Filenews 9 September 2023
Myth or reality are the large allowances and generally the sponsorships to applicants for international protection who arrive in the areas controlled by the Republic? What do the numbers say? The answer to these questions is given through the sponsorships submitted before the parliamentary committee for the Study of the Demographic Problem last Tuesday by the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Mrs. Marilena Evangelou.
The benefits apply to all those who reside outside the accommodation and reception centers for applicants for international protection. In an information note of the Deputy Minister, it is stated that beneficiaries of material reception conditions become applicants for international protection, who have their legal and continuous residence in the areas of the Republic of Cyprus that are under the effective control of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus and do not work. Material reception conditions (NHS) include:
Financial assistance to cover basic needs (food, clothing and footwear).
Financial assistance to cover personal small expenses, including electricity and water costs. The amount of the financial allowance to cover small personal expenses is determined depending on the place of residence of the applicant.
Financial assistance to cover rent allowance to the owner of rented premises.
Rent deposit.
According to the table submitted by the Deputy Minister, an applicant who lives alone receives €186 for food, clothing and footwear and €75 for electricity, water costs, small expenses, provided that a rental contract is presented, while when he does not submit a contract, he receives only €28. He also receives a €100 grant for rent.
Based on these data, the following applies:
An applicant who lives alone receives a monthly allowance of €361 or €314 if he does not present a rental contract.
A family consisting of two members receives €279 for food, clothing and footwear, €200 for rent if they live in Nicosia, €218 if they live in Limassol, €146 if they live in Famagusta, €174 if they live in Larnaca and €146 if they live in Paphos for electricity, water and small expenses.
That is, a family consisting of two people receives monthly between €425-€497 if it presents a rental agreement or €316 (regardless of city of residence) if it does not submit a rental document.
A family of applicants with three members receives €372 for electricity, water and small expenses, plus €140 if they submit a rental document or €52 if they do not submit. At the same time, he receives €290 for rent if he lives in Nicosia, €317 if he lives in Limassol, €211 if he lives in Famagusta, €252 if he lives in Larnaca and €211 if he lives in Paphos. This rent allowance also applies to families with four members. Based on these data, a family of three receives €512 per month for food, clothing, footwear, electricity, water and small expenses if they also submit a rental contract or €424 if they do not submit a rental contract. If the rent grant is also taken into account, the amount of rent (depending on the city of residence) receives between €723-€829.
A family with four members receives €465 for food, clothing and footwear and another €170 for electricity, water and small expenses if they submit a rental contract or €63 if they do not deposit. If the rent allowance is taken into account, it receives €635 plus €211 up to €290, so the sponsorship of a family of four, provided that it rents and provides a rental agreement (and depending on the city of residence), receives monthly €846-€925.
A family with five members or more receives €558 for food, clothing and footwear and €200 for electricity, water and small expenses, provided that they submit a rental document or €74 if they do not submit. Based on these data, a family, whether it has five members or ten, and so on, receives from €632-758. If he rents a house in Nicosia he receives another €364, if he lives in Limassol €397, in Famagusta €265, in Larnaca €315 and in Paphos €265. In summary, a family with five members or more receives between €749-€1,155 depending on the city they live in (and rent) for all their expenses from food, clothing to electricity and water and of course rent.
Regarding the total benefits of recent years, according to the data submitted by Mrs. Evangelou, in 2019 €4.374 million was spent for 10,900 households, in 2020 for 6,273 households €25.5 million was spent, for 2021 for 8,131 households €34.9 million was spent, for 2022 for 7.990 households €33 million was spent and for the current year (until July) €6.606 million were allocated to 19,500 households.
To understand the cost per month, an example is the last month of a full year, December 2022, during which €4,304,667 was allocated to 7,990 families, resulting in an average grant of €413 per family.
Less than the allowances provided to Cypriots
In the document submitted to parliament by the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, it is clarified that regarding the comparison of benefits granted to Cypriot citizens and asylum seekers (under the relevant legislation), applicants for international protection may be given less favourable treatment than Cypriot citizens.
At the same time, less favourable treatment may be granted than to Cypriot citizens, especially when material reception conditions are provided, in part, in kind or in case such levels, provided to Cypriot citizens, aim to ensure a higher standard of living than that provided for applicants in the legislation.
The Deputy Minister, referring to the material reception conditions (YSY), indicates that the amount of applicants' grants is lower than the benefits granted on the basis of the Guaranteed Minimum Income (GNI) and generally in the Social Benefits Law. Indicatively, the amount of the grant for a single asylum seeker (basic needs and rent allowance) amounts to €361 while the corresponding amount of EEE together with rent allowance in Nicosia received by a person (Cypriot) under the UGS Law amounts to €703.
It is noted that Cyprus is financially supported by the EU at various levels and the contribution starts from the construction of reception and detention centers, the remuneration of 54 permanent officers up to the payment of €1,000-€1,500 for each foreigner whose application is rejected and is going to depart Cyprus.
As stated in the relevant document of the Deputy Minister, due to the continuous increase in migratory flows in recent years, the number of beneficiaries of material reception conditions has increased significantly. However, as the Minister of Interior stated before Parliament, lately fewer people come to Cyprus than those who are deported, so the situation gradually has began to change.
According to the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, home visits are carried out in the places where asylum seekers reside in order to: (a) Confirm the criteria for the provision of Material Reception Conditions. (b) The confirmation of the address of residence. (c) The evaluation of living conditions. (d) Other actions or actions aimed at the social integration and integration of applicants for international protection in the community.
EYEWITNESS
What the numbers testify
From time to time, discussions on the benefits of applicants for international protection were intense and the image that was formed and which wanted these foreigners to receive exorbitant amounts with which they enjoyed themselves at the expense of the locals contributed to this.
Almost everyone appeared to come to Cyprus only for benefits and this approach had passed, especially in times of economic crisis. This contributed to the creation of a negative climate, which found its expression in the last episodes.
The official figures submitted to Parliament show that the amounts available per person are relatively low and certainly lower than the benefits received by Cypriots. So much for a more complete picture.
A.G.
