Frequently Asked Questions
When can I apply to OPEKA for a cash disability welfare benefit?
From 16 September 2022 onwards, applications for cash disability welfare benefits requiring assessment by a health committee may be submitted to OPEKA only after an application for disability assessment and certification has been submitted to a KEPA or other competent health committee and a Disability Percentage Result Notification (GAPA), or another accepted disability certification decision under the applicable legislation, has been issued and notified to the applicant. As an exception, it is possible to submit an application to extend entitlement to OPEKA after first applying to KEPA to renew or extend the disability certification. In this case, the extension application remains pending and OPEKA reviews it as soon as KEPA issues a new Disability Percentage Result Notification (GAPA).
I have been assessed by a KEPA health committee and received my Disability Percentage Result Notification (GAPA). How do I apply to OPEKA for a disability benefit?
You may submit your application through a Community Centre or one of the Organisation’s Regional Directorates, depending on your place of residence.
I cannot travel and therefore cannot submit an application in person. How can I apply to OPEKA?
If you cannot attend a Community Centre or OPEKA Regional Directorate in person for any reason, your legal representative may submit the application on your behalf.
I have two valid disability certification decisions for the same condition, one from KEPA and one from ASYE. Which one will be accepted?
The KEPA decision must be accepted.
I have two valid disability certification decisions for the same condition, but neither is from KEPA. Which one will be accepted?
If you do not have a KEPA disability certification decision, the most recently issued of your valid decisions will be considered, provided it was issued by one of the following health committees: ASYE, ANYE, AAYE, the Supreme Health Committee of the Hellenic Police, or the Supreme Health Committee of the Fire Service.
Can I apply for one or more disability welfare benefits?
You may apply for one, two or more disability benefits depending on the conditions and disabilities you believe you have. Which benefits, and how many, you receive depends on your disability certification decision and whether you meet all legal eligibility requirements for each benefit.
What conditions must I meet to qualify for one or more disability benefits?
In general, each benefit has cumulative administrative and medical requirements. For example, to receive severe-disability financial support, an applicant must not be receiving a pension based on their own insurance record or meet the insurance conditions for one; at the time of application they must be uninsured or indirectly insured, or, if directly insured, fall within an applicable exception; and they must also be assessed as having a specific physical or mental condition resulting in an eligible disability rate. (See the BENEFITS section for more information.)
If my application for a disability welfare benefit is rejected, may I file an administrative appeal?
Yes, if the rejection concerns the administrative eligibility requirements—for example, a severe-disability support application rejected because you receive a pension based on your own insurance record. If the rejection is based on the competent health committee’s final disability assessment, you cannot file an administrative appeal, but you may seek judicial protection.
I already receive an OPEKA benefit based on certified disability, but it will expire soon. Where do I apply for an extension while I wait to be assessed by KEPA? For how long can payments continue?
During the four months before your Disability Percentage Result Notification (GAPA) expires, and no later than six months after its expiry date, apply to KEPA for reassessment so the GAPA can be renewed and the certification period extended. Immediately after submitting that application, apply through a Community Centre to extend OPEKA benefit payments. The extension is possible only if you follow this procedure and meet these deadlines. Payments may continue until KEPA certifies your disability, for no more than six (6) months. If the six-month deadline passes, you must submit a new initial application and are not entitled to the extension.
To extend my disability welfare benefit, is it enough to apply to KEPA to renew my disability certification, or must I also apply to OPEKA for an extension?
IMPORTANT! Renewing your disability certification through KEPA is not enough to extend your welfare benefit. You must also apply to OPEKA for an extension. You may do so immediately after applying to KEPA and no later than four months from the date the GAPA (Disability Certification Result Notification) is issued.
I applied to KEPA for disability certification and received my GAPA. I have also previously paid social insurance contributions to a body now incorporated into e-EFKA (for example, IKA, OGA, OAEE or NAT), but I do not receive a pension and have not applied for one. Can I receive OPEKA severe-disability financial support?
No. If you have insurance time that you have not yet used to claim a pension, the applicable legislation requires your insurance body to first determine whether you meet the conditions for a pension before you can qualify for OPEKA severe-disability financial support. Under Article 103(10) of Law 4961/2022, if your insurance body rejects your application, you may apply to OPEKA within two months of notification of that rejection, provided you applied to the insurance body
within four (4) months of the date the GAPA was issued. OPEKA will assess your application from the date you applied to KEPA for disability certification. If you meet the other eligibility conditions, OPEKA will grant severe-disability financial support retroactively, without financial loss.
If you do not contact your insurance body, OPEKA will contact it automatically. This may delay your application.
If your insurance body determines that you are entitled to a pension, in some cases you may lose pension arrears.
The following example may help clarify the above.
EXAMPLE
CASE DETAILS
– Date application for disability certification was submitted to KEPA: 15-04-2023
– Date the GAPA was issued: 27-07-2023
– Date application for a pension was submitted to the insurance body where you accrued insurance time: 20-08-2023
– Date the insurance body’s rejection decision was notified: 5-09-2023
– Date application for severe-disability financial support was submitted to OPEKA:15-09-2023
HOW THE CASE IS HANDLED
If OPEKA’s review of your application and supporting documents confirms that you meet all eligibility requirements, severe-disability financial support will be granted from the first day of the month after the month in which you applied to KEPA for assessment, that is, from 1-5-2023.
I have applied to KEPA for disability certification and received my GAPA. I am directly or indirectly insured by, or receive a pension from, e-EFKA (excluding the public sector). Can I receive OPEKA financial support for people with paraplegia, tetraplegia and amputations who are uninsured or public-sector insured?
No. Under the applicable legislation, people with disabilities who have accrued insurance time, receive a pension, or are insured indirectly as family members of an insured person or pensioner (outside the public sector) must first be found ineligible for the extra-institutional paraplegia/tetraplegia benefit because they do not meet their insurance body’s requirements. Article 103(10) of Law 4961/2022 also applies: if the insurance body rejects your application, you may apply to OPEKA within two months of notification of the rejection, provided you applied to the insurance body within four months of the GAPA issue date. OPEKA will assess the application from the date you applied to KEPA for disability certification. If you meet the other eligibility conditions, OPEKA will grant paraplegia/tetraplegia support retroactively, without financial loss.
If my application is approved, from what date am I entitled to receive the benefit?
It depends on the type of application:
| APPLICATION TYPE | Start date of entitlement and financial effects |
– Initial application Application due to worsening of condition Amendment of an application by the competent OPEKA service | – From the 1st day of the month following the month in which you applied to KEPA for assessment, provided the benefit application is submitted to OPEKA within four (4) months of the GAPA issue date. From the 1st day of the month following the month in which you applied to KEPA for assessment, provided the disability benefit application is submitted to OPEKA within two months after e-EFKA rejects a benefit application, and that application to e-EFKA was submitted within four months of the GAPA issue date; and |
Extension application | From the day after the GAPA expires, provided the KEPA renewal application is submitted within six months of the expiry date and the subsequent extension request is submitted to OPEKA within the time limits stated above (four and two months). |
| GAPA review | From the first day of the month after the month in which the initial benefit application was submitted to OPEKA, if the applicant provides a revised GAPA within four (4) months of its issue. |
| Other cases | – In all other cases, from the first day of the month after the month in which the benefit application was submitted to OPEKA. |
Which supporting documents are required for all benefits?
- A KEPA/ASYE/ANYE health committee opinion or decision (except for the Nutritional Allowance and income support for Hansen’s disease patients who are undergoing or have completed treatment and their family members).
- Identity card, passport or identity certificate.
- Documents proving the relationship with the person with a disability, if the application is submitted by a representative.
For minors
- Natural or adoptive parent: family status certificate or adoption deed.
- Divorced parent with custody: court decision, notarial deed or private agreement.
For adults
- Court-appointed assistant: court decision appointing the adult’s judicial assistant.
- Authorised representative: notarial power of attorney.
- Legally authorised representative: authorisation.
- Statutory declaration with certified signature: declaration.
- STATUTORY DECLARATION after submitting the application
- IBAN – bank account statement or bank account confirmation showing that the applicant is the account holder or co-holder (in any position).
DOCUMENTS PROVING RESIDENCE OR IMMIGRATION STATUS:
– Residence card for a family member of a Greek or EU citizen.
– Residence permit for a beneficiary of subsidiary protection.
– Residence permit for a recognised refugee.
– Residence permit for humanitarian reasons.
– EU/EEA/Swiss Confederation citizen registration certificate.
– Document proving repatriation as an expatriate.
– Expatriate Identity Card.
– Residence permit for a third-country national (for eligible categories).
What is the Disability Register?
The Disability Register will record everyone with certified disabilities, including identity details, disability information and demographic data. This means:
- The State will have an up-to-date tool to understand and map certified disability in Greece and develop policy with measurable results. It will provide a clear picture of how many people with disabilities live in Greece, their geographic distribution and their social circumstances.
- Bodies providing benefits to people with disabilities will be able to connect with the Register and serve citizens electronically. This lays the groundwork for digitising the disability-benefits system. Initially, available digital information from national disability-certification authorities was used to issue the Disability Card. The Register will gradually be built out until it is fully operational.
- Citizens will be able to access consolidated information about their certified disability.
What is the Digital Disability Card?
The Digital Disability Card was first established in 1996 and is now being implemented, almost 30 years later, in a way that addresses a key requirement raised by the National Confederation of Disabled People (ESAmeA) and the Greek Ombudsman: protecting the sensitive personal and medical data of people with disabilities.
The Card is available to everyone with a total disability rate of at least 50%, registered in the Disability Register and holding valid disability certification at the time the Card is issued.
The Card proves the holder’s identity and disability status to every public authority and third party. Holders can access benefits without showing their disability certification or sharing their medical data. They also receive priority service at in-person service points.
The Cards of certain categories of people will indicate that they need an escort, so that their escorts can receive the same benefit.
More benefits will be added to the Card over time, with the aim of eventually including all benefits available when citizens attend in person.
