Cyprus proposes child benefit reforms for 23,000 families

A new bill presented to the Parliamentary Committee on Labour in Cyprus aims to relax income criteria for child benefit recipients. According to Deputy Minister of Social Welfare Tina Pavlou, the proposed changes are expected to benefit an additional 23,000 families.

The legislation introduces a 5% to 10% increase in support for families, depending on their income levels. A key feature of the bill is the correction of the abrupt loss of benefits that previously occurred when a family experienced a minor increase in income.

Furthermore, the expansion of child benefits is intended to increase eligibility for other support schemes, such as tuition and meal subsidies. The Deputy Minister noted that 2,000 additional families, involving approximately 2,800 children, would benefit from these specific subsidy programs. The total cost of the child benefit expenditure is estimated at €12.5 million.