The digitization and modernization of OPECA was mentioned by the Minister of Social Cohesion and Family, Sofia Zaharakis, whose portfolio is related to OPECA benefits, the promotion of policies of equal treatment, equal opportunities, combating gender discrimination and housing policy for young couples which has already started.
According to information from Dnews, OPECA benefits will be at the center of the policy by simplifying the process of applications and attaching supporting documents.
The automatic cross-referencing of the data will lead to the saving of time and resources from the maintenance of different information systems.
OPECA is currently paying
• to 178,000 beneficiaries for disability benefits (disability and alimony)
• to 201,861 beneficiaries for Minimum Guaranteed Income
• to 275,373 beneficiaries for housing allowance
• to 35,414 beneficiaries for uninsured elderly benefits
• to 11,248 beneficiaries for birth allowance
• to 510 beneficiaries for financial support for underwriting
• to 721 beneficiaries for housing assistance allowance
• to 5,824 beneficiaries for an expatriate allowance
• to 2,269 beneficiaries as a State contribution to loans (main residence protection)
• to 80 beneficiaries as financial support under the “Personal Assistant” program
• to 664,614 beneficiaries the child benefit
• to 60 beneficiaries for an allowance for expatriates of North Continent
• to 84 beneficiaries as a State contribution to vulnerable debtors
At the same time, the completion of the introduction of prepaid cards for the payment of OPECA and DYPA social benefits is progressing.
The reform aims to pay at least 50% of DYPA and OPEKA benefits through prepaid cards in the fourth quarter of 2023.
The project concerns the payment of benefits (OPEKA and DYPA) through prepaid cards, which will allow the online purchase of products and services with a cash withdrawal limit. It also includes carrying out special checks through digital interventions for the granting of welfare benefits to non-residents of the country.
A major change that prepaid cards will bring will be that most transactions will be done at POS or using other electronic means of payment, while a limit will be imposed on the amount of cash that beneficiaries can withdraw using prepaid cards. Through electronic transactions and limiting the use of cash there will be greater transparency about how the benefits are used by the beneficiaries.
This change is a prerequisite for the release of the Recovery Fund funds and should be completed by the end of the year. As can be seen from the relevant commitment document, which has been incorporated into the approved by the E.U. reform program of the national Recovery Plan, “the majority of social benefits should be paid through prepaid cards”.
As reported, the Greek state spends about 3% of GDP on social and unemployment benefits, and the vast majority of them are paid in the form of bank deposits. Greece, it is emphasized, has a very large gap in VAT collections, around 30%, and in order to better fight tax evasion, most benefits should start being paid through prepaid cards. A recommendation to expand the use of the prepaid bank card to other welfare benefits was also included in the Pissarides Committee report.
Also, the portfolio of Minister Sophia Zaharakis includes Demographics: Policies to address the issue – Family Policy.
In particular: provided
– Number of businesses that joined the “Babysitting and child care facilities in large businesses” program (120) in the fourth quarter of 2023.
– Preparation of a National Action Plan for Demography and the Family in the fourth quarter of 2023.
– Number of beneficiaries from the Neighborhood Nannies Program (1000) in the fourth quarter of 2023.
Actions:
– Implementation of Demographic and Family Policy
– Preparation of a National Action Plan for Demography and the Family.
– Reconciliation of family and professional life. Actions such as the “Neighborhood babysitters” program, babysitting and childcare facilities in large companies are planned.
#OPECA #benefits
