Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the annual income support?
Eligible recipients are families (spouses with or without minor children), including single-parent families (one spouse and at least one child), where at least one family member is: (a) a Greek citizen; (b) an EU citizen; (c) a citizen of a European Economic Area country (Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein); or (d) a Swiss citizen.
If only one family member is a citizen of one of these countries, that person must submit the application. If both spouses or civil partners meet this condition, either may apply.
What are the requirements for receiving the annual income support?
They are as follows:
A) Family members must live permanently in a mountainous or disadvantaged area, or have lived there for at least two years before applying. This is verified using the beneficiaries’ income tax returns for the two latest tax years before the application, together with Tax Registry data.
B) Annual family income must not exceed €4,700.
My family moved from one mountainous or disadvantaged area to another during the last tax year. Does this affect eligibility?
No, provided you continue to live in a mountainous or disadvantaged area.
How are the data obtained and eligibility conditions verified (for example, annual family income, current family status, dependent children and permanent address)?
Through interoperability with databases maintained by the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE), IDIKA, the Civil Registry and other authorities.
How is annual family income calculated?
The calculation includes the taxable actual or imputed income, as well as exempt income or income taxed under a special regime, of all members of the applicant’s family. It excludes the Minimum Guaranteed Income, Child Benefit, the unemployment education or vocational training allowance, disability welfare benefits, and this income support for families in mountainous and disadvantaged areas. The amount is calculated automatically through data exchange with AADE.
Where can I apply?
The applicant submits the application through the OPEKA online service, via the Greek Public Administration’s Single Digital Portal (here ) using their TAXISnet credentials.
Can someone else submit an application on my behalf at a Citizens’ Service Centre (KEP)?
Yes. A third party may submit the application at a KEP if they have written authorisation from the applicant.
What information must I provide with my application?
A) Details of an active payment account (IBAN) at a bank operating in Greece or at ELTA. The applicant must be the account holder or co-holder; the support will be paid into this account.
B) A valid email address.
C) A mobile telephone number.
The following must also be declared, where applicable:
– If the applicant is married or has a valid civil partnership, the spouse’s or civil partner’s full name, father’s name, mother’s name and Tax Identification Number (AFM) are required.
– If the applicant’s family includes unmarried minor children listed as dependants on the applicant’s tax return, each child’s full name, father’s name and mother’s name are required; their Tax Identification Number (AFM) is optional.
Which supporting documents must I submit with my application?
Applicants do not need to submit supporting documents because the necessary data are obtained from the relevant authorities. In special cases, such as separation or divorce, documents concerning child custody may need to be provided at a KEP (the online service will display a relevant notice).
How often must I apply?
Applications are submitted each year from 1 September to 30 October.
Do I have to apply every year?
An application is submitted once. If approved, it also applies to each subsequent year, so a new application is not required. For the support to continue, an approval decision must be issued for each year and annual cross-checks must confirm that the eligibility conditions are met.
My application was rejected. When can I submit another one?
You may apply again the following year.
My application was rejected. Can I appeal?
You may appeal against a rejection on any grounds except those relating to income.
How much is the income support?
A) €600 per year if the beneficiaries’ annual family income does not exceed €3,000; and
B) €300 per year if their annual family income is between €3,000.01 and €4,700.
When does OPEKA pay the income support?
It is paid into the beneficiary’s declared bank account on the last working day of the month following the month in which the approval decision was issued.
How can I check whether my area is classified as mountainous or disadvantaged?
A list is available in the online service for mountainous and disadvantaged areas and on the OPEKA website.
Which areas are considered mountainous or disadvantaged, and under which provisions were they designated?
Mountainous areas are those listed in the TABLE OF MOUNTAINOUS MUNICIPALITIES AND COMMUNITIES under Directive 81/645/EEC, as amended by Commission Decision 83/339/EEC, Directives 85/148/EEC, 89/588/EEC and 93/66/EEC, and Commission Decision 94/516/EC. For 2019, disadvantaged areas are those listed in the TABLE OF DISADVANTAGED AREAS under Directive 81/645/EEC, as amended by the same decisions and directives. From 2020 onwards, they are areas with significant natural constraints and areas with specific constraints, as defined in the relevant annexes to Greece’s Rural Development Programme.
