The Greek government is putting a definitive end to what it describes as the unfair reductions applied to widow’s pensions by abolishing the relevant provisions of the Katrougalos law. At the same time, it confirmed that beneficiaries entitled to two national pensions will continue receiving both in full.

Labour Minister Niki Kerameos announced the measures during a plenary session of Parliament, stating that forthcoming legislation will:

• Permanently abolish the reduction in widow’s pensions after the three-year period stipulated under the Katrougalos law for all pensioners who became eligible for a survivor’s pension under that framework.
• Exempt beneficiaries from repaying retroactive amounts in cases where the pension reduction had not yet been applied.
• Maintain payment of two national pensions in cases where entitlement arises from different legal rights, such as a personal pension combined with a survivor’s pension.

In practical terms, Kerameos explained, all widow’s pension beneficiaries covered by the current framework will continue receiving 70% of the deceased spouse’s pension, without the 35% reduction that was previously scheduled to take effect after three years.

She also stressed that beneficiaries will not owe any retroactive repayments, and those entitled to two national pensions will continue receiving both.

Those whose pensions had already been reduced under the Katrougalos provisions will see their survivor’s pension restored to 70% of the deceased’s pension, while beneficiaries who feared future reductions will continue receiving the same amount without any cuts.

Higher social security revenues fund the reform

Kerameos said the additional funding for the measure comes from stronger-than-expected revenues generated by Greece’s social security funds, largely as a result of the expanded implementation of the digital work card system.

“Last year, revenues exceeded targets by more than €800 million,” she said, noting that the surplus had already financed reductions in social security contributions and the partial elimination of the so-called “personal difference” affecting pension calculations.

She added that between January and April 2026, social security revenues had already exceeded projections by €517 million, largely due to the work card’s implementation for approximately 2.5 million employees.

According to the minister, this overperformance has created the fiscal space needed to introduce what she described as an important social support measure for pensioners.