per month. This measure has triggered strong
reactions, since it represents the largest cut in
the latest government budget, amounting to
450 million euros only for the year 2017.
9. Set a minimum age of 55 years for sur-
vivors’ pensions.
The new law stipulates that
survivor pensions certified after May 13, 2016,
are paid to surviving spouses for the remainder
of their life, provided that they are 55 years of
age or older. The amount of the pension is
equal to 50% of the pension that the deceased
spouse received, or would receive, depending
on their years of work. Under the previous
regime, this pension was equal to 70% of the
deceased spouse’s pension. If the surviving
spouse is younger than 55 years of age (e.g.
45, 50, or 54 years) the survivor’s pension is
paid for three years, and then again after the
beneficiary has reached the age of 67. If the
surviving spouse is 55 years old and is grant-
ed a pension equal to 50% of the deceased
spouse’s pension, this pension is revised after
the first three years and if this person has
found employment or receives another pen-
sion, the survivor’s pension is reduced to 25%.
The same applies to surviving spouses
younger than 55 years of age, who will receive
the survivor’s pension again at the age of 67. If
by that time (i.e. at the age of 67) they are
receiving their own pension, they will be grant-
ed only 25% of the survivor’s pension. For
example, if the deceased received 1,000
euros, the surviving spouse is entitled to 50%
of this amount, i.e. 500 euros. If the survivor is
55 years old on the date of death, he or she will
receive the pension for the remainder of their
lifetime. If, after the first three years, the sur-
vivor has found employment, or received
another pension, the survivor’s pension is
reduced to 25%, i.e. to 250 euros. If the sur-
vivor is younger than 55, then after the first
three years the payment of the pension will be
suspended and will be granted again (at 50%
or 25%) at the age of 67. Part of the survivor’s
pension (in particular, the remaining 50%) is
proportionately paid to children up to the age of
18 years. If the children are attending tertiary
education, they are entitled to this amount until
the conclusion of their studies, albeit not later
than the age of 24. The pension paid to the
surviving spouse is subject to further cuts if the
marriage has lasted for less than 10 years, and
the age difference between the deceased and
the surviving spouse is more than 10 years.
So, the pension is reduced by 10% if the age
difference is 10 to 20 years, 10% if the age dif-
ference is 21 to 25 years, and 15% if the age
difference is 26 to 30 years.
Trade with Greece
93
Years of work and pensions depending on average earnings
Average earnings
since 2002 (€)
Pension
after 20
years of
work
Pension
after 25
years of
work
Pension
after 30
years of
work
Pension
after 35
years of
work
Pension
after 36
years of
work
Pension
after 37
years of
work
Pension
after 38
years of
work
Pension
after 39
years of
work
Pension
after 40
years of
work
700
465
497
534
583
594
606
618
629
643
800
480
516
559
615
627
641
654
668
683
900
495
536
584
647
660
676
691
706
723
1000
510
555
609
679
694
711
728
744
763
1100
525
575
634
711
727
746
764
783
804
1200
540
594
658
742
760
781
801
821
844
1300
555
614
683
774
794
816
838
860
884
1400
570
633
708
806
827
851
874
898
924
1500
585
653
733
838
860
885
911
936
964
1600
600
672
758
869
893
920
948
975
1005
1700
615
691
782
901
927
955
984
1013
1045
1900
644
730
832
965
993
1025
1058
1090
1125
2000
659
750
857
997
1026
1060
1094
1128
1166
2200
689
789
906
1060
1093
1130
1167
1205
1246
2300
704
808
931
1092
1126
1165
1204
1243
1286
2500
734
847
981
1155
1193
1235
1277
1320
1367
2700
764
886
1030
1219
1259
1305
1351
1396
1447
Pensions (national and contributory) with 20 to 40 years of work
Pension after contributions have been deducted
