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Grecia
| Población total (m.): | 11.2 |
| PIB per cápita (USD): | 28517 |
Old Age, Disability and Survivors
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).
Type of program: Social insurance system.
Note: Noncontributory pensions are paid to eligible persons not covered by the social insurance system.
Exclusions: Employed and self-employed persons covered by approved occupational and public-sector funds providing equivalent benefits.
Voluntary coverage is possible, subject to conditions.
Special systems for agricultural workers, public-sector employees, doctors and dentists, architects, notaries, commercial motor vehicle operators, shipping agents, tradesmen, and craftsmen.
There are no minimum earnings used to calculate contributions.
The maximum earnings used to calculate contributions for persons who were first insured after December 31, 1992, are €73,913.98 a year (or 14 monthly salaries of €5,279.57).
Self-employed 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 for persons who were first insured after December 31, 1992, are €73,913.98 a year (or 14 monthly salaries of €5,279.57).
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 for persons who were first insured after December 31, 1992, are €73,913.98 a year (or 14 monthly salaries of €5,279.57).
Government: 10% of annual payroll as an employer and a guaranteed annual state subsidy.
Age 60 (men) or age 55 (women) 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 55 (men and women) 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 sector and 1,000 in the last 13 years, or at least 4,500 days of contributions in the sector, including 500 in the last 13 years. Age 55 (women with dependent or 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 are not permitted to work and receive a pension at the same time. Pensioners age 55 or over may work but their pension is earnings-tested.
Early pension: First insured before January 1, 1993, age 60 (men) or age 55 (women) with at least 4,500 days of contributions, including 100 days of work in the last 5 years; age 60 (men) or age 55 (women) with at least 10,000 days of contributions, including 100 days of work in the last 5 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: Limit on overall net annual income (salaries and pensions) of €6,824.45; total annual personal taxable income, €7,961.87; and total annual family taxable income, €12,389.65.
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 5 years before the disability began. (For insured persons who began working after 1993, the contribution days in the 5 years before the disability began may include credited days of contributions.)
Constant-attendance allowance: Paid with an assessed degree of disability of at least 67%.
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 2 years.
Benefits are payable abroad under a reciprocal agreement.
Special disability pension: Paid if the insured is assessed as totally blind and has at least 4,050 days of contributions. 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 have a severe and permanent disability. The insured must have at least 350 days of contributions in the last 4 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): No age requirement and assessed with a disability of at least 50% and a resident of Greece.
Income test: Maximum net annual income from salary and pensions of €6,824.45; total annual personal taxable income, €7,961.87; and total annual family taxable income, €12,389.65.
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.
For persons first insured before January 1, 1993, eligible survivors include: a widow (or a disabled widower without means) who was married to the deceased for at least 6 months (2 years if the deceased was a pensioner); a divorced spouse with limited income who was married to the deceased for at least 15 years and was receiving alimony; dependent children, grandchildren 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 dependent parents.
For persons first insured after December 31, 1992, eligible survivors include: a widow(er) who was married to the deceased for at least 1 year (2 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 15 years and was receiving alimony; and dependent children 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.
The pension ceases on remarriage.
A pension that has ceased or is less than 100% of the pension the deceased received or would have been entitled to receive is reinstated and paid in full 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 and residing in Greece.
Income test: Maximum net annual income from salary and pensions of €7,452.32; total annual personal taxable income, €8,694.38; and total annual family taxable income, €13,529.54.
A surviving divorced spouse who is eligible for a survivor pension is not eligible for the survivors social solidarity grant.
The minimum pension for an unmarried person is €486.84 a month; €523.37 with a spouse; €547.76, €571.99, or €592.80 with a spouse and one to three children; and €511.23, €535.46, or €559.78 with no spouse and one to three children.
The total maximum monthly pension is €3,547.77.
Earnings test: The pension is reduced by 70% if the beneficiary is aged 55 or older, without dependents, works and earns more than €733.78; a supplement of 20% of the pension is paid for each child up to age 18 (age 24 if a student, no limit if disabled).
Early pension: The pension is reduced by 0.37% for each month of early retirement.
Deferred pension: A deferred pension is paid.
Schedule of payments: Fourteen payments a year.
Benefit adjustment: Pensions are indexed to changes in the civil service pension.
Old age social solidarity grant: €195.15 a month is paid with net income up to €6,786.93; €146.36 with net income from €6,786.94 to €7,053.12; €97.58 with net income from €7,053.13 to €7,230.51; €48.79 with net income from €7,230.52 to €7,452.32.
Schedule of payments: Fourteen payments a year.
Benefit adjustment: Benefits are indexed to changes in the civil service pension.
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 and 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 €481.48; €505.55 if the insured has one child; €534.43 with two children; €568.14 with three children; €601.85 with four children; €635.77 with five children.
The maximum monthly pension is €2,362.24.
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: €195.15 a month is paid with net income up to €6,786.93; €146.36 with net income from €6,786.94 to €7,053.12; €97.58 with net income from €7,053.13 to €7,230.51; €48.79 with net income from €7,230.52 to €7,452.32.
Schedule of payments: Fourteen payments a year.
Benefit adjustment: Benefits are indexed to changes in the civil service pension.
The minimum survivor pension is €438.78 a month for persons first insured before January 1, 1993; €397.34 a month for persons 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, each eligible orphan receives 20% of the insured's basic pension; 50% for a full orphan. If the deceased was first insured after December 31, 1992, each eligible orphan receives 20% of the insured's basic pension; 60% for a full orphan.
The minimum orphan's pension is €438.78 a month for persons first insured before January 1, 1993; €397.34 a month for persons first insured after December 31, 1992.
Grandchild's or parent's pension (in the absence of other eligible survivors): 20% of the deceased's pension is paid for an eligible grandchild; 40% for a widowed mother; 40% for a dependent father. (The deceased must have been first insured before January 1, 1993.)
The minimum pension is €438.78 a month.
All survivor benefits combined must not exceed 100% of the deceased's pension.
Schedule of payments: Fourteen payments a year.
Benefit adjustment: Benefits are indexed to changes in the civil service pension.
Survivors social solidarity grant (income-tested): €195.15 a month is paid with net income up to €6,786.93; €146.36 with net income from €6,786.94 to €7,053.12; €97.58 with net income from €7,053.13 to €7,230.51; €48.79 with net income from €7,230.52 to €7,452.32.
Schedule of payments: Fourteen payments a year.
Benefit adjustment: Benefits are indexed to changes in the civil service pension.
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
Numerous special occupational and establishment funds administer programs for workers exempt from the general system.