GN 01737.020 Greek Social Security Benefits

A. Introduction

Although Greece pays many different categories of benefits, this section describes only the retirement, disability and survivor's pensions. These are the only Greek benefits included within the scope of the agreement.

B. Policy

This chart describes the eligibility requirements for Greek retirement, disability and survivor's benefits.

1. Life Benefits

TYPE OF BENEFIT	ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Retirement
Worker	• Age 65 for men and age 60 for women with at least 4,500 days of contributions (15 years). Reduced rate at age 60 for men and age 55 for women with 4,500 days of contributions including 100 days in each of the last 5 years. • Age 62 for men and age 57 for women with at least 10,000 days of contributions (33 1/3 years) • Age 60 for men and age 55 for women with 4500 days (15 years) of contributions if at least 4/5 of days were in hazardous occupations. • Age 58 for men and women with at least 10,500 days of contributions (35 years). Reduced rate at age 56. • Age 58 for men and age 53 for women with 4500 days (15 years) of contributions if at least 4/5 of days were in the construction industry. • Age 55 for women with 5,500 days (18 1/3 years) of contributions if caring for a child under age 18 or disabled. Reduced rate at age 50.
Wife	Wife's supplement paid to pensioner for a nonworking wife.
Husband	No provision.
Child	Child's supplement paid to pensioner for each unmarried child under age 18 (age 24 if full-time student at university or college), or any age if disabled before age 18.
Invalidity
Worker	• Any age if earnings capacity is reduced at least 80% by an impairment expected to last for a year or more. Partial benefit payable if earnings capacity is reduced at least 50%. • Has at least 1,500 days of contributions, including 600 days in the 5 years preceding disability onset or 300 days of contributions in the 5 years preceding disability onset, plus 120 additional days of contributions (up to a maximum of 4,500) for each year of age over 21.
Wife	Wife's supplement paid to pensioner for a nonworking wife.
Husband	No provision.
Child	Child's supplement paid to pensioner for each unmarried child under age 18 (age 24 if full-time student at university or college), or any age if disabled before age 18.

2. Survivor Benefits

Benefits may be paid to survivors if the worker was entitled to an old-age or disability benefit at the time of death, or had at least:

•

4,500 days (15 years) of contributions,or
•

1,500 days (5 years) of contributions, including 300 days in the 5 years before death, and

the survivor meets the following requirements:

Widow	• Any age. • Not remarried and the marriage lasted at least 6 months or 2 years if the deceased was an old-age or disability beneficiary. NOTE: Both the contribution requirement and duration of marriage requirement may be waived for certain reasons such as a work-related accidental death.
Widower	Same as widow if disabled and dependent on worker.
Divorced widow(er)	No provision.
Child	Under age 18 (age 24 if full time student at university or college), or any age if disabled before age 18.
Other family members	If there is no entitled widow, widower, or child, benefits may be paid to dependent grandchildren and parents.
Funeral Grant	A one-time sickness insurance payment may be payable to the spouse or to the person who paid the burial expenses.

C. Procedure

Advise individuals that SSA cannot give official information about Greek benefits. Refer those who want official information to the following address.

Social Security Institute
Division of International Relations
8, Agiou Konstantinou Str.
10241 Athens
GREECE

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0201737020

GN 01737.020 - Greek Social Security Benefits - 01/19/1999
Batch run: 04/22/2014
Rev:01/19/1999

Program Operations Manual System (POMS)