Since March 15, a new way of paying its benefits has been implemented DEPA through credit to special prepaid cardwhich the beneficiaries must activate after receiving it by mail from the payment service provider (PYP).
In more detail, each beneficiary of one or more benefits, benefits and aids of DBA corresponds to a single prepaid card, which serves exclusively for the payment of all its social benefits. The card is issued and sends the PYP to which the beneficiary maintains an active payment account (IBAN).
Beneficiaries are able to withdraw cash up to 50% of the amount of each allowance paid, while the remainder is spent exclusively through the use of the prepaid card. The card can be used exclusively in Greece and in European Union countries for any purchase of products or services, excluding transactions related to weapons and gambling.
Excludes from the use of the prepaid card by individuals who have a health committees in force that they have a visual disability percentage of eighty percent (80%) or more, for which IBAN Account Credit (IBAN) is still in force. Specifically, the following benefits are paid through a prepaid card:
- Regular unemployment subsidy
- Long -term unemployed allowance
- Unemployment aid self -employed independently and regardless of employment
- Special seasonal aids
- Work allowance
- Special Provision of Maternity Protection
- Supplementary Maternity Provision
- Parental leave allowance
- Special allowance of vulnerable groups
- Exclusive nurses allowance
- Guide allowance
- Lean allowance
- Removal-Drag of Firms
- Special Subsidy
- Special Supplementary Provision of Loading Unemployment
The PYPs participating in the special prepaid card issue are:
- National Bank
- Alpha Bank
- Attica Bank
- Piraeus Bank
- Eurobank
- Cooperative bank
- Cooperative Bank of Karditsa
- Cooperative Bank of Thessaly
The prepaid card is automatically issued through the Integrated Information System (IIS), without the need to apply for the beneficiaries. The system draws their details from the DBA, including IBAN and the declared address. Beneficiaries will receive an email that will ask them to check and, if necessary, correct their details within five business days, HERE. If they do not take any action, their application will automatically be submitted to the IBAN corresponding to their IBAN, who will issue and send the card.
Those who are already receiving any of the benefits that are part of the new payment system or are going to take them within the first quarter of 2025 should therefore take care of two basic steps: first, open payment account (IBAN) to one of the banks involved in the program, if they do not already have their accounts. Secondly, to update their details, especially their addresses, in the electronic applications of benefits they receive from the DBA and/or OPECA.
On the course of the card issuance application (submission, approval or rejection), the beneficiaries are informed through a personalized email. But they can at any time enter TAXISnet codes In the new information system and check the course of the application.
Prepaid card holders will participate in a special public lottery program (lottery) for their transactions for the purchase of goods or services through which a total of 8,500 lucky ones will be highlighted, each of which will earn from 1,000 euros. The higher the use of the prepaid card for purchases (ie more than 50%), the more the lottery will be.