Greece: Early retirement rights for specific insured groups through 2026

Tens of thousands of long-term insured individuals in Greece retain the right to retire before the age of 62 through the end of 2026. This eligibility applies to 16 specific categories of workers who were primarily insured before January 1, 1993.

The transitional provisions cover various sectors, including public sector employees, IKA members, employees of state-owned enterprises (DEKO), banking staff, press workers, and members of the Legal Professionals' Fund. Eligibility is determined by the year the required insurance period was completed, the individual's age, and, in several instances, the presence of minor children.

Specific groups, such as mothers with minor children who completed 5,500 days of insurance by 2011, may be eligible for reduced pensions starting from ages as low as 58 years and 5 months. Other categories include parents who met specific insurance milestones in 2011 and 2012, as well as workers in heavy or unhealthy professions.