Unemployment & Insurance subsidies of employees

The Ordinary Unemployment Subsidy (RUS) is a subsidy provided to insured persons, able and available to work, with a dependent work relationship which has either ended or has been terminated by the employer, during which they paid contributions for the unemployment sector of the Public Employment Service. The duration of the subsidy varies from five (%) to twelve (12) months depending on the days of work beneficiaries carried out in specific (critical) periods before the termination or the end of their work relationship and the number of daily subsidies they collected in the last four years.

If during the subsidy the beneficiaries lose the status of unemployed (e. g. because of employment, illness, enlistment etc.) the subsidy stops provisionally (suspended),while it is possible to continue again under some conditions.

The subsidized unemployed persons have specific obligations,non-compliance of which may lead to permanent interruption of their subsidy..

Ordinary Unemployment Subsidy is provided to applicants – former salaries employees, if:

• their Work Contract has been terminated or ended (not provided to those who voluntarily departed their work)
• have the condition of the unemployed on the date the application for subsidy is submitted (not employed by another employer, not self-employed, capable and available in the labor market)
• have carried out in specific (critical) periods a specific number of working days, for which contributions were paid in favor of the unemployment sector of the Public Employment Service, as follows:

a) For insured persons subsidized for the first time

1st case

• at least one hundred twenty five (125) days of work or one hundred (100) days for building workers with contributions in favor of the unemployment sector within the 14 months prior to the end or termination of the work relationship, not counting the days of the last two months prior to its end or termination and
• and eighty (80) days of dependent work in each year during the two previous years before the start of their subsidy

2nd case (for insured persons not covering the condition of the 1st case)

• at least two hundred (200) days of work or one hundred eighty (180) for construction workers with contributions in favor of the unemployment sector during the two previous years before the end or termination of the work relationship, not counting the days of the two last months before its end or termination, and
•  eighty (80) days of dependent work in each year during the two previous years before the end or termination of the work relationship

b) for ensured persons who have been subsidized in the past:

• at least one hundred twenty five (125) days for construction workers with contributions in favor of the unemployment sector within the 14 months before the end or termination of the work relationship, not counting the days of the last two months before its end or termination.

The insured persons of this category must not have collected within the previous four years from the start of the subsidy for which they apply more than four hundred (400) daily subsidies.

If within the four years they have been subsidized but collected less than four hundred (400) daily subsidies, they are entitled to subsidy for the remaining number of daily subsidies until completion of the maximum of four hundred (400) daily subsidies.

For subsidy in the sector of construction workers it is required that the minimum number of work days and the termination or end of the work relationship come from the construction sector.

Continuation of the subsidy is granted to applicant insured persons if:

• the previous subsidy has been suspended
• the reason for the suspension no longer exists
• the application is submitted within two (2) years from the date of approval of the inclusion in the initial subsidy
• there can be no right for a new subsidy or the provision of the continuation is more to the subsidy of the insured person.

The continuation of the subsidy is not granted:

• if the subsidy was interrupted
• in case of voluntary departure from work, if the reason for the suspension was assuming work

The deadline for submitting the application is:

• for the initial subsidy: sixty (60) days from the day following the date of termination or end of the work relationship
• for continuation of a subsidy that was suspended: two (2) years from the approval date of the initial subsidy

The application for the Ordinary unemployment subsidy is submitted after the Unemployment Card has been issued. EPC2 Service of the place of residence of the interested person. The choice of the EPC2 Service is important, because this Service will be responsible for all matters related to the subsidy of the insured person and it is where he/she must go to when required.

The application may be submitted in two ways:

a) electronically an only using of the Public Employment Service or the Digital Gateway of the State (www.gov.gr). The interested person chooses “APPLICATION SUBMISSION” and then “APPLICATION FOR Ordinary UNEMPLOYMENT SUBSIDY”

or

b) by visiting the EPC2 Service of the Public Employment Service in person.

However, as long as the extraordinary covid measures are in force the application is submitted exclusively by using the Public Employment Service e-services.

During the application submission the unemployed person:

is informed about:

• the conditions for the subsidy and the purpose of the personal data processing
• his/her obligations during the subsidy, by submitting at the same time a Solemn Declaration of L. 1599/1986 that he/she has been informed of the above,

he/she states:

• whether there are dependent family members in his/her family, so that he can be granted an increase by 10%
• bank account in which he/she is the first holder, where the subsidies will be credited
• submits documents, only if required

At the final application submission, the unemployed person receives a copy of the application with a record of specific time periods in which he/she must present himself at the Public Employment Service in person until the examination of his/her application. These periods are also recorded in the electronic services of the Public Employment Service.

After submitting their application in either way, insured persons may submit an application for transfer to another EPC2 Service, if they change place of residence, with the required documents proving the new residence. By submitting the transfer application the new EPC2 Service is now responsible for the issues of insured persons subsidy (submitting documents, reception of the decision etc.).

After submitting the application its processing starts by the Service where the insured person submitted it and the conditions and the inclusion in the subsidy are checked based on the data in the documents which are either requested automatically by the Services or are submitted at the same time.

1. Termination of the Employment Contract (Form E6) signed by the unemployed person or a Certificate about the End of a Fixed-Term Contract (Form E7).

2. Indirect insurance clearance of the dependent members of the family, if they exist.

3. Salaried work data (insurance days) and non-salaried employment (business activity).

4. Bank account number. (IBAN) where the insured person is the first holder.

 The first three documents are requested automatically by the Services and only if that is not possible, they are submitted by the insured persons. The Deposit Account Number (IBAN) is provided only if it has not been declared in the past or if it has changed.

If during the examination of the application the Service does not identify the required details it requests automatically or finds out that more documents are needed, it contacts the insured persons for them to submit them within a deadline of twenty (20) days. If the insured persons do not respond, the Service issued a rejection decision after 3 months have passed from the information date, unless there is an objective inability to submit the documents for which the insured persons are not responsible.

After processing the application a decision is issued by the Service either approving or rejecting, which the insured person receives from the Service in the capacity of which he/she belongs (where he/she initially submitted it or transferred it), while the decision also appears in e-services of the Public Employment Service.

The approving decision records:

• new specific time periods during which the unemployed person is obliged to report his/her presence at the Public Employment Service
• the duration of the subsidy
• the amount of subsidy

Report of presence is the submission in person in Ordinary intervals of a solemn declaration by the unemployed person about fulfilling the conditions for subsidy, as had been stated and during the submission of his/her application. The report of presence:

• it is submitted in the third month of each trimester (presence month):
  • until the decision on the application is issued the third month is calculated from the date the application was submitted
  • after the approving decision is issued the third month is counted from the start date of the subsidy
  • from the issuance of the approval decision, the months of attendance, as calculated during the application, cease to be valid
  • the months of attendance are reflected in the application, in the approval decision and in the online services of Public Employment Service. The months of presence reflected in the online services incorporate all changes that may occur with the issuance of an approval decision
• is done by all insured persons whether their subsidy has been approved or is pending
• linked to the orderly payment of unemployment benefits:
  •  if the presence is recorded, the right to collect the subsidy corresponding to the month of presence and the next two subsidies is ensured
  • if attendance is not declared, the allowance corresponding to the month of attendance is withheld and the next attendance declaration is expected for the payment of the next two monthly allowances
  • if attendance is not declared for two consecutive months of attendance, the subsidy is suspended
• ensures the automatic renewal of the unemployment card
• it ceases forming an obligation, when a rejection decision is issued on the application
• the process is very simple. The insured persons come to the Public Employment Service offices, state the fulfillment of the conditions of the subsidy and sign the relevant Solemn Statement. The first recording of presence in person takes place at the Service in the responsibility of which the insured person belongs to (i. e. where the application was submitted or transferred), while the others in any EPC2 Service.

However, as long as the extraordinary covid measures last the recording of presence is done using the e-services of the Public Employment Service with the verification of the text of the Solemn Statement. If the month of presence passes, the electronic statement is not possible.

The subsidy starts:

a) from the 7th day, when the application for inclusion in the Ordinary unemployment subsidy is submitted by the interested person during the first 7 days after the end or termination of his/her work relationship and in any case during the 60-day deadline, or

b) from the date of submission of the application when it is submitted by the interested person after the 7 days from the end or termination of the work relationship pass and in any case within the 60-day deadline

c) from the date of submission of the application in the case of the continuation of the previous subsidy that was suspended.

• For already subsidized persons: a) on the number of days of work realized in the critical period of the 14 months after the end/termination of the work relationship, not counting the days of the two (2) last months before the dismissal, b) on the condition of not exceeding four hundred (400) daily unemployment subsidies in the last four years before the start of the subsidy.
• For new subsidized persons: a) on the number of work days realized in the critical 14-month period before the termination/end of the work relationship, not counting the days of the two (2) last months before the dismissal or b) on the number of days of work during the critical two-year period before the termination or the end of the work relationship, not counting the days of the two (2) last months before its end or termination.

The number of days of work based on which the duration of the subsidy is determined is different in the case of construction workers.

In the following tables the duration of the subsidy for common unemployed persons and construction workers is recorded based on the number of days of work realized in the critical periods. 

The amount of the subsidy is calculated based on the average gross monthly income of the last 6 months before dismissal as follows:

• The aforementioned amounts are increased by 10% for each dependent member of the beneficiary’s family.
• For every full month of subsidy twenty-five (25) daily subsidies are paid

During the subsidy Christmas and Easter allowances are paid

The Christmas allowance is paid, if the insured person is subsidized for the period from 01.05 to 31.12. For every one full month of subsidy three (3) daily Christmas allowance subsidies are paid. For subsidy of the whole aforementioned period, twenty-five (25) daily subsidies are paid. If a full month of subsidy is not completed, no Christmas allowance is paid.

The Easter allowance is paid if the insured person is subsidized in the period from 01.01 to 30.04. For every one full month of subsidy three (3) daily Easter Allowance subsidies are paid. For subsidy of the whole aforementioned period, twelve and a half (12,5) daily subsidies are paid. If a full month of subsidy is not completed, no Easter allowance is paid.

• monthly subsidies are paid “accrued”, i.e. from the day following their end.
• every monthly subsidy is credited automatically into the bank account the beneficiary has stated, if he/she has realized recording of presence within the deadline.
• the crediting of monthly subsidies takes place once a week and specifically on its last business day (Friday).
• the insured person by his/her application ensures the payment of the two (2) first monthly subsidies with no further action.

The subsidized person is obliged to inform the relevant Public Employment Service Office about the occurrence of any reason for losing the condition of the unemployed during his/her subsidy, so that it stops temporarily (suspended) or is permanently interrupted.

The condition of the unemployed is lost and

Α. the subsidy is suspended due to:

• recruitment
• employment illness or inability to work
• enlistment
• exercise of a free employment or business activity
• departure for a foreign country for a period of more than twenty (20) consecutive or periodical days during the same year or continuous during two consecutive years
• imprisonment or administrative detention
• training practice
• training (under conditions)
• end of the residence and work permit (for subsidized foreigners) or
• any other reason because of which he/she is no longer available for employment in the labor market

Β. The subsidy is interrupted due to:

1. retirement in own right
2. death
3. permanent incapacity to work
4. failure to realize a record of presence for two consecutive months of presence
5. simultaneous employment and subsidy

The Service must be informed about the reason for suspension or interruption of the cases B. 1-3 of the subsidy:

1. Within eight (8) business days from the day the reason for suspension or interruption of the subsidy occurs and in any case before the end of the subsidy month. The amount of the monetary difference that may arise from the last payment of the insured person until the date of suspension or interruption of cases B.1-3 of the subsidy is not lost, but paid into the insured person’s bank account.

The timely information of the Service about the suspension/interruption of the subsidy and non-collection of subsidies in a period when the subsidy should have been suspended or interrupted is extremely important, because:

• in the case of parallel subsidy and employment (salaried or not), the subsidy is interrupted.
• the amount collected in a period when it should have been suspended or interrupted must be repaid by the insured person to the Public Employment Service

2. In any way by the insured person himself or by a representative (by email etc.). After that (or simultaneously) the relevant documents must be submitted, when they cannot be acquired automatically (e. g. health booklet, Military Service certificate, airplane ticket etc.).

Continuation

Training

If a subsidized unemployed person is included in a training program (APTC or PTI) the subsidy is not suspended:

1. For programs of professional education or training with a duration of up to six (6) months, without educational allowance if: 

a. the unemployed person states during the first after the start of the training program records a personal presence or participation in the program

b. 2 years have passed since the end of a previous training program.

2. For programs of professional education or training lasting up to six (6) months with an educational allowance or lasting more than six (6) months, if: 

a) he/she is registered in the Unemployed Register for at least 4 months cumulatively in the last 12 months before the start of the training program

b) the participation in the program is stated by the unemployed person during the first personal presence after the start of the program

c) 2 years have passed since the end of a previous training program.

If, because of the participation in the specific educational or professional training program, a compensation is to be collected by the implementing body, it will continue being paid in parallel to the unemployment subsidy with no set-off being required. Finally, for as long as the subsidy is paid and at the same time there is participation in the education or training program the condition of the unemployed is maintained and the same obligations continue, for the implementation of which he/she is bound by his/her records of presence.

Dependent members

Dependent members for whom an increase of 10% can be granted to the subsidized person are:

• the spouse,
• children of up to 24 years of age, when they are unemployed or up to 26 years when they are unemployed and studying,
• the parent,
• orphan grandchildren and siblings up to 18 years of age and if they are single,

when they are indirectly insured members of him/herself (or his/her spouse’s in the last 3 cases).

Insurance capacity of the dependent members must be in force during the subsidy, otherwise the increase is only provided for as long as it is in force.

If both spouses are subsidized, they cannot collect for the same period an increase for the same members.They choose in a Solemn Declaration which of the two will collect the increase or whether they will both collect it at a proportion of 50%. 

Cases when the automatic search for documents is not possible

1.a. When Form E6 or E7 was submitted late and it is not uploaded in ERGANI

1.b. When Form E6 or E7 is not uploaded in ERGANI, because the employer had no such obligation

1.c. When the termination of the work relationship is recognized by court decision

1.d. When an extrajudicial statement or action has been filed for unilateral change of the terms of work and the application takes place pursuant to the provisions of art. 51 of L. 4488/2017

2. When the insurance capacity has not been computerized in e-EFKA or when the details of the dependent members have not been stated correctly in the application.

The laws and decisions covering the provision of unemployment subsidy are the following, as in force:

• L. D. 2961/1954 (articles 11-38)
• L.1545/1985 (articles 3-8) 
• L.1892/1990 (article 37)
• L.4921/2022 
• Decision by the BoD of the Public Employment Service 3701/55/22-11-11
• Decision by the BoD of the Public Employment Service 1850/30/15.03.2020
• Decision by the BoD of the Public Employment Service 5274/114/27.09.2022  

The Ordinary Unemployment Subsidy (RUS) is a subsidy provided to insured persons, able and available to work, with a dependent work relationship which has either ended or has been terminated by the employer, during which they paid contributions in favor of the unemployment sector of the Public Employment Service. For insured persons characterized as “seasonal” the Ordinary subsidy is provided on different terms than in common unemployed persons, either obligatorily or after selection, depending on the days of work they realized in specific (critical) periods before the termination or end of their work relationship. The duration of their subsidy is eighty (80) days, with no limitation regarding the daily subsidies they collected during the four years before the start of the subsidy in this case.

If during the subsidy the beneficiaries lose the condition of the unemployed (e. g. because of employment, illness, enlistment etc.), the subsidy stops temporarily (suspended), while it is possible to continue again under conditions.

The subsidized unemployed persons have specific obligations. non-compliance of which may lead to definitive interruption of their subsidy.

Insured persons who were employed in businesses operating seasonally for one or two seasons are subsidized as seasonal. For the insured persons to be included in this category both conditions must be concurrent, i. e. both the business operates seasonally and the employment provided during one or two seasons.

Businesses operating seasonally are first of all tourist accommodations, restaurants, bars, recreation centers, confectionaries, cafes and thermal baths, but also any business which fulfills the following two conditions:

a) because of the nature of its work (e. g. water inspectors), weather (e. g. ski center) or particular conditions (e. g. tourism) or the raw materials in use (e. g. oil press)

b) it operates:

• from two (2) to nine (9) in a year or
• during the whole year, but with periods of depression, during which the staff employed does not exceed 25% of the staff it employs in peak seasons.

The State is also considered a seasonal business, when it employs salaries employees with fixed-term contracts to cover specific needs in specific periods of the year (e. g. firefighters).

A season is a specific period of operation in the year, determined as follows:

• for tourist accommodation, restaurants, bars, recreation centers ,confectioneries, cafes and thermal baths operation throughout the year, the season is the period from 01.04 to 31.10 (summer season) or from 01.11 to 31.03 (winter season)
• for tourist accommodation, restaurants, bars, recreation centers ,confectioneries, cafes and thermal baths, but also all other businesses not operating in all the months, but from two (2) to nine (9) months in a year, a season is the specific period when they are in operation [e. g. for a hotel operating four (4) months in a year, the season lasts for these four (4) months]
• for businesses operating throughout the year with reduced staff during depression periods, a season is the period of the peak months

For an insured person to be considered as having worked for one season at a business operating seasonally, he/she must have realized during the aforementioned relevant periods that constitute a season on average thirteen (13) insurance days in a month.

The Ordinary Unemployment Subsidy is provided to applicants – former salaried employees who have worked in businesses operating seasonally for one or two seasons, if:

• their Work Contract was terminated or ended (not provided to those who left their work voluntarily)
• have the condition of the unemployed on the date they submit the application for subsidy (not employed by another employer, not self-employed, able and available in the labor market)
• have realized in specific (critical) periods a specific number of days of work in businesses operating seasonally, for which contributions were paid in favor of the unemployment sector of the Public Employment Service, as follows:

A. New Subsidized persons

New Subsidized Persons who have been employed in businesses operating seasonally for one season:

• at least one hundred (100) days of work in businesses operating seasonally with contributions in favor of the unemployment sector within the 14-month period before the end or termination of the work relationship, not counting the days of the two (2) last months before its end or termination and
•  eighty (80) days of dependent work in each year during the two (2) previous years before the start of their subsidy.

New subsidized persons who have been employed in businesses operating seasonally for two consecutive seasons:

• at least one hundred (100) days of work in businesses operating seasonally with contributions in favor of the unemployment sector in the last 12-month period before the end or termination of the work contract and
• eighty (80) days of dependent work in each year in the last two (2) years before the start of their subsidy

B. Old subsidized persons

Old subsidized persons who were employed in businesses working seasonally for one season:

• at least one hundred (100) days of work in businesses operating seasonally with contributions in favor of the unemployment sector within the 14-month period before the termination or the end of the work relationship, not counting the days of the last two (2) months before the end or termination

Old subsidized persons who have been employed in businesses operation for two consecutive seasons:

• at least one hundred (100) days of work in businesses operating seasonally with contributions in favor of the unemployment sector in the last 12-month period before the end or termination of their work contract.

Continuation of the subsidy in provided to insured applicants if:

• the previous subsidy was suspended
• the reason for the suspension no longer exists
• the application is submitted within two (2) years from the date of approval of the initial subsidy
• a right to new subsidy cannot be substantiated or the provision of the continuation subsidies the insured person more

The continuation of the subsidy is not provided:

• in the case of interruption of the subsidy
• in the case of voluntary departure from work, if the reason for the suspension was the assumption of work

The deadline for submitting an application is: for an initial subsidy:

• sixty (60) days from the day following the date the work relationship ended or was terminated.
• for the continuation of a suspended subsidy: two (2) Years from the date of approval of the initial subsidy

The application for Ordinary unemployment subsidy is submitted, after an Unemployment Card has been issued,  at the EPC2 Service of the interested person’s place of residence. The choice of the EPC2 Service is important, because this Service will be responsible for all matters related to the insured person’s subsidy and it is the one he/she must go to when required.

The application may be submitted in two ways:

a) electronically and only through the e-services of the Public Employment Service or the Digital Gateway of the State (www.gov.gr). The interested person chooses “APPLICATION SUBMISSION” and then “APPLICATION FOR Ordinary UNEMPLOYMENT SUBSIDY”

or

b) with the personal visit to the EPC2 Service of the Public Employment Service.

However, as long as the covid measures are in force, the application is submitted exclusively through electronic services of the Public Employment Service.

During the submission of the application the unemployed person:

• is informed about:

• the conditions for the subsidy and the purpose of the processing of his/her personal data
• about his/her obligations during his/her subsidy, at the same time submitting a Solemn Statement of L.1599/86 that he/she was informed about them

• he/she stated

• whether he/she has dependent family members, in order to be granted 10% increase
• bank account where he/she is the first holder, where the subsidies will be paid
• submits other documents  only when required

With the definitive submission of the application the unemployed person receives a copy of it recording specific periods in which he/she is obliged to present himself in person at the Public Employment Service until his/her application is examined. These periods are also recorded in electronic services of the Organization.

After submitting their application in either way, the insured persons may submit an application for transfer to another EPC2 Service if they change the place of residence, with the proof of the new residence as required documents. After the transfer application is submitted, the new EPC2 Service is responsible for the subsidy issues of the insured persons (delivery of documents, reception of the decision etc.).

After submission of the application its processing starts by the Service where the insured person submitted it and the conditions and the inclusion are checked based on the details in the documents which are either sought automatically by the Services or submitted together.

1. Termination of the Work Contract (Form E6) signed by the unemployed person or a Certificate about the End of a Fixed-Term Contract (Form E7)

2. Indirect insurance capability of dependent family members if they exist

3. Details of salaried work (insurance days) and non-salaried employment (business activity)

4. Deposit Account Number (IBAN), where the insured person is the first holder

The first three documents are automatically sought by the Services and only when their automatic search is not possible, they are submitted by the insured persons. The Deposit Account Number (IBAN) is provided only if it has not been declared in the past or if it has changed.

Additional documents the Service may seek, if considered necessary for the subsidy:

• an Employer’s Certificate or certificate of submission of a Detailed Periodical Statement for the two last months. It is required when the 12-month period before the termination or the end of the work relationship is taken as critical period or when the condition of the season must be found out
• Certificate about the seasonal operation of the business (“Seasonality Certificate”) when required (templates of certificates for private-sector businesses,   template of a certificate for public-sector bodies, template of a certificate for persons moving within the EU and when it is not required) 

If during the examination of the application the Service does not identify the required details it seeks automatically or finds out that no documents are needed, it contacts the insured person to submit them within a twenty-day (20) deadline. If the insured persons do not respond, the Service proceeds to issue a rejection decision after 3 months have passed from the information, unless there is an objective inability to submit the documents for which the insured persons are not responsible.

After the application is processed a decision is issued by the Service either approving or rejecting, which the insured person receives from the Service he/she belongs to (where he/she initially submitted it or transferred it), while the decision also appears in e-services of the Public Employment Service

The approving decision records:

• new specific periods during which the unemployed person must record his/her presence in the Public Employment Service
• the duration of the subsidy
• the amount of the subsidy

A record of presence is the personal submission in Ordinary intervals of a solemn declaration by the unemployed person about fulfillment of the subsidy conditions, as had been stated at the submission of his/her application. The record of presence:

• is submitted at the third month of each trimester (month of presence):
  • until the decision on the application is issued the third month is calculated from the date the application is submitted
  • after the approval decision is issued the third month is calculated from the starting date of the subsidy
  • from the issue of the approval decision the months of presence no longer apply, as calculated at the application
  • the months of presence are recorded in the application, the approval decision and the electronic services of the Public Employment Service. The months of presence recorded in electronic services incorporate all changes which may arise at the issue of the approval decision.
• is done by all insured persons whether their subsidy has been approved or remains pending
• connected to the smooth payment of the unemployed person’s subsidies:
  • if the presence is recorded the right to collect the subsidy corresponding to the month of presence is ensured and also for the two monthly subsidies following
  • if the presence is not recorded, the subsidy corresponding to the month of presence is withdrawn and for the payment of the two next monthly subsidies the next record of presence is expected
  • if no presence is not recorded for two consecutive months of presence, the subsidy is interrupted
• in ensures the automatic renewal of the unemployment card
• it stops being an obligation when a rejection decision is issued on the application
• as a process is extremely simple. The insured persons go to the Public Employment Service Offices, state the fulfillment of the conditions for the subsidy and sign the relevant Solemn Statement. The first in-person record of presence is done at the Service in the responsibility of which the insured person belongs (i. e. where the application was submitted or transferred), while the remaining ones at any EPC2 Service.

However, as long as the covid measures last, the presence is recorded throughthe e-services of the Public Employment Servicewith verification that the text of the Solemn Statement has been read. If the month of presence passes, it is not possible to record it electronically.

Start of the initial subsidy:

a. from the 7th day:

• when the application for inclusion in the Ordinary unemployment subsidy is submitted by the interested person in the first 7 days after the end or termination of his/her work relationship and in any case within the 60-day deadline
• when the application is submitted at any time within the 60-day deadline and the applicant was employed in hotel, restaurant or tourist businesses

b. from the date the application is submitted, when the interested person was not employed in hotel, restaurant or tourist businesses and the application is submitted after the 7-day period from the end or termination of the work relationship has passed and in any case within the 60-day deadline.

Start of the subsidy continuation:

a. from the date the application is submitted in the case of continuation of a previous subsidy which has been suspended:

• if it is submitted within two (2) years form the approval of inclusion in the initial subsidy and the interested persons were not working in hotel, restaurant or tourist businesses
• if the interested persons were working in hotel, restaurant or tourist businesses and the application is submitted after sixty (60) days from the dismissal (and within the two years since the approval of inclusion in the initial subsidy)
• in any case of a seasonal employee where the reason for continuing the subsidy is not dismissal

b. from the next day of the dismissal in the case of continuation, when the interested persons were employed in hotel, restaurant or tourist businesses and the application is submitted within sixty (60) days since the dismissal.

The subsidy in the category of seasonal employees lasts for eighty (80) days. A determining factor for the subsidy in this category regarding duration is the number of days of work realized in businesses operating seasonally in the critical periods of the 14 or 12 months: based on it insured persons are included either obligatorily in a subsidy lasting for eighty (80) days or at their own choice stated irrevocably in a solemn declaration.

If they do not choose the 80-day subsidy (when there is the right to choose), the duration of the subsidy follows that of common unemployed persons and, in the case of old insured persons, it depends now on the number of daily subsidies collected in the previous four years before the start of the subsidy: this means that they must not have collected more than four hundred (400) daily subsidies, while if fewer than four hundred (400) daily subsidies have been collected, the duration of the subsidy may not exceed the number of daily subsidies remaining until completion of the maximum of four hundred (400).

The above are recorded in detail in the following table:

During the subsidy, Christmas and Easter allowances are paid.

The Christmas allowance is paid, if the insured person is subsidized for the period from 01.05 to 31.12. For each full month of subsidy three (3) daily subsidies are paid as Christmas allowance. For subsidy during the whole aforementioned period twenty-five (25) daily subsidies are paid. If a full month of subsidy is not completed no Christmas allowance is paid.

The Easter allowance is paid if the insured person is subsidized for the period from 01.01 to 30.04. For each full month of subsidy three (3) daily subsidies are paid as Easter allowance. For subsidy during the whole aforementioned period twelve and a half (12,5) daily subsidies are paid. If a full month of subsidy is not completed no Easter allowance is paid.

• Daily subsidies are paid “accrued”, i. e. from the day following their end
• each monthly subsidy is automatically credited into the bank account stated by the beneficiary, if he has recorded his presence  in time
• the crediting of the monthly subsidies takes place once a week and specifically on its last business day (Friday)
• the insured person by his/her application ensures the payment of the two (2) first monthly subsidies with no further action

The subsidized person is obliged to inform the responsible Public Employment Service Office if there is a reason for losing the condition of the unemployed during his/her subsidy, so that it either stops temporarily (suspended) or is permanently interrupted.

The condition of the unemployed is lost and

A. the subsidy is suspended due to:

• employment,
• illness or incapacity to work,
• enlistment,
• exercise of an independent profession or business activity,
• departure for a foreign country for a period of more than twenty (20) continuous or sporadic days during the same year or continuous during two consecutive years,
• imprisonment or administrative detention,
• practice,
• training,
• end of residence and work permit (for subsidized foreigners) or
• any other reason because of which he/she is no longer available for employment in the labor market.

B. The subsidy is interrupted because of

1.  retirement in own right
2. death
3. definitive inability to work
4. failure to record a presence for two consecutive months
5. simultaneous employment and subsidy

Informing the Service about the existence of a reason for the suspension or interruption of the cases, B.1-3 of the subsidy:

1. It must take place within eight (8) business days from the date the reason for the suspension or interruption of the subsidy occurs, and in any case before the end of the subsidy month. The amount of the monetary difference that may arise from the last payment of the insured person until the date of suspension or interruption of the cases  B.1-3 of the subsidy is not lost, but paid into the insured person’s bank account.

Informing the Service on time about the suspension/interruption of the subsidy and avoidance to collect subsidies in a period in which the subsidy should have been suspended or interrupted is extremely important, because:

• in the case of simultaneous subsidy and employment (salaried or not), the subsidy is interrupted
• the amount that was collected in a period when the subsidy should have been suspended or interrupted must be returned by the insured person to the Public Employment Service.

2. It is done in any way by the insured person him-/herself or by a representative (by email etc.). Then (or simultaneously) the relevant documents must be submitted, when they cannot be sought automatically (e. g. health booklet, Military Service certificate, airplane ticket etc.).

Continuation

The laws and decisions covering the provision of the unemployment subsidy are the following as in force:

• L. D. 2961/1954 (articles 11-38)
• L.1545/1985 (articles 3-8)
• L.1892/1990 (article 37)
• L. 4921/2022
• L. 3302/2004 (article 3)
• Decision by the BoD of the Public Employment Service 3701/55/22-11-11
• Decision by the BoD of the Public Employment Service 1850/30/15.03.2020
• Decision by the BoD of the Public Employment Service 5274/114/27.09.2022

Those who have exercised the right to withhold labor of art. 325 of the Civil Code may receive Ordinary unemployment subsidy, depending on the category they belong to, i. e. either as common unemployed persons or as seasonal employees. The conditions and the process followed are the same as those of the Ordinary subsidy with the following differences:

• no unemployment card is issued, because the work relationship has not stop existing, but has been suspended
• it is required to submit the extrajudicial statement of the exercise of the right to withhold labor, which must have been delivered to the employer (it replaces the printed contract termination)

Legal framework

L. 1836/89

Salaried employees who were employed in a business the operation of which was interrupted and they no longer have a work relationship, nor a written termination of their work contract, may receive Ordinary unemployment subsidy, if the interruption of the operation of the business is found out, following a check by the Service the business seat belongs to. The conditions and the process followed are the same with those of the Ordinary unemployment subsidy, with the difference that the form for the termination of the work relationship is not required.

Legal framework

L. 1835/89

In case of unilateral adverse alteration of the terms of work which the insured persons considered termination of their work contract, exercising the right of art. 7 of L. 2112/1920 as in force, by submitting an extrajudicial statement or/and action against their employer, their subsidy is possible in the unemployed category they are included in, with the following differences to the Ordinary process:

• the extrajudicial statement or/and action against the employer must be submitted to the Service EPC2 (which must have been served). The date of dismissal is the date regarded by the insured person as the termination date of the contract pursuant to the content of the extrajudicial statement/action
• action the application for inclusion in the Ordinary unemployment subsidy is submitted to the competent EPC2 Service within sixty (60) days from the date following the one the employer was served with the initial extrajudicial statement or the action against him.
• the insured person, when submitting the application, states whether he/she wants to be subsidized immediately at the submission of the application or retroactively after the case becomes final
• the insured person included in the subsidy by a simple extrajudicial statement is obliged to present within six (6) months from the submission of his/her application to the service either proof of payment of compensation which show that the employer recognized the fact of the termination of the work relationship, or an action against the employer. If the aforementioned documents are not submitted within said deadline the subsidy is recalled and the collected subsidies are considered debt for the insured person
• in the case in which after the exercise of an action in the final court decision the unilateral adverse change of the insured person’s terms of work is not recognized as termination of his/her contract, the granted subsidy is recalled and the subsidies collected are considered debt to the insured person
• in the case of an action, both the insured person and the employer must present the final court decision to the competent EPC2 Service within sixty (60) days from the day following its publication. Otherwise a 300,00€ fine is paid by the party who did not present the decision, regardless of it being submitted by the other party.

Legal framework

L. 1545/1985

Insured persons who were employed for a specific (critical) period as port and land dockers, may receive a special additional unemployment subsidy on special conditions settled by the M. D. 34097/29.12.98.

The Special Additional Unemployment subsidy is provided, if applicants:

• have the capacity of permanent or assistant port or land docker or tallyman or customs bearer during the period of the subsidy
• they are registered in the National Register of Dockers
• they have carried out at least one hundred (100) exclusively notional insurance days in the sector with contributions in favor of the unemployment for the Public Employment Service in the calendar year preceding the one of the subsidy (critical period).

Regarding the Special Additional subsidy it plays no role whether the salaried employee is employed during the subsidy and, consequently, the issue of an Unemployment Card is not required.

Applications are submitted in the period from 1 March up to and including 31 May of each year to the EPC2 Service of the Public Employment Service of the interested party’s place of residence.

At the submission of the application the insured person

• is informed about the conditions for the subsidy and about the purpose of the processing of personal data

• he/she states:

• whether there are dependent family members, so he/she can receive additional 10%
• bank account in which he/she is the first holder, where subsidies will be credited
• he/she submits specific documents at the same time.

At the final application submission the insured person receives a copy thereof.

At the submission of their application the insured persons may submit an application for transfer to another EPC2 service, if they change their place of residence, with proof of the new residence as documents. At the submission of the transfer application the new EPC2 Service is now responsible for the subsidy issues of the insured persons (presentation of documents, receipt of decision etc.).

At the submission of the application its processing by the Service starts and the inclusion in the special subsidy based on the following data:

Documents

1. Health booklet (Insurance Identity and Contribution Card) of the previous year

2. Certificate of registration in the National Dockers’ Register

3. IBAN of an account with the insured person as the first holder

4. Details of non-salaried employment (business activity)

5. Indirect insurance capacity of the dependent family members if they exist

The two latter documents are requested automatically by the Services and only when their automatic search is not possible are they submitted by the insured persons.

The IBAN is only submitted if it was not stated in the past or if it has changed.

If during the examination of the application the Service does not locate the required details it seeks automatically or finds out that more documents are needed, it contacts the insured persons, so they can submit them within the 20-day deadline. If the insured persons do not respond, the Service proceeds to issue a rejecting decision after 3 months have passed since the information, unless there is an objective inability to submit the documents for which the insured persons are not responsible.

After processing the application, a decision is issued by the Service, either approving or rejecting, which the insured person receives from the Service in the competence of which he/she is subjected (where he/she initially submitted it or transferred it), while the decision also appears in the e-services of the Public Employment Service.

The subsidy is paid once.

Its amount is produced with the following formula:

Amount of subsidy =(300-days of insurance of the previous year) Χ daily unemployment subsidy

with maximum payment 80 daily subsidies

• the basic daily unemployment subsidy is 19,16€
• the above-mentioned amounts are increased by 10% for eachdependent family memberof the beneficiary
• no monetary support is paid (allowances) for Christmas and Easter

The insured persons who have worked during a specific (critical) period as slaughterhouse workers (scrape- shredders, edge-shredders, , skilled workers for intestines etc. throughout the country), may receive either a special subsidy or Ordinary unemployment subsidy due to removal – interruption of operations under special terms specified by MD 33339/23.03.99

The Special Unemployment Subsidy is provided, if applicants:

• have the capacity of “slaughter worker” for skinning animals and birds and other preparatory work of the meat for consumption of animals slaughtered in slaughter-houses in the whole country during the time of subsidy,
• have realized from one hundred (100) to two hundred forty (240) real insurance days as slaughterhouse workers with contributions in favor of the unemployment sector of the Public Employment Service during the calendar year preceding the subsidy (critical period).

For the special subsidy it is not taken into account whether the salaried employee is working at the time of the provision and, consequently, the issue of an Unemployment Card is not necessary.

Applications are submitted from 1 March until 31 May incl. of each year at the EPC2 Service of the Public Employment Service of the place of residence of interested parties.

During the submission of the application the insured person: is informed about the conditions for the subsidy and about the purpose of processing of his/her personal data, he/she states:

• ενημερώνεται για τις προϋποθέσεις της επιδότησης  και για τον σκοπό της επεξεργασίας των προσωπικών δεδομένων του

• δηλώνει:

• whether there are dependent family members, so he can be granted a 10% increase
• bank account where he/she is the first holder, where the subsidies will be credited
• he/she submits specific documents simultaneously

At the final submission of the application the insured person receives a copy of it.

During the submission of the application the insured person: is informed about the conditions for the subsidy and about the purpose of processing of his/her personal data, he/she states: whether there are dependent family members, so he can be granted a 10% increase bank account where he/she is the first holder, where the subsidies will be credited, he/she submits specific documents simultaneously. At the final submission of the application the insured person receives a copy of it.

After filing the application its processing starts by the Service and also inclusion in the special subsidy based on the following details:

Documents

1. Health booklet (Insurance Identity & Contributions Card) of the previous year

2. Relevant certificate by the corresponding union mediating for the insurance from which the identity of slaughterhouse worker is deduced

3. IBAN of the account where the insured person is first holder

4. Details of non-salaried employment (business activity)

5. Indirect insurance capacity of the dependent family members as the case may be

The two latter documents are automatically sought by the Services and only when their automatic search is not possible, they are submitted by the insured persons with the other documents.

The Deposit account number (IBAN) is only submitted when it was not stated in the past or if it has changed.

If during the examination of the application the Service does not find the required details it seeks automatically or finds out that more documents are needed, it contacts the insured persons, for them to submit them within a 20-day deadline. If the insured persons do not respond, the Service proceeds to issue a rejection decision after a 3-month period passes from the notification, unless there is an objective inability to submit the documents for which the insured persons are not responsible.

After processing of the application a decision is issued by the Service, approving or rejecting, which the insured person receives from the Service he/she belongs to (where he/she initially submitted or transferred it), and the decision is also posted on the electronic Services of the Public Employment Service.

The subsidy is paid as a lump sum as follows:

• the basic daily unemployment allowance amounts to 19,16€
• the above amounts are increased by 10% for each dependent family member of the beneficiary
• within the framework of the Special Subsidy for Slaughterhouse Workers no financial support (allowance) is provided for Christmas and Easter

Subsidy Provision

The Ordinary Subsidy due to Unemployment for Slaughterhouse workers is provided if:

• the applicants were removed from the corresponding Union by a decision made by the BoD of the Union due to decrease in its operations

           or

• the slaughterhouse has interrupted (definitively or temporarily) its function

and they have the condition of the unemployed at the date the application for subsidy is submitted (they are not employed by another employer, they are not self-employed, they are able and available in the labor market)

• the applicant have realized at least one hundred (100) real days of insurance in the sector during the calendar year preceding the subsidy (critical period)

Continuation of the Subsidy

If during the subsidy the beneficiaries lose the condition of the unemployed (e. g. due to employment, illness, enlistment etc.), the subsidy stops temporarily (suspended), while it is possible for it to continue under conditions.

The continuation of the subsidy is provided to applicants insured persons, if:

• the previous subsidy was suspended
• the reason for the suspension no longer exists
• the application is submitted within two years from the date of the approval of inclusion in the initial subsidy
• no right for new subsidy is substantiated or the continuation subsidies the insured person more

The continuation of the subsidy is not provided:

• in case the subsidy is interrupted 
• in case of voluntary departure from work, if the reason for the suspension was the assumption of work

The application for Ordinary unemployment subsidy is submitted after an Unemployment Card is issued, either at the EPC2 Service of the interested party’s place of residence or at the EPC2 of his/her last employment. The choice of the EPC2 Service is important, because this Service will be responsible for all matters related with the insured person’s subsidy and he/she must go to it when asked to do so.

At the submission of the application the unemployed:

• is informed about:

• the conditions for the subsidy and the purpose of processing his/her personal data
• his/her obligations during his/her subsidy, by submitting a Solemn Statement of L.1599/86 that he/she was so informed

• he/she states

• whether there are dependent members in his/her family, so that he/she is provided a 10% increase
• in the bank account where he/she is the first holder, where his/her subsidies will be credited
• he/she submits documents at the same time

At the definitive application submission the unemployed receives a copy thereof recording specific periods in which he/she is obliged to record his/her presence at the Public Employment Service until examination of his/her application. These periods are also recorded in e-services of the Public Employment Service.

A record of presence is the in-person submission of a solemn statement by the unemployed about fulfilling the conditions of the subsidy, as stated during the submission of the application. The record of presence:

1. Is submitted in the third month of each trimester (month of presence):

• until the decision is issued for the application the third month is calculated from the date the application was submitted
• after an approval decision is issued the third month is calculated from the starting date of the subsidy
• as of the issue of an approval decision the months of presence cease to apply as calculated at the application
• the months of presence are recorded in the application, the approval decision and e-services of the Public Employment Service The months of presence recorded in e-services of the Public Employment Service incorporate all changes that may arise at the issue of an approval decision

2. It is done by all insured persons regardless of whether their subsidy has been approved or remains pending.

3. It is connected to the smooth payment of subsidies of the unemployed:

• • if presence is recorded the right to collect the allowance corresponding to the month of presence and the two next allowances is secured
  • if no presence is recorded, the subsidy corresponding to the month of presence is withheld and for the payment of the next two monthly subsidies the next record of presence is waited for
  • if no presence is recorded for two consecutive months of presence, the subsidy is interrupted.

Moreover:

• it ensures automatic renewal of the unemployment card
• it is no longer an obligation when a rejection decision is issued on the application
• As a process it is extremely simple. The insured persons come to the Services of the Public Employment Service, state the fulfillment of the conditions for subsidy and sign the relevant Solemn Statement (S.S.). The first in-person record of presence is done at the Service in the responsibility of which the insured person belongs (i. e. where the application was submitted or transferred) while the following ones at any EPC2 Service.

However, as long as the extraordinary measures for the covid pandemic last, the record of presence takes place using the electronic services of the Public Employment Service with the confirmation that the text of the S.S. was read. If the month of presence passes, it is not possible to record it electronically.

The subsidy starts:

a) from the 7th day when the application for inclusion in the Ordinary unemployment subsidy is submitted by the beneficiary during the first 7 days after the removal/interruption of operations of the slaughterhouse and in any case within the 60-day deadline, or

b) from the date the application was submitted, when it is submitted by the beneficiary after 7 days have passed since the removal/interruption of operations of the slaughterhouse and in any case within the 60-day deadline

c) from the date the application was submitted in the case of continuation of a previous subsidy which was suspended

The duration of the subsidy depends on:

the number of days of work realized during the critical period of the previous year

on the number of daily subsidies the insured person has collected during the previous four years from the start of the subsidy for which he/she submits the application, which must not exceed four hundred (400).

Based on the above the duration of the subsidy varies from two (2) to four (4) months, when there is no subsidy within the four years. If during the four years the slaughterhouse workers have been subsidized but have received fewer than four hundred (400) daily subsidies, they are entitled to subsidy for the remaining number of daily subsidies until completion of the maximum limit of four hundred (400) daily subsidies.

The subsidy is paid as follows:

• the basic daily unemployment allowance is 19,16€
• for each full month of subsidy twenty five (25) daily subsidies are paid
• The above-mentioned amounts are increased by 10% for each dependent family member of the beneficiary

During the subsidy Christmas and Easter allowances are paid.

The Christmas allowance is paid, if the insured person is subsidized for the period from 01.05 to 31.12. For every one full month of subsidy three (3) daily Christmas allowance subsidies are paid. If a full month of subsidy is not completed, no Christmas allowance is paid.

The Easter allowance is paid if the insured person is subsidized in the period from 01.01 to 30.04. For every one full month of subsidy three (3) daily Easter Allowance subsidies are paid. For subsidy of the whole aforementioned period, twelve and a half (12,5) daily subsidies are paid. If a full month of subsidy is not completed, no Easter allowance is paid.

• monthly subsidies are paid “accrued”, i.e. from the day following their end
• every monthly subsidy is credited automatically into the bank account the beneficiary has stated, if he/she has realized recording of presence within the deadline
• the crediting of monthly subsidies takes place once a week and specifically on its last business day (Friday)
• the insured person by his/her application ensures the payment of the two (2) first monthly subsidies with no further action

The subsidized person is obliged to inform the relevant Public Employment Service Office about the occurrence of any reason for losing the condition of the unemployed during his/her subsidy, so that it stops temporarily (suspended) or is permanently interrupted.

Α. the subsidy is suspended due to:

• employment, ,
• illness or inability to work
• enlistment
• exercise of a free employment or business activity
• departure for a foreign country for a period of more than twenty (20) consecutive or periodical days during the same year or continuous during two consecutive years of imprisonment or administrative detention
• practice
• training (under conditions)
• end of the residence and work permit (for subsidized foreigners) or 
• any other reason because of which he/she is no longer available for employment in the labor market

Β. The subsidy isinterrupted due to:

1. retirement in own right
2. death
3. permanent incapacity to work
4. failure to realize a record of presence for two consecutive months of presence
5. simultaneous employment and subsidy

The Service must be informed about the reason for suspension or interruption of the cases B. 1-3 of the subsidy must be done.

1. Within eight (8) business days from the day the reason for suspension or interruption of the subsidy occurs and in any case before the end of the subsidy month. The amount of the monetary difference that may arise from the last payment of the insured person until the date of suspension or interruption of cases B.1-3 of the subsidy is not lost, but paid into the insured person’s bank account.

The timely information of the Service about the suspension/interruption of the subsidy and non-collection of subsidies in a period when the subsidy should have been suspended or interrupted is extremely important, because:

• in the case of parallel subsidy and employment (salaried or not), the subsidy is interrupted.
• The amount collected in a period when it should have been suspended or interrupted must be repaid by the insured person to the Public Employment Service

2. In any way by the insured person himself or by a representative (by email etc.). After that (or simultaneously) the relevant documents must be submitted, when they cannot be acquired automatically (e. g. health booklet, Military Service certificate, airplane ticket etc.).

Continuation 

Within the same calendar year it is not possible to pay to the same person both the one-off special subsidy and the Ordinary subsidy due to removal or interruption of the slaughterhouse. If the beneficiary of the sector collects as a lump sum the special subsidy and then he/she presents within the same year a decision by the BoD of the relevant union about his/her removal due to reduction of work, based on which he/she may receive Ordinary unemployment subsidy, it will be granted on condition that it is off-set against the one-off subsidy he/she has collected.

If during the critical period of the year preceding the subsidy the insured person has realized work days both as a slaughterhouse worker and in another employment, when the work days of the other employment are more than those in the slaughterhouse category, he/she is subsidized in the common unemployed category (by adding also the days of work corresponding to the slaughterhouse worker’s employment), if the provisions regarding ordinary unemployment subsidy  are fulfilled, with the only difference that in this case the subsidy may not exceed five (5) months.

Insured persons who have worked for a specific (critical) period as exclusive Nurses may receive Ordinary unemployment subsidy under particular conditions specified in the M. D. 33816/24.08.99.

The Ordinary Unemployment Subsidy for the special category of Exclusive Nurses is granted if the applicants:

• have the status of exclusive nurse during the time of the subsidy
• they had a dependent work relationship which ended with no need to submit a document of termination of the work relationship, as the employer is the patient at each time, from whom it is not possible to get a dismissal
• they have realized at least one hundred (100) real insurance days as exclusive nurses with contributions in favor of the unemployment sector of the Public Employment Service during the calendar year preceding the subsidy (critical period)
• they have the status of unemployed on the submission date of the application for subsidy (they do not work for another employer, are not self-employed, they are able and available at the labor market), with no obligation to submit a document terminating/ending the work relationship.

 Applications are submitted after an Unemployment Card has been issued, in the period from 1st May to 30 September of each year at the EPC2 Service of the Public Employment Service of the beneficiaries’ place of residence.  The start date of the subsidy depends on the date the application is submitted.

At the submission of the application the insured person:

• is informed about:

• the conditions for the subsidy and about the purpose of the processing of personal data
• their obligations during the subsidy, submitting a Solemn Statement of L.1599/86 that he/she was informed about them

• he/she states:

• whether there are dependent family members, so he/she can receive additional 10%
• bank account in which he/she is the first holder, where subsidies will be credited
• he/she submits specific documents at the same time.

At the final application submission the insured person receives a copy of it including a specific period during which he/she is obliged to record presence in person at the Public Employment Service. This period is also recorded in e-services of the Public Employment Service.

After submitting their application, insured persons may submit an application for transfer to another EPC2 Service, if they change place of residence, with the required documents proving the new residence. By submitting the transfer application the new EPC2 Service is now responsible for the issues of insured persons subsidy (submitting documents, reception of the decision etc.).

At the submission of the application its processing by the Service starts and the inclusion in the special subsidy based on the following data:

Documents

1. Data of the salaried work (insurance days) and non-salaried employment (business activity)

2. Indirect insurance capacity of the dependent family members , if they exist

3. Deposit Account IBAN where the insured person is the first holder.

4. Work-health booklet, renewed.

5. Block of the insured person’s collection receipts given to the employed persons of the sector by the competent e-EFKA service.

The two first documents are requested automatically by the Services and only when their automatic search is not possible are they submitted by the insured persons.

The IBAN is only submitted if it was not stated in the past or if it has changed.

If during the examination of the application the Service does not identify the required details it requests automatically or finds out that more documents are needed, it contacts the insured persons for them to submit them within a deadline of twenty (20) days. If the insured persons do not respond, the Service issues a rejection decision after 3 months have passed from the information date, unless there is an objective inability to submit the documents for which the insured persons are not responsible.

After processing the application a decision is issued by the Service either approving or rejecting, which the insured person receives from the Service in the capacity of which he/she belongs (where he/she initially submitted it or transferred it), while the decision also appears in e-services of the Public Employment Service.

The approving decision records:

• the specific time period during which the unemployed person is obliged to report his/her presence at the Public Employment Service
• the duration of the subsidy
• the amount of subsidy

Report of presence is the submission in person of a solemn declaration by the unemployed person about fulfilling the conditions for subsidy, as had been stated and during the submission of his/her application. The report of presence:

• it is submitted in the third month from the date the application was submitted (presence month)
• the month of presence is recorded in the application, the approving decision and in the electronic services of the Greek Public Employment Service (DYPA),
• it is done by all insured persons, whether their subsidy has been approved or remains pending
• it is connected with the smooth payment of the unemployed person’s subsidies
  • if the presence is recorded, the right to collect the subsidy corresponding to the month of presence and the immediately next subsidy, if it exists, is ensured
  • if the presence is not recorded, there is withdrawal of the subsidy corresponding to the month of presence

• it ensures the automatic renewal of the unemployment card
• it ceases forming an obligation, when a rejection decision is issued on the application
• the process is very simple. The insured persons come to the Public Employment Service offices, state the fulfillment of the conditions of the subsidy and sign the relevant Solemn Statement.

However, as long as the extraordinary covid measures last the recording of presence is done using the e-services of the Public Employment Service with the confirmation that the text of the SS was read. If the month of presence passes, the electronic statement is not possible.

If the application is submitted in the period from 01.05 to 30.06, the subsidy has starting date on 01.06.

If the application is submitted from 01.07 to 30.09, the subsidy has as starting date the date the application is submitted.

The duration of the subsidy varies from two (2) to four (4) months, depending on the number of days of work in the calendar year preceding that of the subsidy.

The end date of the subsidy may not be later than 30 September.

 The duration of the subsidy of the exclusive nurse depends on:

- the number of days of work carried out in the critical period

-on the number of daily subsidies he/she has collected in the previous four years from the start of the subsidy for which he/she is applying, which may not exceed four hundred (400).

Based on the above, the duration of the subsidy varies from two (2) to four (4) months when there is no subsidy within the four-year period. If during the four-year period exclusive nurses have been subsidized, but have collected fewer than four hundred (400) daily subsidies, they are entitled to subsidy for the remaining number of daily subsidies until completion of the maximum limit of four hundred (400) daily subsidies.

The subsidy is paid from June to September (01/06 to 30/09) of each year as follows: 

• the basic daily unemployment subsidy, it amounts to 19,16€
• the aforementioned amounts are increased by 10%,for each dependent family member of the beneficiary
• for every full month of subsidy twenty five (25) daily subsidies are paid. If during the month up to ten (10) days of work have taken place (see suspension), from the paid daily subsidies an equal number of subsidies is deducted with the days of work
• the subsidized persons in the Special Category of Exclusive Nurses are not entitled to financial support (Christmas and Easter allowances)

• monthly subsidies are paid “accrued”, i.e. from the day following their end
• each monthly subsidy is automatically credited into the bank account the beneficiary has stated, if he/she has recorded the presence within the deadline
• credit of monthly subsidies is done once a week and specifically on its last business day (Friday)
• the insured person with his/her application ensures payment of the two (2) first monthly subsidies with no further action

The subsidized person is obliged to inform the relevant Public Employment Service Office about the occurrence of any reason for losing the condition of the unemployed during his/her subsidy, so that it stops temporarily (suspended) or is permanently interrupted.

Α. the subsidy is suspended due to:

• employment for a period exceeding ten (10) days in total in the same month
• illness or inability to work
• enlistment
• exercise of a free employment or business activity
• departure for a foreign country for a period of more than twenty (20) consecutive or periodical days during the same year or continuous during two consecutive years
• imprisonment or administrative detention
• training practice
• training practice (under conditions)
• end of the residence and work permit (for subsidized foreigners) or
• any other reason because of which he/she is no longer available for employment in the labor market.

Β. The subsidy is interrupted due to:

1. retirement in own right
2. death
3. permanent incapacity to work 
4. simultaneous work (for over 10 days within the same month) and subsidy.

The Service must be informed about the reason for suspension or interruption of the cases B. 1-3 of the subsidy:

1.Within eight (8) business days from the day the reason for suspension or interruption of the subsidy occurs and in any case before the end of the subsidy month. The amount of the monetary difference that may arise from the last payment of the insured person until the date of suspension or interruption of cases B.1-3 of the subsidy is not lost, but paid into the insured person’s bank account.

The timely information of the Service about the suspension/interruption of the subsidy and non-collection of subsidies in a period when the subsidy should have been suspended or interrupted is extremely important, because:

• in the case of parallel subsidy and employment (salaried or not), the subsidy is interrupted
• the amount collected in a period when the subsidy should have been suspended or interrupted must be repaid by the insured person to the Public Employment Service 

2.It is sone any way by the insured person himself or by a representative (by email etc.). After that (or simultaneously) the relevant documents must be submitted, when they cannot be acquired automatically (e. g. health booklet, Military Service certificate, airplane ticket etc.).

If the subsidy of the exclusive nurse has been suspended for any reason, it is possible for it to continue if the reason for the suspension ceases to exist, if the relevant application is submitted until the 30.09 of the year of subsidy, with an ending date which may not exceed the 30.09 of the subsidy year. In case of interruption the subsidy does not continue.

If during the critical period of the year preceding the year of the subsidy the insured person has realized days of work both as an exclusive nurse and in another employment, when the days of work of the other employment are more than those in the category of exclusive nurse, he/she is subsidized in the common unemployed category (by counting also the days of work corresponding to the employment of the exclusive nurse), if the provisions regarding ordinary unemployment subsidy with the sole difference that in this case the subsidy may not exceed five (5) months.

Insured persons who have been employed in a specific (critical) period as forest workers – resin collectors either for relevant Cooperatives or for the State or as free forest workers, paid at a flat rate and insured in a notional way at e-EFKA, may receive a Ordinary unemployment subsidy on specific conditions set by the M. D. 31924/19.06.91.

The Ordinary Unemployment Subsidy of the special category of Forest Workers – Resin Collectors, is subsidized if applicants:

• have the status of forest worker – resin collector in the calendar year preceding that of the start of the subsidy or have realized in the period before the 1st November
• have at least one hundred (100) notional insurance days as forest workers or resin collectors with contributions in favor of the unemployment sector of the Public Employment Service during the calendar year preceding that of the subsidy (critical period)
• have the status of the unemployed on the date the application for subsidy is submitted (not working for another employer, not self-employed, able and available in the labor market), with no obligation to present a form of end/termination of the previous work relationship.

Applications are submitted, as an Unemployment Card has been issued, in the period between 1st October to 28 (29) February of each year at the EPC2 Service of the Public Employment Service of the beneficiary’s place of residence. The starting date of the subsidy, depends on the date the application is submitted.

At the submission of the application the unemployed person:

• is informed:

• about the conditions for the subsidy and the purpose of he processing of his/her personal data
• about his/her obligations during the subsidy, submitting at the same time a Solemn Declaration of L.1599/86 that he/she was informed about them

• he/she states:

•  whether he/she has dependent family members, so he/she can be granted an increase by 10%
•  a bank account where he/she is the first holder, where the subsidies will be credited
•  he/she also submits specific documents

At the definitive submission of the application the unemployed person receives a copy thereof where a specific period is recorded within which he/she is obliged to record his/her presence in person at the Public Employment Service. This period is also recorded in e-services of the Public Employment Service.

After submitting their application insured persons may submit an application for transfer to another EPC2 Service, if they change place of residence, with the documents proving their new residence as required documents. At the submission of the application for transfer the new EPC2 Service is responsible for the issued of the insured persons’ subsidy (presentation of documents, receipt of decision etc.).

After submission of the application its processing by the Service starts and the inclusion in the subsidy based on the following data: 

Documents

1. Certificate by the relevant cooperative to prove the condition of the member of a forest cooperative or resin collectors’ cooperative.

2. Insurance booklet (Insurance Identification and Contribution Card) of the previous year

3. Deposit Account Number (IBAN) where the insured person is the first holder

4. Indirect insurance capacity of the dependent family members if they exist

5. Data of non-salaried employment (business activity).

The two latter documents are automatically sought by the Services and only if it is impossible to seek them automatically are they submitted by the insured persons.

The Deposit Account Number (IBAN) is only submitted if it was not stated in the past or if it has changed.

If during the examination of the application the Service does not identify the required details it requests automatically or finds out that more documents are needed, it contacts the insured persons for them to submit them within a deadline of twenty (20) days. If the insured persons do not respond, the Service issued a rejection decision after 3 months have passed from the information date, unless there is an objective inability to submit the documents for which the insured persons are not responsible.

After processing the application a decision is issued by the Service either approving or rejecting, which the insured person receives from the Service in the capacity of which he/she belongs (where he/she initially submitted it or transferred it), while the decision also appears in e-services of the Public Employment Service.

The approving decision records:

• the specific time period during which the unemployed person is obliged to report his/her presence at the Public Employment Service
• the duration of the subsidy
• the amount of subsidy

If the application is submitted in the period between 01.10 and 30.11, the subsidy has the starting date the 01.11.

If the application is submitted between 01.12 and 28 (29).02, the subsidy has as the starting date the date the application is submitted.

The duration of the subsidy varies between two (2) and four (4) months, depending on the days of work of the calendar year preceding the subsidy.

The ending date of the subsidy may not be later than 28 (29) February.

A record of presence is the in-person submission of a solemn declaration by the unemployed person about fulfillment of the subsidy conditions, as had been stated at the submission of his/her application. The record of presence:

• is submitted at the third month from the date the application is submitted (month of presence)
• the month of presence is recorded in the application, in the approving decision and in e-services of the Public Employment Service

• it is done by all insured persons whether their subsidy has been approved or remains pending
• connected to the smooth payment of the unemployed person’s subsidies:
  • if the presence is recorded the right to collect the subsidy corresponding to the month of presence is ensured and also for the next monthly subsidy,
  • if it exists if the presence is not recorded, the subsidy corresponding to the month of presence is withdrawn

• it ensures the automatic renewal of the unemployment card
• it stops being an obligation when a rejection decision is issued on the application
• as a process is extremely simple. The insured persons go to the Public Employment Service Offices, state the fulfillment of the conditions for the subsidy and sign the relevant Solemn Statement.

However, as long as the covid measures last, the presence is recorded through the electronic services of the Public Employment Service with verification that the text of the Solemn Statement has been read. If the month of presence passes, it is not possible to record it electronically.

The duration of the subsidy for forest workers / resin collectors depends on:

- the number of days of work realized in the critical period

- the number of daily subsidies they have collected in the previous four years from the start of the subsidy for which they apply, which may not be over four hundred (400).

Based on the above, the duration of the subsidy varies between two (2) and four (4) months, when there is no subsidy within the four-year period. If within the four-year period the forest workers / resin collectors have been subsidized, but have collected fewer than four hundred (400) daily subsidies, they are entitled to subsidy for the remaining number of daily subsidies until completion of the maximum limit of four hundred (400) daily subsidies.

The subsidy is paid from November until February [01.11 to 28 (29).02] of each year as follows:

•  the basic daily unemployment subsidy amounts to 19,16€
•  the above amounts are increased by 10% for each dependent family member of the beneficiary
•  for each full month of subsidy twenty five (25) daily subsidies are paid
•  subsidized persons in the Special Category of Forest Workers / Resin Collectors are not entitled to financial support (Christmas and Easter allowances)

•  monthly subsidies are paid “accrued”, i.e. from the day following their end.
•  every monthly subsidy is credited automatically into the bank account the beneficiary has stated, if he/she has realized recording of presence within the deadline
•  the crediting of monthly subsidies takes place once a week and specifically on its last business day (Friday)
•  the insured person by his/her application ensures the payment of the two (2) first monthly subsidies with no further action

The subsidized person is obliged to inform the relevant Public Employment Service Office about the occurrence of any reason for losing the condition of the unemployed during his/her subsidy, so that it stops temporarily (suspended) or is permanently interrupted.

A. The subsidy is suspended due to:

• employment
• illness or inability to work,
• enlistment,
• exercise of a free employment or business activity
• departure for a foreign country for a period of more than twenty (20) consecutive or periodical days during the same year or continuous during two consecutive years
• imprisonment or administrative detention
• training practice
• training (under conditions)
• end of the residence and work permit (for subsidized foreigners) or
• any other reason because of which he/she is no longer available for employment in the labor market.

B. The subsidy is interrupted due to:

1. retirement in own right
2. death
3. permanent incapacity to work
4. simultaneous employment and subsidy

The Service must be informed about the reason for suspension or interruption of the cases B. 1-3 of the subsidy

1. Within eight (8) business days from the day the reason for suspension or interruption of the subsidy occurs and in any case before the end of the subsidy month. The amount of the monetary difference that may arise from the last payment of the insured person until the date of suspension or interruption of cases B.1-3 of the subsidy is not lost, but paid into the insured person’s bank account.

The timely information of the Service about the suspension/interruption of the subsidy and non-collection of subsidies in a period when the subsidy should have been suspended or interrupted is extremely important, because:

• In the case of parallel subsidy and employment (salaried or not), the subsidy is interrupted.
• The amount collected in a period when it should have been suspended or interrupted must be repaid by the insured person to the Public Employment Service

2. It is done any way by the insured person himself or by a representative (by email etc.). After that (or simultaneously) the relevant documents must be submitted, when they cannot be acquired automatically (e. g. health booklet, Military Service certificate, airplane ticket etc.).

If the subsidy of the forest worker / resin collector has been suspended for any reason, it is possible for it to continue if the reason for the suspension ceases to exist, if the relevant application is submitted until the 28(29).02 of the year of subsidy, with an ending date which may not exceed the 28(29).02 of the subsidy year. In case of interruption the subsidy does not continue.

If during the critical period of the year preceding the subsidy the insured person has realized work days both as a forest worker /resin collector and in another employment, when the work days of the other employment are more than those in the forest worker /resin collector profession, he/she is subsidized in the common unemployed category (by adding also the days of work corresponding to the forest worker /resin collector employment), if they are at least one hundred (100) in the calendar year preceding the subsidy and the interested person continues to have the status of forest worker /resin collector, if the provisions regarding Ordinary unemployment subsidy are fulfilled, with the only difference that in this case the subsidy may not exceed five (5) months.

Since the starting date for the submission of applications for Ordinary unemployment subsidy for forest workers-resin collectors falls within the period of payment of the special seasonal allowance, the latter must not be paid, when the application for Ordinary unemployment subsidy has preceded that for the payment of the special seasonal allowance. In the opposite case, i. e. when the application for the provision of the special seasonal allowance has been submitted first, then it will be offset against the Ordinary subsidy and in fact with the first two (2) months of subsidy.

Insured persons who have worked in a specific (critical) period as tour guides, may receive Ordinary unemployment subsidy on special terms determined by the M. D. 34061/12.11.99.

The Ordinary Unemployment Subsidy of the special category of Tour Guides is provided if applicants:

• have the status of the tour guide at the time of the subsidy (i. e. they have an ID card for professional tour guides)
• they have realized at least one hundred (100) notional insurance days in the sector during the calendar year preceding that of the subsidy (critical period)
• their annual income (not family income) from salaried services during the fiscal year preceding the subsidy does not exceed a specific amount, which is increased every year by 293,47€. For the tax year 2022 the income limit amounts to 18.782,10€
• they have the status of the unemployed on the date of submission of the subsidy application (they do not work for another employer, are not self-employed, are able and available in the labor market), with no need to present a form of end/termination of the work relationship, because Hellenic Tourism Organization has before e-EFKA the obligations of an employer to them and insures them in a notional way

Applications are submitted, after an Unemployment Card has been issued, in the period between 1st November to 28 (29) February of each year at the EPC2 Service of the Public Employment Service of the beneficiary’s place of residence.  The starting date of the subsidy depends on the date the application is submitted.

At the submission of the application the unemployed person:

• is informed:

• about the conditions for the subsidy and the purpose of the processing of his/her personal data
• about his/her obligations during the subsidy, submitting at the same time a Solemn Declaration of L.1599/86 that he/she was informed about them

• he/she states:

• a bank account where he/she is the first holder, where the subsidies will be credited
• he/she also submits specific documents

At the definitive submission of the application the unemployed person receives a copy thereof where a specific period is recorded within which he/she is obliged to record his/her presence in person at the Public Employment Service. This period is also recorded in e-services of the Public Employment Service.

After submitting their application insured persons may submit an application for transfer to another EPC2 Service, if they change place of residence, with the documents proving their new residence as required documents. At the submission of the application for transfer the new EPC2 Service is responsible for the issues of the insured persons’ subsidy (presentation of documents, receipt of decision etc.).

After submission of the application its processing by the Service starts and the inclusion in the subsidy based on the following data: Documents

1. ID card for professional tour guides.

2. Insurance booklet (Insurance Identification and Contribution Card) of the previous year.

3. Deposit Account Number (IBAN) where the insured person is the first holder.

4. Tax return form by a competent Tax Office for the year preceding the application

5. Data of non-salaried employment income (business activity).

The Deposit Account Number (IBAN) is only submitted if it was not stated in the past or if it has changed.

If during the examination of the application the Service does not identify the required details it requests automatically or finds out that more documents are needed, it contacts the insured persons for them to submit them within a deadline of twenty (20) days. If the insured persons do not respond, the Service issues a rejection decision after 3 months have passed from the information date, unless there is an objective inability to submit the documents for which the insured persons are not responsible.

After processing the application a decision is issued by the Service either approving or rejecting, which the insured person receives from the Service in the capacity of which he/she belongs (where he/she initially submitted it or transferred it), while the decision also appears in e-services of the Public Employment Service.

The approving decision records:

• the specific time period during which the unemployed person is obliged to report his/her presence at the Public Employment Service
• the duration of the subsidy
• the amount of subsidy

A record of presence is the in-person submission of a solemn declaration by the unemployed person about fulfillment of the subsidy conditions, as had been stated at the submission of his/her application. The record of presence:

• is submitted at the third month from the date the application is submitted (month of presence)
• the month of presence is recorded in the application, in the approving decision and in e-services of the Public Employment Service
• it is done by all insured citizens whether their subsidy has been approved or remains pending
• it is connected to the smooth payment of the unemployed person’s subsidies, as if no presence is recorded, the subsidy corresponding to the month of presence is withdrawn
• it ensures the automatic renewal of the unemployment card
• it stops being an obligation when a rejection decision is issued on the application
• as a process is extremely simple. The insured persons go to the Public Employment Service Offices, state the fulfillment of the conditions for the subsidy and sign the relevant Solemn Statement.

However, as long as the covid measures last, the presence is recorded through the electronic services of the Public Employment Service with verification that the text of the Solemn Statement has been read. If the month of presence passes, it is not possible to record it online.

If the application is submitted in the period between 01.11 and 30.12, the subsidy has the starting date 01.12.

If the application is submitted between 01.01 and 28 (29).02, the subsidy has as the starting date the date the application is submitted.

The duration of the subsidy varies between two (2) and three (3) months, depending on the days of work of the calendar year preceding the subsidy.

The ending date of the subsidy may not be later than 28 (29) February.

The duration of the subsidy for tour guides depends:

• the number of days of work realized in the critical period

• the number of daily subsidies they have collected in the previous four years from the start of the subsidy for which they apply, which may not be over four hundred (400).

Based on the above, the duration of the subsidy varies between two (2) and three (3) months, when there is no subsidy within the four-year period. If within the four-year period the tour guides have been subsidized, but have collected fewer than four hundred (400) daily subsidies, they are entitled to subsidy for the remaining number of daily subsidies until completion of the maximum limit of four hundred (400) daily subsidies.

The subsidy is paid from December until February [01.12 to 28 (29).02] of each year as follows:

• the basic daily unemployment subsidy amounts to 19,16€

• for each full month of subsidy twenty five (25) daily subsidies are paid

• no increases for dependent family members are paid

• the subsidized persons in the Special Category of Tour Guides are not entitled to financial support (Christmas and Easter allowances)

• monthly subsidies are paid “accrued”, i.e. from the day following their end
• every monthly subsidy is credited automatically into the bank account the beneficiary has stated, if he/she has realized recording of presence within the deadline
• the crediting of monthly subsidies takes place once a week and specifically on its last business day (Friday)
• the insured person by his/her application ensures the payment of the two (2) first monthly subsidies with no further action

The subsidized person is obliged to inform the relevant Public Employment Service Office about the occurrence of any reason for losing the condition of the unemployed during his/her subsidy, so that it stops temporarily (suspended) or is permanently interrupted.

A. the subsidy is suspended due to:

•  employment
• illness or inability to work
• enlistment
• exercise of a free employment or business activity
• departure for a foreign country for a period of more than twenty (20) consecutive or periodical days during the same year or continuous during two consecutive years
• imprisonment or administrative detention
• training practice
• training (under conditions)
• end of the residence and work permit (for subsidized foreigners) or
• any other reason because of which he/she is no longer available for employment in the labor market

B. The subsidy is interrupted due to:

1. retirement in own right
2. death
3. permanent incapacity to work
4. simultaneous employment and subsidy

The Service must be informed about the reason for suspension or interruption of the cases B. 1-3 of the subsidy:

1. Within eight (8) business days from the day the reason for suspension or interruption of the subsidy occurs and in any case before the end of the subsidy month. The amount of the monetary difference that may arise from the last payment of the insured person until the date of suspension or interruption of cases B.1-3 of the subsidy is not lost, but paid into the insured person’s bank account.

The timely information of the Service about the suspension/interruption of the subsidy and non-collection of subsidies in a period when the subsidy should have been suspended or interrupted is extremely important, because:

• In the case of parallel subsidy and employment (salaried or not), the subsidy is interrupted.
• The amount collected in a period when the subsidy should have been suspended or interrupted must be repaid by the insured person to the Public Employment Service.

2. It is done in any way by the insured person himself or by a representative (by email etc.). After that (or simultaneously) the relevant documents must be submitted, when they cannot be acquired automatically (e. g. health booklet, Military Service certificate, airplane ticket etc.).

If the subsidy of the tour guide has been suspended for any reason, it is possible for it to continue if the reason for the suspension ceases to exist, if the relevant application is submitted until the 28(29).02of the year of subsidy, with an ending date which may not exceed the 28 (29).02 of the subsidy year. In case of interruption the subsidy does not continue.

If during the critical period of the year preceding the subsidy the insured person has realized work days both as a tour guide and in another employment, when the work days of the other employment are more than those in the tour guide profession, he/she is subsidized in the common unemployed category (by adding also the notional days of work corresponding to the tour guide employment), if the provisions regarding ordinary unemployment subsidy are fulfilled, with the only difference that in this case the subsidy may not exceed five (5) months.