First law: 1934.

Current laws: 1951 (Social Security Law No. 1846 of 14 June), with amendments; 1960 (Law No. 4104); 1978 (Law No. 825, on legislation and regulation); 1981 (Legislative Order of 31 July, on the special noncontributory old-age pension); 1988 (Law No. 1759, on social security for noninsured persons); 1990 (Law No. 1902 of 11 October, on pension regulation); 1991 (Law No. 1976, pensions provisions); 1992 (Law on Social Security Reform No. 2084 of 1 October); 1997 (Law No. 2556, on contribution payment); 2000 (Presidential Decree No. 68 of 29 February, on financing and administration); 2002 (Law No. 3029 of 11 July, on the social security system); 2004 (Law No. 3232, on social security); 2008 (Law No. 3655, on social security reform); 2010 (Law No. 3863, on social security); 2011 (Law No. 3986, on social security reform); and 2011 (Law No. 4002, on social security reform).

Type of program: Social insurance system.

Note: Noncontributory pensions are paid to eligible persons not covered by the social insurance system.

Employees in industry, commerce, and related occupations and certain urban self-employed persons.

Exclusions: Employed and self-employed persons covered by approved occupational and public-sector funds providing equivalent benefits.

Voluntary coverage is available.

Special systems for agricultural workers, public-sector employees, and other specified groups.

Insured person: 6.67% of covered monthly earnings; 8.87% for arduous or unhealthy work.

There are no minimum earnings used to calculate contributions.

The maximum earnings used to calculate contributions if first insured after December 31, 1992, are €66,561.60 a year; €34,051.50 a year if first insured before January 1, 1993.

Self-employed person: 20% of monthly earnings according to one of 14 insurance categories.

There are no minimum earnings used to calculate contributions.

The maximum earnings used to calculate contributions if first insured after December 31, 1992, are €66,561.60 a year; €34,051.50 a year if first insured before January 1, 1993.

Employer: 13.33% of covered monthly payroll; 14.73% for arduous or unhealthy work.

There are no minimum earnings used to calculate contributions.

The maximum earnings used to calculate contributions if first insured after December 31, 1992, are €66,561.60 a year; €34,051.50 a year if first insured before January 1, 1993.

Government: Contributes as an employer; a guaranteed annual subsidy.

Old-age pension: Age 65 (men) or age 62 (women, rising to age 65 by 2013) with at least 4,500 days of contributions; age 63 and 6 months (men, rising to age 65 by 2013) with at least 10,000 days (rising to 12,000 days by 2015) of contributions or age 58 and 6 months (women, rising to age 60 by 2013) with at least 10,800 days (rising to 12,000 days by 2015) of contributions; or age 59 with at least 11,000 days of contributions. The full pension is paid to insured persons with specified disabilities and at least 4,050 days of contributions.

Age 60 (men) or age 57 (women, rising to age 60 by 2013) with at least 4,500 days of contributions including 3,600 in arduous or unhealthy work and 1,000 in the last 13 years; age 56 and 6 months (rising to age 60 by 2013) with at least 10,500 days of contributions including 7,500 in arduous or unhealthy work. Age 58 (men) or age 53 (women) with at least 4,500 days of contributions including 3,600 in the construction sector and 1,000 in the last 13 years, or at least 4,500 days of contributions in the construction sector, including 500 in the last 13 years. Age 60 (women with dependent children) or age 55 (women with disabled children) with at least 5,500 days of contributions; any age for mothers with disabled children and spouses of disabled persons with at least 7,500 days of contributions.

Pensioners younger than age 55 may not work and receive a pension at the same time. Pensioners age 55 or older may work but their pension is earnings-tested.

Early pension: First insured before January 1, 1993, age 60 (men) or age 57 (women, rising to age 60 by 2013) with at least 4,500 days of contributions, including 100 days of work in the last five years; age 60 (men) with at least 10,000 days of contributions or age 56 and 6 months (women, rising to age 60 by 2013) with at least 10,800 days of contributions, including 100 days of work in the last five years.

Deferred pension: The pension may be deferred.

Benefits are payable abroad under a reciprocal agreement.

Old-age social solidarity grant (income-tested): Age 60 or older and residing in Greece.

Income test: Maximum net annual income (salaries and pensions) €8,472.09; total annual personal income, €9,884.11; total annual family income, €15,380.90; and total monthly pension, €850.

Disability pension: Assessed with a severe disability (80% to 100%) or an ordinary disability (67% to 79.9% ) with 300 to 4,500 days of contributions (up to 1,500 days if the insured began working after 1993), depending on age, or 1,500 days of contributions, including 600 days in the five years before the disability began. (For insured persons who began working after 1993, the contribution days in the five years before the disability began may include credited days of contributions.)

Constant-attendance allowance: Paid if the insured requires the constant attendance of others to perform daily functions.

Partial disability: Assessed with a disability of 50% to 66.9%.

The Health Committee of the Social Insurance Institute normally assesses the degree of disability every two years.

Benefits are payable abroad under a reciprocal agreement.

Special disability pension: Paid if the insured suffers from a disease specified by law. There is no age requirement.

Benefits are payable abroad under a reciprocal agreement.

Special disability allowance: Paid to insured persons (or their family members) who suffer from a disease specified by law. The insured must have at least 350 days of contributions in the last four calendar years before the disability began, including 50 days in the last 12 or 15 months, or a total of 1,000 days of contributions.

Benefits are payable abroad under a reciprocal agreement.

Disability social solidarity grant (income-tested): Assessed with a disability of at least 50% and residing in Greece.

Income test: Maximum net annual income (salaries and pensions) of €8,472.09; total annual personal income, €9,884.11; total annual family income, €15,380.90; and total monthly pension, €850.

Survivor pension: The qualifying conditions vary according to the date the deceased first entered the system. Normally, the number of contribution days is half that required for the disability pension.

Eligible survivors include: a widow who was married to the deceased for at least three years (five years if the deceased was a pensioner; none if the spouse has a dependent child); a divorced spouse with limited income who was married to the deceased for at least 10 years and was receiving alimony; dependent children and stepchildren up to age 18 (age 24 if a student or a full orphan, no limit if disabled) who are unmarried, not working, and not receiving a pension; and if first insured before January 1, 1993, unmarried dependent grandchildren up to age 18 (age 24 if a student, no limit if disabled) and dependent parents.

The pension ceases on remarriage.

A pension that has ceased or is less than 100% of the pension the deceased received or was eligible to receive is reinstated and paid at 70% of the deceased's pension when the survivor reaches age 65.

Benefits are payable abroad under a reciprocal agreement.

Funeral grant: Paid for the death of an insured person with at least 120 days of coverage (100 days if in construction) in the last calendar year or for an old-age or disability pensioner.

Survivors social solidarity grant (income-tested): Aged 60 or older or a dependent child up to age 18 (age 24 if a student, no limit if disabled) and residing in Greece. A surviving divorced spouse who is eligible for a survivor pension is not eligible for the survivors social solidarity grant.

Income test: Maximum net annual income (salaries and pensions) of €8,472.09, total annual personal income of €9,884.11, total annual family income of €15,380.90, and total monthly pension of €850.

Old-age pension: The pension is based on the length of coverage and pensionable earnings in the last five years if first insured after December 31, 1992.

If first insured before January 1, 1993, the pension is based on the length of coverage and pensionable earnings in the last five years or the best five years of the last 10 years (whichever is greater). An additional 1% of earnings for every 300 days of contributions between 3,300 days and 7,800 days plus 1.5% to 2.5% (depending on the insured's wage class) for every 300 days exceeding 7,800 days.

The minimum pension for an unmarried person, a married person whose spouse is working, or a pensioner is €486.84 a month; €523.37 with a nonworking spouse; €547.76, €571.99, or €596.31 with a nonworking spouse and one to three children; and €511.23, €535.46, or €559.78 with no spouse and one to three children.

The maximum monthly pension for persons who were first insured after December 31, 1992, is €2,773.40; €2,373.57 for persons who were first insured before January 1, 1993.

Earnings test: The amount of the pension that exceeds €1,007.10 is reduced by 70% if the beneficiary is aged 55 or older, without dependents, and employed; the threshold of €1,007.10 increases by €204.42 for each dependent child up to age 18 (age 24 if a student, no limit if disabled).

Early pension: The pension is reduced by 0.5% for each month of early retirement.

Deferred pension: A deferred pension is paid.

Schedule of payments: Twelve payments a year plus three lump-sum payments at Christmas, Easter, and the summer holidays, paid for monthly pensions less than €2,500.

Benefit adjustment: Pensions are adjusted according to changes in the consumer price index.

Old-age social solidarity grant: €230 a month is paid with net income up to €7,715.65, €172.50 with net income from €7,715.66 to €8,018.26, €115 with net income from €8,018.27 to €8,219.93, €57.50 with net income from €8,219.94 to €8,472.09, and €30 with net income from €8,472.10 to €9,200.

The old-age social solidarity grant is reduced by one third if an early pension is paid.

Schedule of payments: Twelve payments a year.

Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted according to changes in the consumer price index.

Disability pension: The pension is based on the length of coverage and pensionable earnings in the last five years plus 1% of earnings for every 300 days of contributions from 3,300 to 7,800 days plus 1.5% to 2.5% (depending on the insured's wage class) for every 300 days exceeding 7,800 days. The benefit is higher for insured persons who paid contributions while employed in arduous and unhealthy work.

For a severe disability, 100% of the pension is paid; for an ordinary disability, 75% of the pension is paid (100% if the insured has 6,000 days of coverage or the disability is the result of a psychiatric condition).

Constant-attendance allowance: A monthly allowance is paid.

Partial disability: 50% of the pension is paid (75% for a psychiatric condition).

For persons who were first insured before January 1, 1993, the minimum monthly pension is €486.84 plus supplements for a dependent spouse and children.

For persons who were first insured after December 31, 1992, the minimum monthly pension is €495.74, €520.51 if the insured has one child, €550.25 with two children, €584.95 with three children, €619.66 with four children, and €654.37 with five children.

The maximum monthly pension is €2,773.40 if first insured after December 31, 1992; €2,373.57 if first insured before January 1, 1993.

Special disability pension: The pension is calculated as if the insured had at least 10,500 days of paid contributions.

Special disability allowance: The allowance is 20 times the minimum wage of an unskilled worker.

Disability social solidarity grant: €230 a month is paid with net income up to €7,715.65, €172.50 with net income from €7,715.66 to €8,018.26, €115 with net income from €8,018.27 to €8,219.93, €57.50 with net income from €8,219.94 to €8,472.09, and €30 with net income from €8,472.10 to €9,200.

The disability social solidarity grant is reduced by one third if an early pension is paid.

Schedule of payments: Twelve payments a year.

Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted according to changes in the consumer price index.

Survivor pension: The pension varies according to the date the deceased first entered the system and is paid for three years beginning the month following the death (may be extended for those who receive the full pension). The full pension the deceased received or was eligible to receive is paid if a surviving spouse does not work, receives any other pension, or has an assessed mental or physical disability of at least 67%; 70% is paid if the spouse is aged 65 or older and working or receiving a pension; 50% if the spouse is younger than age 65 and working or receiving a pension.

The minimum survivor pension is €438.16 a month if first insured before January 1, 1993; €396.58 a month if first insured after December 31, 1992.

A surviving divorced spouse aged 65 or older or with an assessed disability of at least 67% may receive a pension of 30% of the survivor pension if he or she was married to the deceased for at least 15 years; 40% if married for at least 25 years. An eligible surviving divorced spouse is not entitled to receive the minimum survivor pension or the survivors social solidarity grant.

Orphan's pension: If the deceased was first insured before January 1, 1993, 20% of the insured's old-age pension is paid to each eligible orphan; 60% for a full orphan. If the deceased was first insured after December 31, 1992, 25% of the insured's old-age pension is paid to each eligible orphan; 50% for a full orphan.

The minimum orphan's pension is €438.16 a month if first insured before January 1, 1993; €396.58 a month if first insured after December 31, 1992.

Grandchild's or parent's pension: If there are no other survivors, 20% of the deceased's pension is paid for an eligible grandchild, a widowed mother, or a dependent father.

The minimum pension is €438.16 a month.

All survivor benefits combined must not exceed 100% of the deceased's pension.

Schedule of payments: Twelve payments a year plus three lump-sum payments at Christmas, Easter, and the summer holidays, paid for monthly pensions less than €2,500.

Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted according to changes in the consumer price index.

Survivors social solidarity grant (income-tested): €230 a month is paid with net income up to €7,715.65, €172.50 with net income from €7,715.66 to €8,018.26, €115 with net income from €8,018.27 to €8,219.93, €57.50 with net income from €8,219.94 to €8,472.09, and €30 with net income from €8,472.10 to €9,200.

Schedule of payments: Twelve payments a year.

Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted according to changes in the consumer price index.

Ministry of Labor and Social Security (http://www.ggka.gr) provides general supervision.

Ministry of Labor and Social Security
29 Stadiou Street,
GR-101 10 Athens,
Greece

Tel.: +(30-210) 336 81 44
Fax: +(30-210) 336 80 25

Social Insurance Institute (http://www.ika.gr), managed by a governor and tripartite governing body, administers the program through branch offices for most covered workers.

Social Insurance Institute
8, Agiou Konstantinou Street,
GR-102 41 Athens,
Greece

Tel.: +(30-210) 674 46 63
Fax: +(30-210) 674 13 77