The Greek government is preparing a new round of financial support for households and vulnerable groups this fall, with a new Market Pass and an annual €300 benefit at the center of the plan.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to announce the final amounts during the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF), Greece’s annual major economic and political event.
Market Pass payments and possible retroactive support
The government has postponed the launch of the Market Pass application platform until late fall because of technical issues. More than 200,000 vulnerable households are expected to receive the financial support.
Under the main scenario currently under consideration, eligibility would include people who received Greece’s Minimum Guaranteed Income after March 1, 2024.
The support would be provided through a digital voucher that could be used to purchase food.
The monthly subsidy would start at €40 for single-person households and increase depending on the number of family members.
For certain categories of beneficiaries, retroactive payments could reach as much as €1,200, covering a period of up to 30 months.
Who could receive the €300 benefit
The government is also planning to pay the annual €300 benefit in November. It is expected to reach about 1.7 million people.
Potential beneficiaries include low-income pensioners, people with disabilities and uninsured elderly people.
Eligibility will be determined using specific income and asset criteria.
For example, annual income for single pensioners must not exceed €25,000, while the corresponding limit for married pensioners is €35,000.
Higher payments remain possible
The amounts outlined above have not yet been finalized and remain under consideration.
The government’s economic team is also leaving open the possibility of increasing the annual benefit to €350 or €400.
The final amount will depend on the fiscal space available to the government.
Final decisions on the payments are expected to be announced by the prime minister at the Thessaloniki International Fair.
