In an era where digital services are transforming citizens’ daily lives, Greece’s Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family—working with the Operational Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity (OPEKA) and the General Secretariat for Vulnerable Social Groups (DYPA), and funded by the Recovery Fund—has launched a new system for disbursing social benefits, allowances, and financial support. Starting 15 March 2025, payments will be made via the Prepaid Social Benefits Card.
A Simpler, More Transparent System
The goal is to simplify procedures, increase transparency, and improve service delivery for beneficiaries. The new system establishes a more direct and secure relationship between citizens and the state—with one clear principle: one card for all benefits.
Each beneficiary receives a single, personalized prepaid card, through which they receive the full amount of all eligible support. The card is issued by the bank where the beneficiary already holds an active account and is delivered directly to them—free of charge and without additional bureaucratic steps.
How It Works
The full amount of each benefit is automatically credited to the card. Cardholders can withdraw up to 50% of the balance in cash from ATMs. The remaining funds can be used for everyday purchases—including at supermarkets and pharmacies—as well as for electronic payments and other services.
The Prepaid Social Benefits Card is accepted both in Greece and across the European Union, with exceptions for transactions involving weapons or gambling.
More Than Just a Payment Tool
This is not merely a new payment method—it’s a policy instrument designed to reduce bureaucracy, curb tax evasion, and strengthen transparency in benefit disbursements.
The system covers a total of 19 categories of benefits and support measures administered by OPEKA and DYPA. These include the Minimum Guaranteed Income, birth and child allowances, unemployment subsidies, maternity protection, and targeted aid for vulnerable groups—such as the Birth Allowance, Employment Allowance, Special Allowance for Vulnerable Groups, and Long-Term Unemployment Allowance.
Five major systemic banks, alongside cooperative banks, are participating—ensuring nationwide rollout and operational reliability.
The Prepaid Social Benefits Card is implemented under Greece’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan, ‘Greece 2.0’, and is co-financed by the European Union through the NextGenerationEU initiative.