The granting of an extraordinary Christmas gift for 2024 was approved by the Council of Ministers on Wednesday and decided to include for the first time new categories of beneficiaries, increasing by 40.000 the number of beneficiaries, who in total exceed 100.000 with the total cost amounting to 20,5 millions of euros.
The Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Marilena Evangelou, reported after the Cabinet meeting that the total amount for this year is increased by 3,25 million euros compared to last year.
In particular, he said, that the extraordinary Christmas gift for 2024 is extended to the following new categories: to all national guards with the payment of 100 euros, to all new mothers who received childbirth assistance in the years 2023-2024 from the Social Insurance Services or the Welfare Allowance Management Service amounting to 100 euros, to all three children and large families who are beneficiaries of the child allowance an amount of 100 euros per family, for resettled children attending the primary schools of Kormakitis and Rizokarpas an amount equal to their resettlement allowance, for all single-parent families who are entitled to the single-parent family allowance regardless of their income category and of the amount of their deposits, an amount of 100 euros.
The Deputy Minister reminded that throughout the years only the beneficiaries of the one-parent family allowance with an income criterion of 19.500 euros and a deposit limit of 10.000 euros received the Christmas gift.
In addition to the new categories, he continued, beneficiaries of the Minimum Guaranteed Income will also receive a Christmas benefit, an amount corresponding to 80% of the family's basic needs, the beneficiaries of the low pensioner benefit with an amount equal to the amount of their benefit for the month of December with a minimum amount the 100 euros. The recipients of the allowance for mothers with many children will also receive a Christmas allowance in the amount of 100 euros, the recipients of public assistance in the amount of 80% of the basic needs of the family and the stranded and children of stranded in an amount equal to the stranded allowance.
When is the Extraordinary Christmas Gift paid?
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As also announced by the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare, the beneficiaries of the Minimum Guaranteed Income (EEI) are expected to receive the extraordinary Christmas gift in their bank accounts on December 13, while on December 19 it will be paid to the beneficiaries of the Low Income Pensioner Household Support Scheme Allowance.
Furthermore, it is reported that on December 18, the Christmas gift is expected to be paid to the beneficiaries of the Multiple Mother's Honorary Allowance Scheme Allowance and to the beneficiaries of the One-Parent Family Allowance.
Monthly Public Assistance recipients are expected to receive the extraordinary Christmas gift in their bank accounts on December 12, while those receiving checks will be sent to them on December 11 and can be cashed the following day.
Recipients of Emergency Public Assistance can expect the payment of the emergency Christmas gift into their bank accounts on December 13, while those receiving checks will be sent to them on December 12 with the possibility of cashing them the following day.
As regards the beneficiaries of the Confinement/Resettlers Allowance – Children of Confinement/Resettlers, they are expected to receive the extraordinary Christmas gift in their bank accounts on 18 December, while for those receiving checks they will be sent to them on 18 December with the possibility of cashing them on the same day.
Also, beneficiaries of the Child Benefit in families with three children/multiple children are expected to receive the extraordinary Christmas gift in their bank accounts on 20 December, while National Guardsmen are expected to receive the extraordinary Christmas gift in their bank accounts on 17 December.
Finally, regarding the extraordinary Christmas gift to recipients of Special Childbirth Assistance, it is noted that this will be paid before Christmas, while a relevant announcement will be issued.
