Greece distributes 150-euro child benefit, but thousands miss out due to IBAN errors

Greece has completed the distribution of a special child benefit payment amounting to 150 euros per child, with a total of 219,737,550 euros disbursed to eligible families. The initiative aimed to provide financial support to parents, with 947,609 citizens initially identified as beneficiaries.

However, a significant number of recipients, specifically 33,351 individuals, did not receive the funds. The primary reason cited for this exclusion is the provision of incorrect or undeclared IBAN (International Bank Account Number) details to the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE). These individuals will be included in a subsequent payment once their banking information is corrected.

The AADE has outlined that delays or discrepancies in payment amounts can also stem from the division of the benefit between parents, issues with identifying child-related data, or for children born in 2025 or 2026 who are slated for a supplementary payment by August 31, 2026. For children born between January 1 and July 31, 2026, a Tax Identification Number (AFM) must have been requested by August 10, 2026, to be included.

Eligibility for the 150-euro benefit is automatic, based on data from tax declarations and AADE records, and requires parents to be tax residents of Greece with dependent children declared on their tax returns. Income thresholds apply, with the limit set at 40,000 euros for married couples or civil partners for the first child, increasing by 5,000 euros for each additional child. For single-parent families, the threshold starts at 39,000 euros. The benefit is tax-exempt, cannot be seized for debts, and does not affect eligibility for other social benefits.