Legislation
Under Law 4961/2022 (A’ 146) and Joint Ministerial Decision D12a/85008 (Government Gazette B’ 4879/15.09.2022) of the Ministers of Social Security and Social Solidarity and Finance, changes have been made to the disability certification process, including for people with disabilities applying to OPEKA for cash disability benefits.
These provisions do not change the terms and conditions in the relevant legislation for establishing entitlement to any of the cash disability welfare benefits granted and administered by OPEKA.
In particular, from 16 September 2022 onwards, applications for disability welfare benefits must continue to be submitted through Community Centres or the Organisation’s Regional Directorates and will be reviewed by the competent OPEKA services only after an application for disability certification has first been submitted to the e-EFKA Disability Certification Centre (KEPA) and a Disability Opinion (GA) and Disability Percentage Result Notification (GAPA), or another valid disability certification decision under the applicable provisions, has been issued.
As an exception, an application to extend a benefit may be submitted to OPEKA immediately after the application for disability certification is submitted to e-EFKA’s KEPA. It will be reviewed after the relevant health committee has issued its opinion.
To apply for disability assessment and certification through the Disability Certification Centre (KEPA), click here. For immediate guidance on the new process for applying for OPEKA disability welfare benefits, until the Organisation’s website content is fully updated, contact the Community Centre or Regional Directorate for your place of residence.
All applications for cash disability benefits (new applications, extensions and worsening of condition) finally submitted to OPEKA by 15 September 2022 are reviewed under the provisions in force on that date.
Law 4512/2018 introduced a comprehensive proposal to reorganise the social solidarity sector. Under Article 215, a pilot programme for awarding cash welfare benefits to people with disabilities began in March 2018. OPEKA implements the programme in cooperation with the Disability Certification Centres (KEPA), through an electronic disability assessment process.
The new legal framework provides for a pilot process to award cash welfare benefits to people with disabilities through electronic disability assessment and the award of the welfare benefit by OPEKA..
The pilot process applies to people with disabilities who are applying for cash welfare benefits for the first time and reside permanently in the Attica Region.
Law 4549/2018 extended the pilot process from its scheduled end date (30 June 2018) through 31 December 2018, under the same terms and conditions (Joint Ministerial Decision D12/G.P. oik.2738/36/2018).
From Monday, 23 July 2018, and from September 2018, the same pilot process was extended to people with disabilities residing permanently in the Thessaloniki and Achaia regional units. As in Attica, the OPEKA pilot programme is mandatory for anyone applying for the first time to join a cash welfare benefit programme.
Article 17 of Law 4549/2018 (Government Gazette A’ 105) gradually extended the electronic administrative process for awarding cash welfare benefits to people with disabilities applying to OPEKA for the first time throughout Greece. This established a unified framework for awarding disability welfare benefits. The terms and conditions piloted in Attica and Thessaloniki remain the same, under Article 215 of Law 4512/2018 (A’ 5) and Article 2(1–9 and 14–16) of Joint Ministerial Decision D12/G.P. oik.2738/36/2018 (B’ 57).
The new law aims to improve access to welfare services for people with disabilities through electronic means, remove bureaucratic procedures, ensure transparency in the timing and method of benefit payments, and upgrade the State’s social care services.
OPEKA’s role in granting welfare benefits to people with disabilities
Under Law 4520/2018, the Agricultural Insurance Organisation (OGA) was renamed the Organisation of Welfare Benefits and Social Solidarity (OPEKA) and transformed into the body responsible for implementing and managing welfare benefits, financial assistance and social services that support the financial security and social inclusion of families and vulnerable groups.
By Joint Ministerial Decision D12a/G.P.oik.68856/2202/28-12-2018 (Government Gazette B’ 5855) of the Ministers of Interior, Labour, Social Security and Social Solidarity, and Finance, from 1 January 2019 OPEKA was assigned responsibility for granting cash welfare benefits to people with disabilities. Until 31 December 2018, this responsibility was exercised by the competent municipal services under Article 94(3), Chapter B, point 17 of Law 3852/2010 (Government Gazette A’ 87), and by the regional directorates responsible for granting the nutritional allowance.
