Inequalities Affecting Persons with Disabilities in Greece

Although discrimination against individuals or groups on the basis of any personal characteristic is prohibited under Article 4 of the Constitution, data from the European System of Integrated Social Protection Statistics (ESSPROS) raise concerns about structural inequality affecting persons with disabilities, due to chronically insufficient and ineffective social protection spending and benefits in Greece.

On 9 July 2025, the Disability Observatory of the National Confederation of Persons with Disabilities (ΕΣΑμεΑ) presented Euro stat ESSPROS data on social protection spending and benefits in Greece and Europe. According to these findings, disability benefits, regardless of the indicator used, consistently place Greece among the lowest‑ranking countries in Europe.

Beyond the quantitatively limited level of spending on persons with disabilities, the Observatory highlights a particularly significant finding, which reveals that the systemic weaknesses of the social protection system – and specifically in relation to disability – is the minimal impact of existing social transfers on reducing poverty, especially among persons with disabilities of working age.

This, the Observatory claims, “confirms the distorted and deficient nature of social protection in Greece, the fragmented character of benefits, the absence of structures and services that meet the needs of persons with disabilities and support independent living and social inclusion, and the inadequacy of financial assistance and anti‑poverty measures.”

Key Findings from ESSPROS Data

Overall Social Protection Spending

In 2022, per capita national spending on social protection benefits, measured in Purchasing Power Standards (PPS), reached 5,696.94 PPS in Greece, 43% lower than the EU average (10,013 PPS).

Impact of Social Transfers on Poverty Reduction (2024)

Greece recorded the lowest value in the indicator “Impact of social transfers (excluding pensions) on poverty reduction”:
- Greece: 16.6 points
- EU average: 34.4 points

Spending on Disability (2022)

Greece spent €1.901 billion on disability‑related social benefits, just 3.8% of total social protection spending (the second lowest in the EU).
EU average: 7%.

Detailed Findings on Social Protection for Disability

A. Severe Cuts and Long‑Term Underfunding

During the economic crisis (2012-2015), disability‑related spending was cut by 42%.
From 2015 to 2022, spending remained at similarly low levels.

B. Almost Exclusive Reliance on Cash Benefits

In 2022, disability‑related social protection spending consisted almost entirely of:

47% disability pensions
48.7% disability allowances

This confirms that support services remain extremely limited, and that until 2022, social welfare provision was virtually absent in areas such as:

housing,
assistance with daily living,
rehabilitation and re‑integration,
independent living support.

C. Decline in Disability Pension Recipients

From 2015 to 2022, the number of disability pension recipients decreased by 26,870 people – a 20% reduction.

D. Poverty Among Persons with Disabilities

In 2024, Greece again ranked last in the EU in the indicator measuring the impact of social transfers (including pensions) on reducing poverty among persons aged 16–64 with moderate or severe disabilities.

After social transfers, poverty and social exclusion among persons with disabilities decreased by only 5.3 points.
The final poverty/exclusion rate remained among the two highest in Europe:
- Greece: 48.3%
- Romania: 48.4%

The Observatory thus concludes that, “given demographic ageing, which inevitably leads to an increase in chronic conditions and disabilities, it is clear that an immediate shift in policy direction is required, with strengthened social benefits and special attention to the most vulnerable citizens.”

We note here that that discrimination against individuals or population groups on the basis of any characteristic is prohibited by the Constitution itself, with Article 4 guaranteeing the equality of all citizens (Article 4(1): “All Greeks are equal before the law.” Article 4(2): “Greek men and women have equal rights and obligations.”).

Where is the problem with the rule of law?

Although Article 4 of the Constitution prohibits discrimination and guarantees equality before the law, the ESSPROS data reveal that Greece maintains a social protection system that systematically produces unequal and adverse outcomes for persons with disabilities.

This raises a Rule of Law concern, because:

Insufficient protection results in real, structural inequality.
The failure of social transfers to reduce poverty undermines the constitutional principle of equality.
The absence of services violates the right to independent living and social inclusion.
Chronic underfunding constitutes de facto discriminatory treatment , even if not explicitly stated in law.

Thodoris Chondrogiannos

More