Greek Minister of Social Cohesion and Family Domna Michailidou has announced the nationwide expansion and permanent establishment of the country's personal assistant program for people with disabilities.
Under the expanded scheme, eligible beneficiaries will receive up to 1,939 euros a month in financial support starting on January 1, 2027, while existing participants will face no disruption to their services through the end of 2026.
The Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family said the decision converts the pilot program into a permanent state service across all of Greece. Officials shaped the final structure after analyzing the pilot phase and consulting with disabled individuals and care providers.
Michailidou said the government created the personal assistant program, ran it as a pilot project, and tested it in practice. She said officials listened to those who need the service as well as the assistants themselves, identified areas needing improvement, and worked systematically to turn it into a permanent national institution.
Michailidou added that the program was now becoming a permanent state service across Greece with digital applications and personalized assessments. She said the government increased compensation for personal assistants and evaluation committee members to recognize their role, while securing continuity for existing beneficiaries as part of a broader reform for independent living.
The ministry stated that personal assistants allow disabled individuals to choose their own support, manage daily routines independently, travel, study, work, and take part in social life on an equal basis.
In Greece, the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family oversees social welfare policies, family support initiatives, and programs designed to promote independent living for citizens with disabilities.
Eligibility criteria and income limits
The personal assistant program is open to Greek tax residents aged 16 to 67 who hold permanent legal residence in Greece and have a lifelong disability certification from the Disability Certification Center, known as KEPA.
KEPA is the state body under the Greek social security system responsible for assessing medical conditions and certifying levels of disability for public assistance programs.
To qualify, applicants must have a primary disability rating of at least 67 percent or a formal ruling stating that they require continuous support from another person. The scheme covers individuals with motor, intellectual, developmental, sensory, or mental disabilities.
An exception allows individuals up to 75 years old to join the program, provided they became entitled to the national mobility allowance before turning 67.
Applicants must meet specific annual household income thresholds. The limit is set at 35,000 euros for a single person household, with an additional 17,500 euros allowed for each extra adult member or for the first child in a single-parent household. Each additional minor increases the income threshold by 8,750 euros.
Candidates must live in a private residence to receive support. Individuals who do not currently live in a private home can still apply and undergo evaluation, but their participation will only activate after they move into a home.
Digital applications and scoring system
Applicants must submit their forms digitally through the state portal prosopikosvoithos.gov.gr, where personal information will undergo automated checks against public databases.
Decisions regarding eligibility and point scores will be issued immediately upon submission, and applicants can file electronic appeals if they disagree with the outcome.
Points are calculated based on household composition, income, the presence of another disabled person in the home, and the specific degree and features of the disability. Applicants who are currently employed or enrolled in education receive extra points in the ranking system.
Candidates with the highest scores will receive an in-person visit at their home from an interdisciplinary Special Committee for a personalized assessment. In exceptional cases, these evaluations may take place via video conference.
The evaluation committee will examine the applicant's daily living needs, functional independence, and how personal assistance would support their education, employment, and social integration. Assistance already provided by family members or other caregivers will not count against the applicant during the evaluation process.
Monthly assistance rates and pay scales
From January 1, 2027, monthly assistance funding will be divided into four tiers based on committee assessments. Beneficiaries with minor needs will receive up to 416 euros per month, while those with moderate needs can receive up to 831 euros.
For individuals assessed with major needs, monthly support will reach up to 1,352 euros. Those classified with absolute and permanent dependency will be eligible for the maximum monthly rate of 1,939 euros.
Beneficiaries can use their allocation to hire between one and four personal assistants on an hourly basis, or select one assistant under a cohabitation arrangement. Gross hourly compensation for assistants ranges from 6 to 7 euros.
For cohabiting assistants, gross monthly compensation is set at 1,200 euros. In addition, beneficiaries who host a cohabiting assistant will receive a monthly financial stipend of 250 euros.
In mountainous and island municipalities with populations under 5,000, beneficiaries are permitted to hire immediate family members. This exemption allows them to employ a spouse, a civil partner, or a relative by blood or marriage up to the second degree.
Personal assistants must be between 18 and 67 years old, have the legal right to work in Greece, and meet official eligibility criteria. Final entry into the state registry requires completing a free online training course run by OPEKA, the Welfare Benefits and Social Solidarity Organization. Assistants already registered under the pilot scheme will remain in the registry without retraining.
OPEKA is the central Greek state agency that administers social benefits, family allowances, and financial assistance programs across the nation.
Transitional rules for current beneficiaries
Specific transition rules have been established to protect current participants in the pilot scheme. Beneficiaries who accumulated at least 60 days of personal assistance by June 30, 2026, or who live in small island or mountainous municipalities with fewer than 5,000 residents, will remain in the program through December 31, 2026 without taking any action.
To continue receiving support from January 1, 2027 onward, these individuals will only need to submit a Consent Declaration. They will not be subject to new eligibility checks, scoring reviews, or re-evaluations.
Participants who held active contracts on June 30, 2026, but do not meet the 60-day or small municipality criteria, will also remain covered through December 31, 2026 without taking any steps. However, to stay in the program after January 1, 2027, they must submit a new Participation Application under the standard process used for new applicants.
All other participants from the pilot phase who do not meet these criteria will need to submit a completely new application from scratch.
Implementation and ministerial approval
The permanent national program will be managed and executed across Greece by OPEKA. The rules governing participation, evaluation procedures, funding amounts, and assistant pay scales were established under a Joint Ministerial Decision.
The decision was formally signed by five government officials: Social Cohesion and Family Minister Domna Michailidou, Alternate National Economy and Finance Minister Nikos Papathanasis, Deputy National Economy and Finance Minister Thanos Petralias, Digital Governance Minister Dimitris Papastergiou, and Minister of State Akis Skertsos.
