Following relevant publications, the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance notes the following:
Despite the challenges and new circumstances created by the pandemic, in particular the increase of more than 1000% in the number of applications for Sickness Benefit submitted in the previous period, the processing times for most applications for Social Insurance Fund benefits have been significantly reduced and are currently being examined:
- Applications for Sickness Benefit submitted on the 3rd of 2022
- Applications for Unemployment Benefit submitted by the end of January 2022
- Statutory Pensions for people becoming eligible on the 2nd of 2022
- Widow's Pensions for applications submitted on the 1st of 2022.
Full information on the dates of examination of all benefits and allowances by the Social Security Fund is posted every week on the main website of the Social Security Services.
The shortening of the processing time of applications was made possible following targeted interventions and policies implemented on the instructions of the Minister of Labour and Social Insurance, including. [*]The submission of applications for Sickness Benefit has been computerised and from February 2022 they will only be submitted electronically. [*]As of January 2021, funds with endless queues have been abolished and contribution payments are processed electronically. [*]From September 2021, the computerised system ERGANI has been put into operation with all recruitment declarations being made only electronically. [/LIST]
The above are part of the overall strategy implemented in cooperation with the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy for full digitalization of all applications for benefits and allowances from the Social Insurance Fund with the next ones being processed being unemployment and maternity benefits.
The goal set by the Government, which is gradually and tangibly being implemented, is full digitisation so that never again will there be a delay in the processing of applications in the Republic of Cyprus, permanently correcting a decades-old phenomenon.
It is additionally noted that in relation to applications for pensions from persons who have been insured in the Hellenic Republic, for whom according to the European Regulation the cooperation of the Greek Ministry of Labour is required for the calculation of their pension, already through the Greek Embassy and in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance has made efforts to implement a mechanism for more effective cooperation in order to shorten the response time.
(EC/EHRP)
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