Greece’s General Directorate for the Restoration of Natural Disaster Impacts has outlined a framework of financial assistance for people affected by natural disasters, publishing a leaflet that details available grants, required documents, application deadlines and contact information.
After a disaster strikes, teams of engineers from the directorate carry out post-disaster inspections to identify dangerous buildings, assess whether structures are unfit for use, and establish the extent of damage so that aid can be allocated.
Initial payments
Once an area is declared a state of emergency and inspections are completed, affected residents can apply for two immediate grants: 600 euros to cover basic needs for a primary residence, and up to 6,000 euros for minor repairs or replacement of household appliances in a primary residence. For secondary residences the second amount is reduced by 50 percent.
Applications must be submitted to the local municipality within 45 days of the disaster. Required documents include a copy of the directorate’s inspection report, tax forms E1 and E9 from the most recent fiscal year, a family status certificate, and, where applicable, documentation of a disability benefit from OPEKA.
Further aid
Following a Joint Ministerial Decision delimiting the affected area, residents may also apply for a temporary housing subsidy of between 300 and 500 euros, and for housing assistance covering repair or reconstruction costs at 100 percent state grant.
Inquiries can be directed to the Aegean and Crete office at 2131331434 or [email protected], and to the Central Greece office at 2131331286 or [email protected].
