Greece's Welfare System: Overview

Greece's system is mainly insurance-based. Employees and the self-employed pay contributions to the single social insurance fund e-EFKA (Ηλεκτρονικός Εθνικός Φορέας Κοινωνικής Ασφάλισης). It pays pensions and sickness and maternity benefits, and gives you the right to public health care through EOPYY. For private-sector employees the main-pension contribution alone is 20% of pay: 6.67% from the employee and 13.33% from the employer (2026). Other contributions come on top. Unemployment, parental-leave and some maternity benefits are paid by the public employment service DYPA (ΔΥΠΑ). Tax-funded allowances for families, housing and low incomes are paid by OPEKA (ΟΠΕΚΑ). The minimum wage is €920 a month from 1 April 2026.

Your status matters. Most insurance benefits depend on days worked and contributions paid. Many tax-funded allowances also require years of legal and permanent residence: for child benefit, 5 years for Greek and EU citizens but 12 years for third-country nationals (2026). EU, EEA and Swiss citizens are covered by the EU coordination rules.

First registrations for newcomers:

• Tax number (ΑΦΜ): free, online through myAADE (with a video call) or at a tax office. You also get TAXISnet codes, which you need for almost every online service.
• Social security number (ΑΜΚΑ): your number for work, insurance and health care; free.
• Personal doctor (προσωπικός γιατρός): register online with your AMKA and TAXISnet codes; visits are free.
• DYPA register: sign up if you lose your job or need a parental or maternity benefit.

The nine areas at a glance

• Health: EOPYY care through e-EFKA insurance; a free personal doctor; usually 15% co-payment on referred tests.
• Pension: full pension at 67 with 15 years of insurance; a tax-funded national pension of up to €436.40 a month (2025).
• Unemployment: benefit for 5 to 12 months, up to €565 a month; minimum guaranteed income after that.
• Family: child benefit from €28 to €140 a month per child, depending on income; birth allowance from €2,400.
• Tax: progressive income tax, with rates cut from 2026 (20% to 44% above €10,000); returns from 15 March to 15 July.
• Housing: leases are registered with the tax authority; a housing allowance of €70 to €210 a month for low incomes.
• Education: compulsory from age 4 to 15; free public schools and universities; free university textbooks and, within income limits, free student meals.
• Parental: 119 days of maternity benefit, then up to 9 months at the minimum wage; 14 working days of paternity leave; 2 paid months of parental leave.

Things to watch

• Almost everything runs online through gov.gr with TAXISnet codes. Many local offices (KEP) help in person.
• The 12-year residence rule for third-country nationals excludes many newcomers from child benefit and housing allowance. It no longer applies once you become Greek.
• Deadlines are strict: for example, the birth allowance must be claimed within 3 months of the birth.
• Several programmes are changing, including a pilot unemployment benefit. Check the official page before you apply.

Official guidance: Ministry of Labour: minimum wage 2026, Ministry of Labour: contributions, e-EFKA, OPEKA: child benefit, Mitos: tax number, Mitos: AMKA, Personal doctor (prosopikos.gov.gr)