Greece begins payment of increased widow pensions

Greece has begun the payment of increased widow pensions for September, aiming to rectify long-standing disparities caused by the Tsipra-Katrougalos law (4387/16). Labor Minister Niki Kerameus announced that the new legislative provisions abolish the practice of cutting widow pensions from 70% to 35% after a three-year period.

Approximately 8,500 pensioners who had already suffered these cuts will see their benefits restored to previous levels. Additionally, the reform protects over 75,000 other pensioners from facing similar reductions in the future. The Minister noted that the implementation was made possible by securing necessary fiscal space, aided by a surplus of approximately 517 million euros resulting from the digital work card system.

However, the move has faced criticism. Some reports indicate that over 100,000 pensioners who were under the previous system prior to May 2016 may not benefit from these specific increases. Political tensions have also emerged following statements regarding the scope of the reform and its impact on older pension categories.