The payment process for the €250 benefit for low-income pensioners and people with disabilities began today, Monday 24/11. The financial assistance comes alongside December pension payments within the current week, creating a double payment for beneficiaries.
The government chose to proceed with early payment of the benefit, earlier than the originally scheduled end-of-month date. This move is part of the strategy to address pressures from OPEKEPE scandals, increased inflation and energy burdens affecting households and businesses.
Who is entitled to the €250 benefit
The financial assistance does not cover all pensioners, as there are specific income and age limits that must be met.
For single pensioners, annual income must not exceed €14,000, which corresponds to less than €1,167 gross monthly. For pensioner couples, total annual income is set at €26,000, meaning on average less than €1,083 per person before tax deductions.
Property and age criteria
The real estate limit is set at €200,000 for individual beneficiaries and €300,000 for couples. Regarding age, pensioners must have completed their 65th year last December, meaning they are at least 66 years old today. In practice, the birth date must be before December 1959. Additionally, beneficiaries must not be employed.
For people with disabilities and benefit recipients, the age criterion does not apply.
Exclusions and special cases
Pensioners who have submitted retirement applications but whose clearance has not been completed are excluded from the €250 benefit, even if the expected pension is below the income threshold.
Conversely, certain beneficiaries will receive the assistance whose spouse’s income has not yet been recorded in the tax declaration due to non-issuance of a final retirement act, resulting in not exceeding the €26,000 limit.
ELTA deductions for delivery
When the benefit is delivered at home via mail, mainly to people with mobility problems or residents of remote areas, ELTA imposes charges:
• €6.9 for each individual payment
• €13.80 for a couple of beneficiaries
• Additional €13.80 from the December monthly pension
In total, a couple of low-income pensioners will be charged €27.60 in ELTA deductions for November alone.
