Greek lawmakers demand relief for farmers blocked from retirement by insurance debts

Six members of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) have submitted a parliamentary inquiry to the Ministers of Labor and Social Security and Agriculture regarding the exclusion of farmers from retirement due to insurance debts.

The inquiry highlights a crisis facing thousands of small-scale farmers who have reached retirement age but are blocked by accumulated debts to e-EFKA and the former OGA. A critical obstacle identified is the €10,000 debt limit; farmers exceeding this amount by even a single euro must pay the surplus in a single lump sum to qualify for a pension. For those with fewer than 20 years of insurance, this limit drops to €6,000.

Lawmakers noted that economic decline in regions like Aetolia-Acarnania, caused by shifts in agricultural subsidies and the decline of traditional tobacco farming, has left many households unable to meet basic living costs or insurance contributions. Furthermore, the inquiry points out that even when pensions are approved, the amounts often do not exceed €450, which is insufficient for basic needs.