With a view to supporting citizens who are burdened with the cost of renting a property, Housing benefit is a welfare rent subsidy program, granted by OPECA, to households that rent their main residence.
The OPECA housing allowance, once an online application is submitted, lasts for six months. It is one of the 7 “tools” on the list of the Ministry of Finance in the context of housing support for citizens.
After the six months have passed, the beneficiary can resubmit an application for membership.
The allowance is capped at 210 euros per month, regardless of the composition of the household.
In more detail, the amounts are structured as follows:
For the beneficiary: 70 euros/month.
For each additional member of the household: surcharge of 35 euros/month.
In the single-parent family, for the first minor member of the household: an increase of 70 euros per month.
In households with unprotected children: an increase of 70 euros/month for each unprotected child.
Beneficiaries
Beneficiaries are defined by a three-fold criteria: income, property and residence.
A) Income criteria
The total income cannot exceed 21,000 euros per year, regardless of the composition of the household. In more detail, the following income limits are foreseen:
For a one-person household: up to 7,000 euros increased by 3,500 euros for each additional member
For a single-parent family, a surcharge of 7,000 euros is set for the first minor member of the household.
In households with unprotected children, an additional 7,000 euros is set for each unprotected child.
B) Property criteria
1) Real estate: The total taxable value of the household’s real estate cannot exceed 120,000 euros for a one-person household, increased by 15,000 euros for each additional member and up to 180,000 euros.
2) Asset presumption: The limits for each type of household (including deposits, shares, bonds, etc.), are defined as follows:
For a one-person household: up to 7,000 euros for a one-person household, increased by 3,500 euros for each additional member
For a single-parent family, a surcharge of 7,000 euros is set for the first minor member of the household.
In households with unprotected children, an additional 7,000 euros is set for each unprotected child.
C) Residence criteria
The beneficiary and the other members of the household must reside legally and permanently in the Greek territory during the last 5 years. In the case of citizens of third countries (excluding expatriates and citizens of EU member states) they must reside legally and permanently in Greece for 12 years.
Exceptions
Households that:
They are included in another subsidy or rent coverage program
They rent unelectrified houses,
They rent a place of residence,
They rent as a residence, the property of a first-degree relative by blood or blood, a spouse or ex-spouse, as well as another party to a cohabitation agreement. It is noted that the relationship of kinship concerns all the members of the household and not only the applicant.
They are renting a residence that was granted to them within the last three years prior to the submission of the application.
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