A new era in the management of social and economic benefits is being ushered in with a bill from the Ministry of National Economy and Finance (ΥΠΕΘΟ), which establishes the National Benefits Registry. Approved by the Cabinet on April 28, the initiative aims to accurately map out who receives public money or services, how, and why.

The registry is part of a broader push for transparency and sound fiscal management. For the first time, the state will consolidate all benefits—both in cash and in-kind—provided to individuals from public resources into a single, coherent system. This includes unemployment benefits, social aid, subsidies, and tax exemptions.

What’s Changing

Until now, benefits have been disbursed somewhat blindly, scattered across various ministries, agencies, and departments. Many eligible recipients are unaware of their entitlements, while others exploit the system and live exclusively off benefits.

This fragmented approach has often led to overlapping programs, lack of transparency, and even abuse, with some individuals receiving multiple benefits without proper oversight.

The new registry aims to bring order to this complexity. Its core idea is simple: every benefit provided by the state—whether cash, services, or goods—must be recorded in the central system. This will allow real-time monitoring of who is receiving what, from where, and for what reason.

Transparency and Efficiency

The creation of the registry is more than a bureaucratic reform—it’s a powerful tool for transparency and effective public spending. It enables the state to:

• Track how many citizens receive benefits
• Identify the sources of those benefits
• Monitor total expenditures per benefit category
• Detect overlapping aid or unjustified claims
• Evaluate the impact and effectiveness of each program
• Identify benefits that are underutilized or unfairly concentrated among the same recipients

This ensures that distortions can be corrected, misuse prevented, and resources directed where they are truly needed.

Making Use of Public Data

A crucial component of the registry is the productive use of public data. Until now, information on benefits was fragmented and underutilized. The new system provides a valuable data set that can help:

• Design better social policies
• Assess the effectiveness of existing benefits
• Forecast future needs
• Save money through targeted interventions

The data centralization leads to evidence-based decision-making and policies that better meet real societal needs.

Why the State Wants to Know

At the heart of this reform is the state’s need for a clear picture of the flow of public money to citizens. Knowing who gets what is essential for:

• Fairness: Ensuring benefits go to those who truly need them, avoiding favoritism or exclusion
• Prevention of abuse: Detecting individuals who receive multiple benefits without eligibility or identifying program overlaps
• Rational resource management: Allocating funds more effectively, reducing waste, and strengthening social safety nets
• Policy design: Enabling more targeted and effective benefits policies based on accurate data