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Relief for Greek widow pensioners as three-year reduction to be abolished
🇬🇷 Greece /Disasters & Emergencies

Relief for Greek widow pensioners as three-year reduction to be abolished

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • Greece will eliminate the reduction of widow's pensions after three years, a measure introduced by the previous Katrougalos law.
  • Pensions will remain at 70% of the deceased spouse's pension, with no retroactive payments required.
  • The change, set to take effect with the September pension payout, aims to alleviate financial burdens on surviving spouses.

Greek retirees receiving widow's pensions will see significant relief as the government moves to abolish a controversial three-year cutback policy. Minister of Labor and Social Security Niki Kerameus announced that legislation will be introduced to permanently remove the reduction, which previously lowered pensions from 70% to 35% after the initial three-year period.

Under the new regulation, all eligible recipients of widow's pensions, regardless of whether they fall under the current framework of the Katrougalos law, will continue to receive 70% of the deceased spouse's pension. This applies to both public and private sector pensions. Crucially, recipients will not be required to repay any retroactive amounts, and those who had already experienced the reduction will see their pensions restored to the 70% level.

"This means that all beneficiaries of widow's pensions who fall under the current framework of the Katrougalos law will continue to receive 70% of the deceased's pension after the three-year period, without the reduction to 35%," Kerameus explained. "They will not owe a single euro in retroactive payments, and in the case of accumulation, they will continue to receive two national pensions."

For those whose pensions were already reduced under the previous law, this change effectively doubles their benefit. The measure is scheduled to be implemented with the September pension payments, which will be disbursed at the end of August. The government aims to provide much-needed financial stability for surviving spouses, addressing a long-standing concern within the pension system.

This means that all beneficiaries of widow's pensions who fall under the current framework of the Katrougalos law will continue to receive 70% of the deceased's pension after the three-year period, without the reduction to 35%, they will not owe a single euro in retroactive payments, and in the case of accumulation, they will continue to receive two national pensions.

— Niki KerameusThe Minister of Labor and Social Security explained the details of the new regulation regarding widow's pensions.
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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