakis have seen their rates falling in public opinion polls due to the rising cost of living and the Tempi train disaster of 2023.
In this sense, low-pensioners, uninsured elderly and people with disabilities can go and vote for ND in the elections of 2027, as their income will increase by 20 euros per month, and so can tenants do as they will get 66 euros per month maximum.