Adopt a new law on social care that includes:

• Recognising a minimum set of fundamental social services
• A network of public social services with nationwide coverage
• Basic governance mechanisms covering at least data collection, national quality framework and coordination between social care providers and the national health system
• Distribution of responsibilities and funding between national and local authorities

Right to access social services ❌ 

The primary legislation is Law No. 2646/1998, establishing the National Social Care System (NSCS). Art.1. par. 2 states that any person who legally resides in Greece and is in need is entitled to social care by the entities of the National System under the specific terms of this law. However, this law does not guarantee individual rights to specific social services. Instead, it allows the Ministry responsible for social care services (Ministry of Social Cohesion & Family) to define the scope of application (content, beneficiaries and access conditions) of these services through National Social Care Programmes targeting specific groups (e.g., families, older people, people with disability, and people in crisis). 

Definition of social services ✅ 

Law No. 2646/1998 art. 1 par. 1 provides a broad definition of the term “social care” as “the protection provided to individuals or groups through prevention and rehabilitation programs aiming at creating conditions for equal participation of individuals in economic and social life and ensuring a decent standard of living”. Art. 1 par. 1 also stipulates that the primary purpose of social care is to support the family.  Art. 2. Par. 2 defines four key areas: a. Family, Child and Youth, b. Older people, c. People with Disabilities, d. Vulnerable Population Groups and Groups in a State of Emergency. Art. 3 par. 2 provides specific definitions of three tiers of social care (primary, secondary, and tertiary).

• Primary social care is designed to provide open care services aiming at prevention of social needs and the early detection of socio-economic exclusion problems. These services are mainly provided at local level. 
• Secondary social care is intended to provide residential care services aiming at the treatment and rehabilitation in case of physical and/or mental illness or disability and prevention and combatting of consequences of socio-economic exclusion. These services are mainly provided at regional or sub-regional level.
• Tertiary social care refers to specialist care mainly provided at national or regional level.

National catalogue of social services ❌ 

The Ministry of Social Cohesion & Family (established in 2023) presents some general information on its site under the link “Social Solidarity”. However, the information on social care services is broad and may not be easily accessible. 

The National Center for Social Solidarity (“EKKA”) has launched a public e-platform for the general public to access information on social care services, but this remains uncomplete.

Strategic plan for social services ❌ 

Greece has not yet adopted a Strategic Plan for Social Services (e.g. a Green Paper, White Paper or a National Strategy).

Responsibilities of national/ regional authorities 🤝

1. Coordination of social care services is ensured, according to Law No 2646/1998 (art. 2 par. 1), by National Programs drawn up by the state (Ministry of Social Cohesion & Family) and implemented by the entities of the National Social Care System. However, this mechanism has not been activated yet (National Programs have not been issued)
2. Planning, design, and funding of social care services (art. 2 par. 1 of Law 2646/1998) is the responsibility of the state (Ministry of Social Cohesion & Family). 
3. Delivery of services (art. 3 par. 1 of Law 2646/1998) is carried out by the National Social Care System (NSCS), which includes:
   • Public (state) providers, consisting of:
     • One national provider for emergency social care (National Centre for Social Solidarity).
     • Twelve regional providers for other forms of care (Social Welfare Centres).
   • Private non-profit providers which are certified as “NSCS entities” (by the Ministry of Social Cohesion & Family) and, under this status, may deliver both community and residential care and support services.
4. Regulation of standards: The Ministry of Social Cohesion & Family is responsible for regulating the minimum and quality requirements for all social service providers, both public and private.
5. Monitoring and inspection:
   • The primary responsibility for monitoring social needs and programmes and inspecting social care providers lies with the regions. 
   • Municipalities also hold inspection responsibilities for certain care providers, such as crèches and pre-school childcare.

Additionally:

Municipalities do not make part of the NSCS, but they are entitled (though not obliged) to develop and implement social care programmes within their own competences (based on local government legislation) in parallel with the general jurisdiction of NSCS (art. 4 par. 4 of Law 2646/1998). 

No data on social services expenditure is collected. 

Source: Hellenic National Statistical Authority, 2023

Source: OECD, 2024

Workforce

Due to lack of data at national level, in 2019, the total number of full-time social workers employed by the municipalities of the Attica region (the most populated region—3,814,064 inhabitants / 36.4 % of the country’s population) was 89.

Source: Regional Social Inclusion Observatory of Attica, 2019

Source: Association of Social Workers of Greece, 2024

Long-term care (LTC) for older people and people with disabilities (PWD)

Population data – statistics collected from 2023:

1. Number of older people aged 65+: 2,390,550 (out of whom 1,209,126 were aged 75+ / 23 % of the total population).
2. Number of older people facing severe limitations: 244,457 / 10 % of the total population 

Source: Hellenic National Statistical Authority, 2023 & Eurostat, 2023

2,267 persons received residential long-term care in 2021

Source: accumulated data from Hellenic Statistical Authority, 2021

In about 13 % of municipalities, there is no publicly funded home care, as only 281 out of 325 municipalities provide publicly available home care. 

Source: Hellenic Court of Audit, 2022

Municipal day care centres for older people

35 Day Care Centres for older people were operational in 5 regions (Attica, South Aegean, Western Greece, Thessaly, and Ionian Islands). There was no data from the missing other 8 regions. 

Sources: Region of Attica, Region of South Aegean, Region of Western Greece, Region of Thessaly, Region of Ionian Islands

Child protection services

1,351 children in alternative care in 2023

Source: Anynet, 2023

Women’s support

10,131 women victims of domestic violence in 2022 

Source: Hellenic Police, 2022

There are 44 counselling centres for women victims of violence and 20 shelters for women victims of violence. The vast majority of these structures operate in the context of EU co-funded projects.

Source: Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family Affairs, 2024, City of Athens, 2024

Homelessness and social housing

1,387 people in homeless shelters in 2023

Source: OECD, 2023

1. The ‘Housing and Employment for the Homeless Programme’: In March 2024, 23 such programme agreements were implemented nationwide. 504 households have already been offered social housing, and 52 households are on the waiting list.
2. The ‘Coverage - Housing Support Programme’: In March 2024, 44 municipalities participated in the programme, 168 households have already been offered social housing, and 257 households are on the waiting list.

Source: Interviews with the Director of OPEKA (here and here)