Greece pension increases face controversy over personal difference

Tensions have risen between the Greek government and the opposition regarding the method for calculating pension increases for 2027. While the government announced the abolition of the so-called ‘personal difference,’ the upcoming 2.8% increase will not be applied to the portion of the pension that constitutes this difference.

This means the ‘personal difference’ amount will remain fixed, with the increase only applying to the remaining part of the pension. Approximately 506,786 beneficiaries—the vast majority of the roughly 670,000 pensioners affected by this issue—will see their total pension growth limited. For example, in a case where a main pension is €1,500 with a €150 personal difference, the 2.8% increase would only apply to the €1,350 portion.

PASOK spokesperson Kostas Tsoukalas criticized the move, stating that the government promised equal increases and the full abolition of the personal difference, but is effectively maintaining its consequences ‘through the back door.’ He has called on the government to correct what he described as an ‘intentional error.’