Legal Remedies and Appeals
An administrative act issued by OPEKA that rejects all or part of an application for any welfare benefit, financial assistance or pension (for uninsured older people), discontinues a benefit, or orders recovery or offsetting of amounts may be challenged by an administrative appeal. The appeal must be filed within three (3) months from notification of the act to the interested person.
OPEKA’s Central Service includes a Directorate for Administrative Appeals, which supports the body responsible for hearing appeals submitted by applicants.
At OPEKA’s Regional Directorates, the process is supported by the Welfare Benefits and Appeals Granting and Audit Departments.
At present, appeals panels have been established and are operating at the following Regional Directorates:
– Central Macedonia, based in Thessaloniki
– Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, based in Komotini
– Thessaly, based in Larissa
– Western Greece, based in Patras
– Crete, based in Heraklion
The competent OPEKA body in Athens hears administrative appeals against decisions or acts of OPEKA bodies other than those of the Central Service and the following Regional Directorates:
– Western Macedonia, based in Kozani
– Central Greece, based in Lamia
– Peloponnese, based in Tripoli
– Epirus, based in Ioannina
Anyone wishing to appeal an OPEKA decision must complete the special administrative appeal form. It can be downloaded here or obtained from the competent OPEKA services (Central or Regional) and Community Centres.
Please note that an appeal may not be filed against decisions of OPEKA bodies where the grounds are based, first, on an administrative act of the Independent Authority for Public Revenue or its services finding that the income or asset criteria for welfare benefits are not met and, second, on a final determination by the competent health committees of the applicants’ or beneficiaries’ disability and disability percentage.
Questions and answers
- I want to appeal a decision rejecting my application for a benefit (disability welfare benefit, housing benefit, etc.). Is there a specific form? Where can I find it?
A specific form is available from the competent OPEKA services (Central Service or Regional Directorates) and Community Centres.
A sample form can also be printed from the OPEKA website.
- How can I submit the appeal form?
- In person, by filing it with the competent service; or
- by post; or
- by email to the competent email address, attaching any supporting documents. Please send all attachments in a single file.
- How will I be notified about the hearing of my appeal?
A special notice stating the date of your appeal hearing will be sent to the address you provided on the appeal form.
- Do I need a lawyer to attend the appeal hearing?
A lawyer is not required. You may be represented by an authorised lawyer if you wish.
- I submitted an appeal and was told that my case will be heard on … . I cannot attend on that date. Can my case be heard without me, and if so, what can I do?
Your case may be heard in your absence.
If you cannot attend:
1) A person authorised by you or a lawyer may attend and represent you; or
2) You may promptly send the service a signed, legally certified declaration confirming that you were notified of the hearing date and wish your case to be heard in your absence. You may also send supporting documents and/or a written statement setting out your views.
- My appeal has been heard. When and how will I be notified of the decision?
After the single-member body has decided the appeal and the required administrative procedures for issuing the decision have been completed, it will be sent by registered post through ELTA to the home address stated on the appeal form.
- The appeals body rejected my request. Can I take the matter to court, and is there a deadline?
You may appeal to the competent Administrative Courts within sixty days of receiving the relevant decision.
