Access to the welfare system and allowances for recognized refugees in Greece:
If you are a recognised refugee or a beneficiary of subsidiary protection, you have the right by law to receive the necessary social assistance under the same conditions as Greek nationals.
Financial support
If you are a recognised refugee or a beneficiary of subsidiary, you may be able to access national financial system titled Minimum Guaranteed Income (MGI).
You are eligible to receive it if you have no income or a very low income, and you have submitted an income tax declaration for the previous year. The amount you receive depends on the size of your family (maximum 200€ for the head of the family, plus 100€ for any additional adult, plus 50€ per child of the same family; the maximum monthly amount is 900€, regardless of the composition of the household).
You will need: – Your residence permit or certificate of submission of renewal application.
- Your personal TAXISnet account
- Your income tax declaration
- Your “AFM” and “AMKA“numbers
- Your email address
- Your mobile phone number
- A valid and active bank account number (IBAN), in which you are the sole beneficiary or co-beneficiary
- A proof of address (house lease agreement, certificate of residence, certificate of homelessness)
Financial assistance is accompanied by access to complementary social services, benefits and goods such as free medical care, inclusion in social care facilities and support; services that promote integration into the labour market.
In order to apply for the MGI and/or to receive support, please visit the Community Centre or the Migrants’ Integration Centre of the Municipality in which you are residing.
Unemployment allowance
Eligibility for unemployment allowance is determined by a number of criteria, including a minimum period of formal employment within the previous year.
For persons who have not received unemployment allowance in the past: at least 125 employment days within 14 months prior to the end of employment, without taking into account the employment days during the last two months AND 80 days of dependent employment during the two years prior to the receipt of the allowance. OR At least 200 employment days during the past two years prior to the end of employment, without taking into account the employment days during the last two months AND 80 days of dependent employment during the two years prior to the end of employment.
The monthly unemployment allowance can be received for a specific timeframe.
The application is submitted either through the e-services of DYPA or in one of the DYPA Offices.
DYPA provides also other types of specialised unemployment allowances.
Please refer to DYPA offices for more information or visit their website.
Disability allowance
If you, or a dependent family member, have a serious disability you may be eligible for disability allowance. The amount you receive depends on the type and the severity of the disability.
You will need:
- Your valid Residence Permit
- Your personal TAXISnet account
- Your “AFM” number
- Your active “AMKA” number
- Your email address
- Your mobile phone number
- A valid and active bank account number (IBAN), in which you are the sole beneficiary or co-beneficiary.
How:
- In order to apply for the disability allowance, you need first to apply for the certification of your disability.
- You need to visit all the specialized doctors relevant to your disability type in order for the doctors to submit your medical file in the electronical system based on the number of your application for the disability certification.
- In most cases and while in hospital, the doctor will refer you to the hospital’s secretary in order to request the submission of the medical file. Afterwards, you can be informed if the medical file has been completed by the doctors.
- When the medical file is completed, the Disability Certification Centre (“KEPA” in Greek) will contact you and inform you about the date/time/location of the assessment and evaluation of your disability.
- you have to present yourself with an interpreter in case you do not speak Greek or English. Please have with you your Residence Permit and any relevant additional medical document you may have.
- You need to create an E-efka account in order to check the progress of your disability certification application.
- When the KEPA decision is ready, you download it from your e-efka account.
If the percentage of the disability granted by KEPA is up to 67% (or 50 % for patients with HIV) you are eligible for the disability allowance. Then, you need to book an appointment at Migrants Integration Centre/Community Centre of your Municipality in order to apply for the disability allowance.
Child allowance
If you reside legally and permanently in Greece for the last 5 years with at least one child residing in Greece you may be eligible for the child allowance.
Children from the age of 4 until the age of 16 need to attend formal schooling.
You are entitled to child allowance from the month following your child’s birth. The relevant application (A21) is submitted once a year from March of each year until January 15 of the following year, through the A21 platform from the website of IDIKA using the taxisnet codes.
The amount of the allowance is calculated based on the number of dependent children declared in A21 platform and the family’s income on the basis of the tax declaration of the previous year. The child allowance is deposited in a bank account every two months.
Required documentation:
(a) electronic submission of E1 for submitting an income tax return.
(b) completion and electronic submission of A21, through the website of IDIKA.
(c) the establishment of the 5 years residence requirement is made exclusively by the submission of tax returns of the last 5 years.
d) Valid residence permit.
Community Centres and Migrants’ Integration Centres (KEM) of your Municipality can provide you with more information. Information is also available in Greek on the OPEKA website HERE.
Support for Housing
Housing Allowance: a welfare rent subsidy scheme for households with low income who rent their main residence.
Recognized refugees must reside legally and permanently in Greece during the last 5 years before submitting the application (5 years start counting from the full registration of the asylum application)
The amount of the housing allowance is 70 euros per month. For each additional member of the household, a surcharge of 35 euros per month. The maximum limit of the housing allowance is 210 euros per month.
Community Centres and Migrants’ Integration Centres (KEM) of your Municipality can provide you with more information. Information is also available in Greek on the OPEKA website HERE.
“Kalypsi” housing program: if you receive the Minimum Guaranteed Income and you are from 25 until 39 years old, you may be eligible for this housing program (provision of accommodation rent free for three years and coverage of unitalities bills), which is available in some Municipalities.
Community Centres and Migrants’ Integration Centres (KEM) of your Municipality can provide you with more information. Information is also available in Greek on the OPEKA website HERE.
“Accommodation and employment” program for the homeless: Community Centres and Migrants’ Integration Centres (KEM) of your Municipality can provide you with more information. Information is also available in Greek on the OPEKA website HERE.
Helios+: Comprehensive Actions for the Integration of Third Country Nationals in the Labour Market is an Integration Project, one per each Greek region, dedicated to fostering the integration of recognized refugees into Greece’s labour market and society. It is designed and implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) with the support of the Government of Greece.
HELIOS+ services include Housing and Independent Living Support by providing accommodation support to secure accommodation, including rental subsidies.
For more information in EN, visit HERE.
Last update: 24/06/2025