€250 new support payment: Who will be eligible?
Under the regulation, passed in parliament in July, E-EFKA retirees will be eligible for the benefit.
Eligibility criteria:
- Must be 65 years old by December 31.
- Annual household income must not exceed €14,000 for singles or €26,000 for married couples/registered partnerships.
- Property assets must not exceed €200,000 for singles or €300,000 for couples/partnerships.
Other groups covered:
In addition to retirees, the following categories will also benefit:
- E-EFKA disability pensioners.
- Elderly receiving uninsured pension allowances.
- Seniors receiving social solidarity benefits.
- Individuals benefiting from OPEKA disability aid.
- Former OGA beneficiaries who only receive the basic pension and hold a 100% disability certificate.
- Recipients of state pension health/disability allowances and E-EFKA external care benefits.
Tax-Free and Non-Seizable
The support payment will be tax-free, immune to seizure, and cannot be offset against debts. If an individual qualifies under multiple categories, only one payment will be made.
The amount is set at €250 per pensioner, but in households where both pensioners meet the criteria, the payment can reach up to €500.
Who will be excluded?
An estimated 450,000 individuals will not qualify, including:
- Widows/widowers and orphans under 65.
- High-income pensioners.
- Pensioners whose income includes “personal difference” or lump-sum payments received in 2024.
- Retirees who continue working (since non-pension income counts toward the annual threshold).
This year marks the first implementation of the €250 support payment, which will be deposited to eligible pensioners’ accounts by the end of November.
