Greece begins €150 child benefit payments to 950,000 families

Greece's Minister of Social Cohesion and Family, Domna Michailidou, has provided an update on the payment of the €150 one-off child benefit, the progress of the Home Renovation programme, under which 41,000 eligibility certificates have already been issued, and the Neighbourhood Nannies initiative.

The minister announced that payments of the €150 per child one-off benefit began yesterday and will reach 950,000 families under expanded income eligibility criteria.

Most eligible families are expected to receive the funds today, CE Report quotes ANA-MPA.

An exception applies to families with children born in 2025 or later, as many of those children have not yet been issued a tax identification number (AFM). These families will receive the benefit in August, provided they obtain an AFM for their children by 10 August.

"The €150 is not a cure-all, but it is support that can help a family get through the month a little more easily," Michailidou said.

Regarding the Neighbourhood Nannies programme, the minister said public interest has been very strong just one month after the platform was launched. According to her, 5,000 applications have already been submitted by parents, 3,500 applications by prospective nannies, and the first 400 service agreements have been completed.

Michailidou said the programme aims to help parents find certified nannies who have received training, have clean criminal records, and possess basic first-aid knowledge, ensuring children are cared for safely.

Addressing delays in obtaining criminal record certificates from the courts, she explained that the ministry has introduced a practical solution. Instead of requiring applicants to visit the courts individually, prospective nannies will submit a declaration, after which the ministry will collect their social security numbers (AMKA) and forward them to the court once a week for the necessary background checks.

On payments, the minister clarified that parents pay both the nanny and the required employment voucher, ensuring the caregiver's social insurance coverage, and are then reimbursed the following month.

Michailidou also highlighted the progress of the Home Renovation programme, noting that 41,000 eligibility certificates have already been issued. The overwhelming majority concern occupied or available properties, while around 1,500 certificates relate to vacant homes.

She said the government's main objective is to bring more vacant properties back onto the housing market and that two improvements to the programme are currently being considered in cooperation with Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance Nikos Papathanasis.

The first proposal would reduce the minimum ownership share required to participate in the programme from 50% to 20%, making it easier for one co-owner to renovate a jointly owned property, such as one inherited by several siblings.

The second proposal would increase the electricity consumption threshold used to determine whether a property is considered vacant. Michailidou explained that even unoccupied homes may record minimal electricity usage due to occasional cleaning or maintenance visits, and raising the threshold would prevent such properties from being excluded.

"Our goal is to bring vacant homes back into use. We want to help owners make use of the existing housing stock and increase the number of homes available on the market," the minister said.

Photo Instagram/domna_michailidou