Filenews 29 March 2025 - by Eleftheria Paizanou
The income criteria and categories of beneficiaries for the granting of child benefit are expanded, so that all middle-class families benefit.
According to a draft bill prepared by the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare and put up for public consultation yesterday (until April 30), the amount of income categories is expanded, in order to take into account the increases in the Consumer Price Index.
At the same time, the income categories that fall under the institution of child benefit are expanded. With the bill, the amount of the child benefit will be determined in a staggered manner and will be in relation to the family income of the beneficiaries. That is, the higher the family's income, the less the benefit that the beneficiaries will receive.
According to the draft bill, the amount of the allowance will be determined as follows:
– For family income up to €21,500 and with one child, the allowance will be €588, for two children the allowance will be €705, for three children the allowance will be €1,293, for four and five children the allowance will be €2,073.
-For family income over €21,500 and up to €41,000 and with one child, the allowance will be €526, for two children the allowance will be €643, for three children €1,231 and for more than four children the allowance will be €1,887.
– For family income over €41,000 and up to €51,000, a family with one child or both children will receive €470. For three children, the allowance will be €940 and for more than four children the allowance will be €1,559.
– For family income over €51,000 up to €61,000 with one child, the allowance will be €235, with two children the allowance will be €427, with three children it will be €854 and with more than four children the allowance will be €1,404.
– For an annual family income over €61,000 and up to €66,000, the allowance for one child will be €118, with two children it will be €214, with three children €854 and for more than four children €1,404.
– For family income over €66,000 up to €71,000 with one child, the family will not receive an allowance. However, for two children the allowance will be €107, for three children it will be €427 and for more than four children the allowance will be €1,404.
– Families with incomes above €71,000 and up to €76,000, those with three children will be entitled to an allowance, who will receive €214. For four children the allowance will be €702 and for more than five children the allowance will be up to €1,404.
– Families with annual incomes of more than €76,000 up to €81,000 will receive child benefit only when they have many children. Specifically, for four children it will be €351 and for more than five children the allowance will be €1,404.
– For incomes over €81,000, child benefit will be received by those who have more than five children and the allowance will be €1,404.
Who will benefit
The measure of expanding the beneficiaries for child benefit will be implemented from January 1, 2026.
According to the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare, the expansion of income criteria and categories will result in multiple benefits. This is because the entire middle class will now be included in the child benefit, taking into account the median equivalent disposable income. It also believes that it will solve the serious problem of the abrupt and sudden cut off of the allowance for families that for any reason have a small increase in family income.
- Based on the calculations of the Deputy Ministry, the bill will benefit about 12,000 new family units and more than 16,000 additional children. In addition, about 2,000 children are additionally included in the tuition subsidy scheme.
