Expanding the social dividend base

By Prokopis Hatzinikolaou

The Finance Ministry is set to make some adjustments to the plan for the distribution of the so-called social dividend, so that more recipients get a share of the 2013 primary budget surplus.

A top ministry official said on Wednesday that the government has decided to raise the income ceiling from 6,000 to 6,500 euros per year, which will entail a reduction in the 500-euro benefit so that the greater the income the less the benefit.

The adjustments will take place in the coming days and will set the state back some 30 million euros.

Furthermore, if there is any money left from the 525 million euros after the end of application submissions, the ministry will seek out those families who have a genuine need for the benefit according to 2013 income declarations – submitted this spring.

Up until Wednesday the ministry had received 345,000 applications, of which 85,000 have been approved, with the recipients to get a total of 65 million euros on May 10. Some 130,000 have been rejected and another 130,000 are pending examination.