Τhe Greek government on Thursday unveiled a 352-million-euro support package to help 2.3 million citizens to cope with higher cost of living.
The package, announced early Thursday morning by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, was presented in detail later in the day by National Economy and Finance Minister Kostis Hatzidakis. The package, named “social solidarity subsidy”, was confirmed after the release of state budget execution data for the January-October period which showed a large primary surplus.
The financial support will be paid at Christmas and concerns 800,000 families with children, 1.055 million pensioners, 210,000 citizens receiving the minimum guaranteed income support, and 225,000 citizens receiving a special needs subsidy.
The government also plans to pay a extra subsidy of up to 200 euros to pensioners, double the amount for market pass, a heating subsidy, the youth pass and an 8% increase in the minimum guaranteed income, in December. Combined, the two packages total 717 million euros in December.
National Economy and Finance Minister Kostis Hatzidakis said the over-performance of the economy and of the state budget faciliated the government’s efforts to offer financial support to people in need.
SOURCE; ANA-MPA
