Greece launches prepaid benefits card and new housing strategy

The Greek Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family has introduced a prepaid Social Benefits Card, funded by the EU Recovery Fund, to consolidate 19 categories of welfare payments—including minimum income, birth and child allowances, unemployment aid, and maternity protection—onto a single card usable at ATMs, supermarkets, pharmacies and online across Greece and the EU, except for weapons and gambling purchases.

In parallel, the ministry has opened a public consultation on the National Housing Strategy for 2026‑2035, a €6.5 billion plan comprising 50 measures aimed at expanding housing supply, easing household housing costs, and establishing a unified Housing Authority. The strategy includes new social housing initiatives, public land allocation for islands, streamlined building permits, and digital tools for student housing, with funding sourced from national budgets, EU recovery funds, the European Investment Bank and private banks.