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Greece to Launch National Benefits Registry for Social Aid
🇬🇷 Greece /Economy & Trade

Greece to Launch National Benefits Registry for Social Aid

From Ta Nea · (7h ago) Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Greece's Ministry of National Economy and Financial Affairs is developing a National Benefits Registry, a digital database for all social benefits and their recipients.
  • The registry, managed by the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE), will consolidate data on various benefits like unemployment, housing, child, and heating subsidies.
  • This initiative aims to identify individuals receiving benefits they are not entitled to and ensure targeted support for those in genuine need, with the project team operating until the end of 2026.

The Greek government is taking a significant step towards modernizing its social welfare system with the creation of a National Benefits Registry. This ambitious digital initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of National Economy and Financial Affairs, promises to bring transparency and efficiency to the distribution of social benefits. By consolidating information on all state-provided aid into a single database, the ministry aims to eliminate fraud and ensure that public funds are directed towards those who truly require assistance.

The registry will meticulously track who receives what and how much, enabling cross-referencing and verification of eligibility criteria. This is particularly crucial given that social benefits in Greece currently cost the state budget over 13 billion euros annually. The system is designed to identify instances where individuals might be receiving aid due to incorrect income assessments or by claiming multiple benefits simultaneously, thereby correcting existing injustices and optimizing resource allocation.

Led by the General Secretary of Fiscal Policy, Paulina Karasiotou, the dedicated project team will oversee the registry's pilot phase and subsequent operations. Their mandate includes coordinating with the AADE and other participating bodies, preparing necessary regulatory adjustments, and evaluating the system's effectiveness. The team's work, extending until the end of 2026 with the possibility of extension, underscores the government's commitment to a thorough and data-driven approach to social policy. This move reflects a broader trend in Greece towards digital transformation in public administration, aiming to enhance accountability and service delivery.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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