Greece restores widowed pensions, ends cuts after three years

The Greek Parliament approved amendments that abolish the reduction of survivor pensions that had applied after three years under article 5 of Law 4387/2016. The changes reinstate the original 70 % benefit level for widowed pensions and guarantee that retirees who receive both a personal pension and a survivor pension will keep both without any cut. The law also eliminates any retroactive compensation searches.

According to the Audit Council, the reform entails an annual fiscal cost of about €48.4 million, which could be offset by revenues from the e‑EFKA system. Pensioners' organisations warn that the measure creates a split between beneficiaries whose spouses died before 13 May 2016—about 100 000 individuals—who remain excluded, and former OGA retirees who receive no coverage. They also point to unclear provisions regarding supplementary pensions and potential retroactive claims for those who suffered cuts between 2020 and 2026.