in-cyprus 3 May 2020 -Bouli Hadjioannou
The Labour Ministry has announced a special scheme for unemployed who have used up their benefit allowance and can now apply for a special allowance of €360 for a period of one month.
The decision was published in the official gazette.
Currently unemployment benefits are paid for a total of 156 days. The decision aims to cover those whose benefits have ended, but who cannot apply for the special allowance that is paid to employees under other support schemes during the coronavirus pandemic.
Under the decision, anyone registered as unemployed and was receiving unemployment benefit for which he/she had exhausted the right to receive payment either in February or March or April may sign up to the scheme.
The applicant must submit an application on line on document ΕΕΑ.8 that is available on www.coronavirus.mlsi.gov.cy.
The benefit is €360 for one month. It will not be paid for any period of time for which the applicant was receiving unemployment benefit, sick leave, maternity leave, paternity leave or pension.
It will paid out only after a statement or authorisation by the applicant that the data submitted is genuine and accepting liability for false statements which carry a penalty of a fine or up to €40,000 and/or two years in prison.
The applicant must authorise the ministry to authenticate in cooperation with other authorities here or abroad and organisations and companies data considered necessary to examine the application and pay the allowance.
The applicant will also agree to processing of personal data under the EU’s GDPR framework.
Any money paid by mistake is considered as owed by the recipient to the Republic and can be set off with any future benefit or allowance or can be demanded by the Republic.
