The new scheme to support low-income pensioners was presented today by the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare Ms. Anastasia Anthousi and the Head of the Welfare Benefits Management Service Mr. Giannos Vassiliadis, during a press conference. This, he said, is a decision taken by the Council of Ministers on November 30, following three other revisions preceded in 2016, 2019 and 2020 by the current government, increasing the maximum monthly benefit and ensuring that all beneficiaries have total incomes above the poverty line. The new Plan, Anthousi said, in addition to remedying minor weaknesses that were previously in place, "is the culmination of the Government's plan to support low-income pensioners."
Responding to questions from media representatives during the press conference, and asked if an estimate had been made of the number of people who may fall under the provisions of the Plan and will be able to apply, the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare said that there were an estimated 5,000 people who received the Allowance until 2014 and did not apply within the extension period granted. At the same time, since the date the extension ended in 2020, 500 applications had been submitted out of time. "The calculations we made according to the data we had from each extension, we estimate that we will serve around 1,000-1,200 in proportion to the interest shown in each extension that was granted," Anthousi said, adding that according to estimates, the percentage of those who will apply will not exceed 30%, taking into account that there are people who do not fall within the criteria.
Asked to say how the process will proceed going forward, Ms Anthousi noted that the goal is that from January 1, 2023, new applications will be received at the Welfare Benefit Service Points or at the offices of the Welfare Benefit Administration Service. He clarified again that the new Scheme is for new claimants and not existing Low Pensioner's Allowance recipients, who will continue to receive the Allowance as normal without any further action on their part.
Asked if there is provision for electronic submission of the application, the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare said that, in cooperation with the Ministry of State for Innovation, the issue is being launched as the ultimate goal of the Ministry of State for the transition to digitalisation. However, he said, the process that has been in place so far, i.e. of applying to the SSEPs or the YDEP, will also not be terminated, as these are elderly people, not all of whom have the capacity for electronic submission. Ms. Anthousi clarified that an appointment should be arranged for service at the Service Points, as the goal is to ensure that the citizen is properly served and applications are presented fully completed. Data, he explained, showed that 95% of applications were incomplete and this caused further delays in processing them. "The purpose of making the SSEPs and staffing them with trained staff of the YMCA is to ensure that registration is done on the spot. That is why appointments are needed," the Deputy Minister pointed out.
In response to the same question, the Head of the Welfare Benefits Management Service, Mr. Yiannos Vassiliadis, said that the completion of the technical processes for electronic submission of applications for the EPE, which acts as a "mother" for the others and will then facilitate the gradual start of electronic submission of other applications, is expected in the coming weeks.
As Ms Anthousi said, the separation of the Low Pensioner's Allowance application from the EEP application will help reduce the time needed to assess the Low Pensioner's Allowance application.
For the archive of the presentation made at the press conference, click here.
For the video, click here.
(MKY)
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