The Organisation for Provident Allowances and Social Solidarity (OPEKA) is proceeding with the implementation of the 2023 Rural Income Account (ARA) programmes, with emphasis on social tourism and children's camps.

As stated in a relevant announcement, Agrotiki Hestia is again this year on the side of farmers, the farmer's mother and the child, through a series of social programmes, which aim to support financially and entertain the people of the countryside.

From Tuesday 6 June until Monday 26 June, those interested in the Rural Home programmes will be able to submit the relevant applications for participation at KEPS throughout the country.

Rural Home Programmes of OPEKA

• Social/personal tourism: 53 500 beneficiaries.
• Children's camping programme: 1,500 children.
• Excursion programme: 12 500 beneficiaries.
• Free provision of books: 130,000 beneficiaries.
• Free theatre tickets: 32,500 beneficiaries.
• Cash allowances: 1,000 multiparent farmers' mothers and 4,000 three-parent farmers' mothers.

applications

In order to submit the application form to the KEPs, the following must be presented:

• Any document showing the Social Security Registration Number (AMKA) of the applicant and their dependent members (e.g. health booklet or AMKA certificate) or any document showing the OGA Registration Number (AM).
• Identity card.
• In the case of OGA pensioners who have been included in eEFKA and suffer from mental disability, DOWN syndrome or cerebral palsy, the notification of the result of the disability certification or its decision is also required.

The seven programmes of the OPEKA

The seven programmes for 2023 are as follows:

Social Tourism: this concerns a 6-day holiday (5 nights) for 50,000 beneficiaries. The period of validity is from 10 July 2023 to 30 May 2024.

For North Evia in particular, the following apply: The beneficiaries of the social tourism programme who will choose to use their vouchers in tourist accommodation contracted with the LAE/OPEKA in the Municipalities of Istiia - Edipsos and Mantoudiou - Lake - Agia Anna of the Regional Unit of Evia are entitled to up to eleven days - ten nights.

Eligible to participate in the social tourism programme are:

α) The pensioners of the e-EFKA (OGA) and the pensioners of the Account of Uninsured Survivors of Article 1 of Law 1296/1982.

b) The insured persons of the e-EFKA (OGA) who are insured on 31 December of the previous year (2022) of the submission of the participation application.

c) The family members of the above persons with a right to health care from a beneficiary of the LAE/OPEKA benefits.

Spa tourism: this concerns a 6-day holiday (5 nights) and five simple baths for 3,500 pensioners. Those interested can make use of this scheme and the related accommodation from 10 July 2023 to 30 May 2024.

In particular for North Evia the following apply: The beneficiaries of the spa tourism programme who will choose to use their vouchers in tourist accommodation contracted with the LAE-OPEKA in the Municipalities of Istiia - Edipsos and Mantoudiou - Lake - Agia Anna of the Regional Unit of Evia are entitled, in addition to the 10 overnight stays, to a maximum of 10 free baths in legally operating thermal spring facilities and hydrotherapy centres of the higher municipalities of the Regional Unit of Evia.

Eligible to participate in the spa tourism programme are:

The pensioners of the e-EFKA (OGA) and the pensioners of the Account of Uninsured Survivors of Article 1 of Law 1296/1982.

Excursion Tourism: this concerns four-day excursions for 12,500 beneficiaries and always with contracted tourist agencies. Those interested will be able to make use of this programme from 10 July 2023 to 30 May 2024.

Note: the 4 days of free excursions are valid if the cost of the excursion does not exceed the value of the voucher of 160 euros. Accommodation in rooms of two stars or more for hotels, three or more beds for rooms to let. Tourists will be transported exclusively within the borders of Greece.

Eligible to participate in the excursion tourism programme are:

α) The pensioners of the e-EFKA (OGA) and the pensioners of the Account of Uninsured Survivors of Article 1 of Law 1296/1982.

b) The insured persons of the e-EFKA (OGA) who are insured on 31 December of the previous year (2022) of the submission of the participation application.

c) The family members of the above persons with a right to health care from a beneficiary of the LAE/OPEKA benefits.

Children's camps: It concerns a 16-day programme for 1,500 children of Agrotiki Estia beneficiaries.

The children's camping program is valid from: 22-6-2023 to:

a) 31-08-2023 (final date of departure from the camp) for typically developing children and

b) 10-9-2023 (final date of departure from the camp) for children with a disability of 50% or more.

EXCEPTION: For participation in the children's camping program, the application form can be submitted at opeka.gr from June 6 to June 12.

Participation in the children's camp programme is open to:

α) Children aged 6 to 16 years old, who are children of pensioners or insured persons of the e-EFKA (OGA) who are insurable on 31 December of the previous year (2022) of the submission of the application form.

b) Children aged 6 to 16 years old, if they receive an orphan's pension or paraplegia - tetraplegia allowance from the e-EFKA (OGA). The date of reaching the age of 16 is considered to be 31 December 2023, regardless of the month of birth.

The above persons have active insurance capacity and the children have a right to care under a beneficiary of the LEA/OPEKA benefits.

Free Books: The programme covers 130,000 beneficiaries, who can purchase books of their choice, worth a total of €20 for each beneficiary and €30 for each beneficiary's child, from contracted bookshops and publishing houses across the country. The duration of this programme is from 10 July 2023 to 30 May 2024.

Eligible to participate in the free books programme are:

α) The pensioners of the e-EFKA (OGA) and the pensioners of the Account of Uninsured Survivors of Article 1 of Law 1296/1982.

b) The insured persons of the e-EFKA (OGA) who are insured on 31 December of the previous year (2022) of the submission of the participation application.

c) The family members of the above persons with a right to health care from a beneficiary of the LAE/OPEKA benefits.

Free Theatre Tickets:The programme covers 32,500 beneficiaries for theatre performances in all major cities in Greece. The period of validity is from 10 July 2023 to 30 May 2024. For each ticket, the company is subsidised with an amount of up to EUR 15 for the Main Stage and up to EUR 12 for the Children's Stage.

Eligible to participate in the programme for free theatre tickets are:

α) The pensioners of the e-EFKA (OGA) and the pensioners of the Account of Uninsured Survivors of Article 1 of Law 1296/1982.

b) The insured persons of the e-EFKA (OGA) who are insured on 31 December of the previous year (2022) of the submission of the participation application.

c) The family members of the above persons with a right to health care from a beneficiary of the LAE/OPEKA benefits.

Cash benefits to large and third-generation farming mothers: The programme is aimed at1,000 multiparous m others who will receive a 1,000 euro grant and 4,000 third-generation farming mothers who will receive a 700 euro grant.

Eligible to participate in the programme are: Mothers of three or more children who are pensioners or insured by the e-EFKA (OGA) and who are insurable on 31 December of the previous year (2022) of the application for participation.

Conditions: Mothers with three children must have 3 children, and mothers with several children must have at least 4 children, which are unmarried and unemployed and not more than 18 years of age, or 19 years of age if they are continuing their secondary education, or 24 years of age if they are studying in Greece in higher or higher education, or attend the "Post-secondary year - Apprenticeship Class" of Vocational Lyceums (EPAL) or Vocational Training Institutes (IEK), or are children with a disability rate of 50% or more, regardless of age. The date of reaching the age of 18, 19 and 24 is considered to be 31 December 2023, regardless of the month of birth.

Draw

After processing the applications and if the number of applications exceeds the number of applications provided for in the LEA/OPEKA programmes, an electronic lottery is held. The distribution of the beneficiaries is done proportionally in all counties, with priority to those who have not been drawn in the last three years. Beneficiaries are informed of the result of the draw via the OPEKA website or through the KEPs.