Greece to open applications for permanent €53m personal assistant disability program

Program expansion and funding

Greece will open online applications next week for its nationwide Personal Assistant program, establishing it on a permanent basis with 53 million euros in annual funding drawn from national and European Union resources. The new phase introduces higher compensation for personal assistants as well as for members of evaluation committees. The initiative enables beneficiaries with disabilities to select their own assistant and specify needed support across work, education, daily tasks, and social participation, both inside and outside the home.

Eligibility requirements and income thresholds

Eligibility covers legal and tax residents in Greece aged 16 to 67 with motor, intellectual, developmental, sensory, or mental disabilities. Applicants must hold lifetime disability certification from the Disability Certification Center (KEPA) showing a primary disability rate of at least 67% or a determination of permanent need for assistance. Participation extends up to age 75 for individuals who qualified for the mobility allowance before reaching 67. The annual income ceiling is set at 35,000 euros for single-person households, increasing by 17,500 euros for each additional adult member or the first minor in single-parent homes, and 8,750 euros for each additional minor.

Application and evaluation process

Applications must be submitted digitally via the official platform at prosopikosvoithos.gov.gr. Data verification occurs automatically through public registries, producing an immediate determination of eligibility and scoring upon submission, with an option to file electronic objections. Applicants must reside in a home, though individuals living outside residential housing may apply and complete evaluation, with program entry activated upon relocation. Special interdisciplinary committees will evaluate top-ranking candidates on site at their residences or exceptionally via videoconference.