Pafos :: Cyprus

General

The Social Insurance Scheme has been functioning since 1957. Until 5 October 1980, the contributions and benefits of the Scheme were set at a uniform, fixed, level, irrespective of the earnings and incomes of the insured persons. From 6 October 1980, new social insurance legislation came into force under which both contributions and benefits were made proportionate and calculated as a percentage of the insured person’s income from employment. The pensions granted before 6 October 1980 have been assimilated into the basic part of the pensions which are granted in accordance with the new legislation. The chief feature of this legislation is the provision it makes for the regular revaluation of insurable earnings and for the adjustment of benefits in line with salaries, wages and inflation.

The Scheme provides compulsory cover for every person who is gainfully occupied in Cyprus. Cypriots working abroad in the service of Cypriot employers and persons who interrupt their compulsory insurance are allowed to be insured voluntarily. Insured persons are classified in three categories: employed persons, self-employed persons and voluntary contributors.

The Scheme is financed by contributions from the employers, the insured persons and the State. The overall rate of insurance for employed persons and self-employed persons is 16.6% and 15.6%, respectively, of their insurable earnings. In the case of employed persons, the contribution is calculated on the basis of their wage or salary up to a certain ceiling. The contribution is shared between the employer, the employed person and the State at the rate of 6.3%, 6.3% and 4%, respectively.

In the case of self-employed persons, the contribution is calculated from income levels which are fixed according to occupation and the employment location. Unemployed persons are obliged in principle to pay contributions on the notional income of their occupational category, but also have the right to pay contributions on their actual income if it is shown to be lower than the notional income. Self-employed persons also have the right to choose to pay contributions based on a higher income than the relevant notional income, up to the maximum insurable earnings ceiling. The contribution is shared by the self-employed person and the State at the rate of 11.6% and 4%, respectively.

The contribution rate for voluntary contributors within Cyprus is 13.5% of earnings. The insured person pays 10% of the contribution and the State pays 3.5%.

The contribution rate for voluntary contributors employed by a Cypriot employer abroad is 16.6%. The insured person pays 12.6% of the contribution, and the State pays 4%.

The contributions collected under the social insurance legislation are paid into the Social Insurance Fund, out of which all social insurance benefits and administrative expenses for the implementation of the legislation are paid.

The Scheme provides financial benefits for maternity, sickness, unemployment, survivors, invalidity, orphans, old age, a missing spouse, funerals, employment injuries and occupational diseases. It also provides free medical treatment for persons with entitlement to an invalidity pension and for insured persons who have suffered bodily harm because of an employment injury or occupational disease. Employed persons have entitlement to all the above benefits. Self-employed persons are not entitled to unemployment benefit and benefits for employment injuries. Voluntary contributors are entitled only to marriage, maternity, survivor, old-age, missing person, orphan and funeral benefits. Voluntary contributors working abroad for Cypriot employers are entitled to all the benefits to which employed persons are entitled other than benefits for employment injuries.

All the periodic benefits are comprised of a basic benefit and a supplementary benefit. The basic benefit, which includes increases for dependants, is assessed on the basic insurable earnings amount. The supplementary benefit is assessed on the amount of earnings of the insured person in excess of the basic insurable earnings amount. Except in the cases of benefits paid for employment injuries and orphans, the payment of benefits under the Scheme is dependent on certain contribution requirements.

For further information, contact the Department of Social Insurance at 7, Byron Avenue, 1465, Nicosia. Tel.: 22 401772/685 – International Affairs and EU Branch (for coordination of social insurance systems between EU states.).

Sickness insurance - Beneficiaries and conditions for entitlement

Sickness benefit is payable to insured employed and self-employed persons and to voluntary contributors working abroad for Cypriot employers. Persons under 16 or over 63 years of age are not entitled to this benefit. The ceiling of 63 years of age is raised to 65 years of age where the insured person is not entitled to an old-age pension.
Payment of sickness benefit is subject to the following requirements:
- The insured person must be unable to work because of sickness and not receiving all his salary or wage from the employer during the period of his sickness;
- At least 26 weeks must have passed between the day on which the person became insured and the day on which he became unable to work, and in that period he must have paid earnings-related contributions totaling not less than 26 times the weekly basic insurable earnings amount;
- Insurable earnings totaling not less than 20 times the weekly basic insurable earnings amount must have been paid or credited in the previous contributions year.

Period of payment. Employed persons are paid sickness benefit from the fourth day of their absence from work because of sickness. In the case of self-employed persons, the benefit becomes payable after the first 18 days of sickness. However, when a self employed person is unable to work because of an accident or is admitted to a hospital or clinic within four days of the date on which he became unable to work, and remains in the hospital or clinic for at least six days, the benefit is payable from the fourth day of the inability to work.

Sickness benefit is payable for at least 156 working days in each period of interruption of employment. Payment of the benefit may be extended for a further 156 working days in the same period of interruption of employment if the insured person satisfies the contributions requirements for an invalidity pension but is not expected to be permanently incapable of work.
The amount of the benefit is determined on the basis of the average weekly paid and credited insurable earnings of the insured person in the previous contributions year.
The benefit is comprised of a basic benefit and a supplementary benefit. The weekly amount of the basic benefit is equal to 60% of the weekly average of the beneficiary’s basic insurable earnings in the previous contributions year. It is increased by one third for the main dependant or spouse and by one sixth for each child or other dependant (up to a maximum of two dependent children and other dependants). The weekly amount of the supplementary benefit is equal to 50% of the average weekly insurable earnings of the beneficiary in excess of the basic insurable earnings. However, in no case can the supplementary benefit be higher than the weekly basic insurable earnings amount.

In order to be paid sickness benefit, the insured person must submit an application on a special form which is obtainable from any social insurance office. The application must be accompanied by a medical certificate stating the sickness from which the claimant is suffering and the period for which he will be unable to work, and also by other certificates and documents of proof which are stated in the application form. After being completed appropriately by the applicant and the employer, the application is delivered to the nearest social insurance office.

Time limit for the submission of an application for sickness benefit. The application must be submitted within 21 days of the day on which the claimant became unable to work. Where the application is submitted late, the benefit is paid retrospectively only for 21 days. However, in exceptional circumstances, where the claimant shows that there was a good reason for the delay in the submission of the application, the benefit may be paid if the claimant submits an application within 12 months of the day of the commencement of the inability to work.

The claimant loses entitlement to the benefit for six weeks if he:
- Is to blame for the inability to work
- Is found to have worked on any of the days for which payment of the benefit has been requested
- Behaves in a manner which could delay recuperation or neglects to attend for examination by a doctor or by the Medical Board or refuses to accept treatment without good reason.

Double entitlement. Where an insured person has entitlement to another periodic benefit from the Social Insurance Fund as well as to sickness benefit, only the benefit of greater value is paid.

A claimant who is not satisfied with the decision of the Department of Social Insurance concerning his application can challenge the decision by addressing an appeal to the Minister for Labor and Social Insurance within 15 days of receiving notification of the decision.
If the claimant is not satisfied with the decision of the Minister, he can lodge an appeal with the Supreme Court within 75 days of receiving notification of the Minister's decision.

Maternity insurance - Beneficiaries and conditions for entitlement

Maternity allowance is payable to insured employed and self-employed women and women who are voluntary contributors working abroad for Cypriot employers and expecting a baby, and also to women who adopt a child under 12 years of age or whose husbands adopt such a child.

Requirements:
-The insured woman must be on maternity leave and not receiving all her salary or wage from her employer
- At least 26 weeks must have passed between the day on which the woman became insured and the week in which her maternity leave began, and in that period she must have paid earnings-related contributions totaling not less than 26 times the weekly basic insurable earnings amount
- Insurable earnings totaling not less than 20 times the weekly basic insurable earnings amount must have been paid or credited in the previous contributions year.

The insured woman is entitled to maternity allowance for 16 weeks, commencing from any week between the sixth and second week before the week in which she expects to give birth. If the birth occurs after the week in which it was expected, the period of 16 weeks is increased accordingly.

If the application is submitted after the birth, the period of 16 weeks is fixed on the basis of the date of the birth rather than on the basis of the expected date of the birth.

In the case of adoption, the insured woman is entitled to maternity allowance for 14 weeks commencing from the week of the adoption.

The amount of the maternity allowance is determined on the basis of the weekly average of the insured woman’s paid and credited insurable earnings in the previous contributions year. Maternity allowance is comprised of a basic allowance and a supplementary allowance. The weekly amount of the basic allowance is equal to 75% of the weekly average of the beneficiary’s basic insurable earnings in the previous contributions year. Where the beneficiary is the main breadwinner, the weekly amount of the basic allowance is increased to 80% for one dependant, to 90% for two dependants and to 100% for three dependants.

The weekly amount of the supplementary benefit is equal to 75% of the average weekly insurable earnings of the beneficiary in excess of the basic insurable earnings.

Where the insured woman receives part of her remuneration from her employer for the period for which she is entitled to the maternity allowance, the allowance is reduced so that the total amount of the remuneration and allowance do not exceed her standard remuneration.

In order to be paid maternity allowance, the insured woman must submit an application on a special form which is obtainable from any social insurance office. After being completed appropriately by the woman and her doctor and employer, the application is delivered to the nearest social insurance office.

The application must be submitted within 21 days of the date of commencement of the maternity leave. Where the application is submitted late, the allowance is paid retrospectively only for 21 days. However, in exceptional circumstances, where the claimant shows that there was a good reason for the delay in the submission of the application, the allowance may be paid if the claimant submits an application within 12 months of the date from which she requests payment of the allowance.

A claimant who is not satisfied with the decision of the Department of Social Insurance concerning her application can challenge the decision by addressing an appeal to the Minister for Labor and Social Insurance within 15 days of receiving notification of the decision.

Invalidity insurance - Beneficiaries and conditions for entitlement

The invalidity pension is payable to insured employed and self-employed persons and voluntary contributors working abroad for Cypriot employers who are under 63 years of age.

Requirements:
- The insured person must have been incapable of work for at least 156 days, and it must be expected that he will be permanently incapable of work, unable, that is to say, to earn from work which he could reasonably be expected to carry out more than 1/3 of the amount that a healthy worker in the same occupational category and with the same education in the same region normally earns, or, if he is from 60 to 63 years of age, more than 1/2 of the amount normally earned
- Three years must have passed from the day on which the person became insured and the day on which he was deemed permanently incapable of work, and in that period, he must have paid contributions in the lower insurable earnings division totaling not less than 156 times the weekly basic insurable earnings amount
- The insured person must have earned or been credited with average weekly insurable earnings in the lower insurable earnings division equal to not less than 1/4 of the average weekly insurable earnings amount from 5 October 1964, or from 7 January 1957 if that is more advantageous to him or her, or from the time at which he reached the age of 16, up to the final week before the onset of the invalidity,
- Insurable earnings equal to at least 20 times the weekly basic insurable earnings amount must have been paid or credited in the previous year, or an average of such earnings in the previous two years must have been paid or credited

The invalidity pension is comprised of a basis pension and a supplementary pension. The weekly amount of the basic pension is calculated from the average weekly insurable earnings paid or credited in the lower insurable earnings division. The basic pension for 100% invalidity is equal to 60% of the average weekly earnings referred to above for a beneficiary without dependants, 80% for a beneficiary with one dependant, 90% for a beneficiary with two dependants and 100% for a beneficiary with three or more dependants. It is pointed out that the above percentages apply only when the beneficiary is a man, or a woman whose spouse is incapable of maintaining himself or a widow or a woman who is separated or divorced or unmarried. Where the beneficiary is a woman whose husband in not incapable of maintaining himself, the basic pension for 100% invalidity is 60% of average weekly earnings for a beneficiary without dependants, 70% for a beneficiary with one dependant and 80% for a beneficiary with two or more dependants. The weekly amount of the supplementary pension for 100% invalidity is equal to 1/52 of 1.5% of the total insurable earnings of the beneficiary paid or credited in the higher insurable earnings division. The total pension (basic and supplementary) may not be less than 85% of the basic pension that would be paid to a beneficiary with full insurance under the basic part of the scheme.

Percentage of invalidity:
- Where the invalidity is between 50% and 66.66% and the insured person is from 60 to 63 years of age, the pension paid equals 60% of the pension that would be paid to the person if he had an employment incapacity of 100%;
- Where the invalidity is between 66.66% and 75%, the pension paid equals 75% of the pension that would be paid to the insured person if he had an employment incapacity of 100%;
- Where the invalidity is greater than 75% but less than 100%, the pension paid equals 85% of the pension that would be paid to the insured person if he had an employment incapacity of 100%.
A 13th pension, equal to 1/12 of the pension paid for the whole year, is paid in December every year. The pensions are adjusted every year on the basis of the increase in the general level of wages and salaries and inflation.

In order to be paid an invalidity pension, the insured person must submit an application on a special form which is obtainable from any social insurance office. The application must be accompanied by all the necessary certificates stated in the application form and be delivered to the nearest social insurance office. The application must be submitted within three months of the day on which the insured person became permanently incapable of work. Where an application is submitted late, the pension is paid retrospectively only for three months. However, in exceptional circumstances, where the claimant shows that there was a good reason for the delay in the submission of the application, the pension may be paid retrospectively for a period of up to 12 months.

The claimant may lose the right to receive the invalidity pension for up to six weeks if he refuses:
- To attend for a medical examination or
- To submit to treatment or
- To participate in a vocational training program.

Old-age insurance - Beneficiaries and conditions for entitlement

The old-age pension is payable to all insured persons, regardless of whether they have been employed persons or self-employed persons or voluntary contributors.

Requirements:
- The insured person must have reached the pensionable age of 65;
- Three years must have passed between the date when the person became insured and the date on which he reached pensionable age, and in that period the person must have paid contributions in the lower insurable earnings division on earnings totaling not less than 156 times the weekly basic insurable earnings amount.
- Average weekly insurable earnings paid or credited in the lower insurable earnings division equal to not less than 1/4 of the average weekly insurable earnings amount from 5 October 1964, or from 7 January 1957 if that is more advantageous to the insured person, or from the time at which he reached the age of 16, up to the final week before the week in which the person reached the pensionable age.

However, an insured person is entitled to take the old-age pension on reaching the age of 63 if:
- He satisfies the contribution requirements explained above and has been insured for a period of time at least equal to 70% of the duration of the full insurance period, or
- Would be entitled to an invalidity pension if he had not reached the age of 63.

An insured person may request that the commencement of payment of the pension be deferred until he reaches the age of 68. In such cases, the pension is increased by 0.5% for each calendar month of the period of deferment.

The old-age pension is comprised of a basic pension and a supplementary pension. The weekly amount of the basic pension is calculated on the basis of the average weekly insurable earnings paid and credited in the lower insurable earnings division. The amount of the basic pension equals 60% of the said average weekly insurable earnings for a beneficiary with no dependants, 80% for a beneficiary with one dependant, 90% for a beneficiary with two dependants and 100% for a beneficiary with three or more dependants. A female beneficiary is not paid the increase in the pension for a dependent spouse; she is paid only the increase for dependent children and other dependants (up to a maximum of two dependants). The amount of the increase in the pension for children and other dependants equals 1/6 of the basic pension amount for each dependant. The weekly amount of the supplementary pension equals 1/52 of 1.5% of the total insurable earnings of the beneficiary paid or credited in the higher insurable earnings division. The total pension (basic and supplementary) may not be less than 85% of the basic pension that would be paid to a beneficiary with full insurance under the basic part of the scheme.

A 13th pension, equal to 1/12 of the pension paid for the whole year, is paid in December every year. The pensions are adjusted every year on the basis of the increase in the general level of wages and salaries and inflation.

The minimum monthly amount of the pension in 2004 is £149.89 for a beneficiary with no dependants, £199.85 for a beneficiary with one dependant, £224.84 for a beneficiary with two dependants and £249.82 for a beneficiary with three or more dependants. Payment of the old-age pension begins from the day on which the insured person acquires entitlement to it and continues for the rest of the person’s life.

In order to be paid the old-age pension, an insured person must submit an application on a special form which is obtainable from any social insurance office. The application, together with all the necessary certificates stated in the form, must then be delivered to the nearest social insurance office.

Time limit for submission of the application. The application must be submitted within three months of the day from which payment of the pension is requested. Where an application is submitted late, the pension is paid retrospectively only for three months. However, in exceptional circumstances, where the claimant shows that there was a good reason for the delay in the submission of the application, the pension may be paid retrospectively for a period of up to 12 months.

A person who is not satisfied with the decision of the Department of Social Insurance concerning his application can challenge the decision by addressing an appeal to the Minister for Labor and Social Insurance within 15 days of receiving notification of the decision.
If the claimant is not satisfied with the decision of the Minister, he can lodge an appeal with the Supreme Court within 75 days of receiving notification of the Minister's decision.

Life insurance (survivors' pensions) - Beneficiaries and conditions for entitlement

Life insurance is payable to the widow of an insured man who was an employed or self employed person or a voluntary contributor, provided that she was living with her husband prior to his death, or, if they were not living together, was being maintained by him. The widower of an insured woman is likewise entitled to life insurance if he is permanently incapable of maintaining himself and was being maintained by his wife prior to her death.

Requirements:
- The deceased husband or wife must have been entitled to an old-age pension on the day of his death;
- Where the deceased husband or wife was under pensionable age on the day of his death:
- Three years must have passed between the day the deceased husband or wife became insured and the day of his death, and in that period he must have paid contributions in the lower insurable earnings division on earnings totaling not less than 156 times the weekly basic insurable earnings amount and
- Average weekly insurable earnings equal to not less than 1/4 of the average weekly insurable earnings amount from 5 October 1964, or from 7 January 1957 if that is more advantageous to the widow or widower, or from the time at which the spouse reached the age of 16, must have been paid or credited in the lower insurable earnings division up to the final week before the spouse's death.

Where the death of the spouse was caused by any form of accident:
- At least 26 weeks must have passed between the day when the deceased spouse became insured and the day of his death, and in that period he must have paid contributions on insurable earnings totaling at least 26 times the weekly basic insurable earnings amount, and
- The deceased spouse must have been paid or credited with insurable earnings in the previous contributions year totaling not less than 20 times the weekly basic insurable earnings amount.

Life insurance is comprised of basic insurance and supplementary insurance. The weekly amount of the basic life insurance is calculated on the basis of the average weekly insurable earnings paid and credited to the deceased spouse in the lower insurable earnings division. The basic life insurance equals 60% of the said average weekly insurable earnings for a beneficiary with no dependants, 80% for a beneficiary with one dependant, 90% for a beneficiary with two dependants and 100% for a beneficiary with three or more dependants. The weekly amount of the supplementary life insurance equals 1/52 of the annual supplementary life insurance which is equal to 60% of 1.5% of the total insurable earnings of the husband/wife paid or credited in the higher insurable earnings division. The total life insurance (basic and supplementary) may not be less than 85% of the basic life insurance that would be paid to the widow or widower if the deceased spouse had had full insurance under the basic part of the scheme.

For the purposes of calculating the amount of the life insurance, the insured person's insurable earnings are revalued on the basis of the applicable basic insurable earnings amount on the day of his death.

A 13th life insurance amount, equal to 1/12 of the insurance paid for the whole year, is paid in December every year. The life insurance amounts are adjusted every year on the basis of the increase in the general level of wages and salaries and inflation. In 2004, the minimum amount of the life insurance is £149.89 for a beneficiary with no dependants, £199.85 for a beneficiary with one dependant, £224.84 for a beneficiary with two dependants and £249.82 for a beneficiary with three or more dependants.

Payment of life insurance begins from the date of the death of the deceased spouse and continues for the rest of the surviving spouse’s life or until she or he remarries. In the latter circumstance, the widow is paid a lump sum equal to the life insurance amount of one year, but without the increase for dependants.

In order to be paid life insurance, the widow or widower must submit an application on a special form which is obtainable from any social insurance office. The application must be accompanied by all the necessary certificates stated in the application form and be delivered to the nearest social insurance office.

The application must be submitted within three months of the day of the spouse’s death. In the case of a late application, the life insurance is paid retrospectively only for three months. However, in exceptional circumstances, where the claimant shows that there was a good reason for the delay in the submission of the application, it may be paid retrospectively for a period of up to 12 months.

An insured widow who is receiving life insurance is entitled also to receive any other pension or allowance to which she is entitled on the basis of her own contributions.

A person who is not satisfied with the decision of the Department of Social Insurance concerning his application can challenge the decision by addressing an appeal to the Minister for Labor and Social Insurance within 15 days of receiving notification of the decision.

Unemployment benefits - Beneficiaries and conditions for entitlement

Unemployment benefit is payable to insured employed persons and to voluntary contributors working abroad for a Cypriot employer. Insured persons under 16 and over 63 years of age are not entitled to employment benefit. The ceiling of 63 years of age is raised to 65 when the insured person is not entitled to an old-age pension.

An insured person may claim unemployment benefit for days when he is unemployed, able to work and willing to accept suitable employment. The benefit is also payable to unemployed insured persons who attend any vocational training course. An insured person is not considered to be unemployed:
- On days when he is unable to work because of sickness;
- On Sundays;
- When on holiday;
- On any days on which he works in any additional occupation that was engaged in along with the former usual employment, and he receives earnings equal to at least 1/12 of the basic insurable earnings amount (£6.12 per day in 2004);
- On any day for which the employer pays his earnings.

Requirements:
- At least 26 weeks must have passed between the day when the person became insured and the day on which he became unemployed, and in that period he must have paid contributions on earnings totaling at least 26 times the weekly basic insurable earnings amount; and
- The person must have been paid or credited with insurable earnings in the previous contributions year totaling not less than 20 times the weekly basic insurable earnings amount.

When an employed person becomes unemployed, unemployment benefit is paid from the fourth day of unemployment. In the case of a voluntary contributor who was working abroad for a Cypriot employer, the benefit becomes payable after the first 30 days of unemployment. The benefit is payable for 156 working days in each period of interruption of employment.

An insured person whose entitlement to unemployment benefit runs out regains the entitlement after working and paying contributions on earnings totaling at least 26 times the weekly basic insurable earnings amount and after at least 26 weeks have passed from the last day for which he was previously paid the benefit.

An unemployed person who is over 60 years of age and not entitled to any form of occupational scheme regains the entitlement to unemployment benefit after working and paying contributions on earnings totaling at least 26 times the weekly basic insurable earnings amount and after at least 13 weeks have passed from the last day for which he was previously paid the benefit.

The amount of the unemployment benefit is determined on the basis of the insured person's average weekly insurable earnings paid and credited in the previous contributions year.

Unemployment benefit is comprised of a basic benefit and a supplementary benefit. The weekly amount of the basic benefit is equal to 60% of the weekly average of the beneficiary’s basic insurable earnings in the previous year. It is increased by one third for the main dependant or spouse and by one sixth for each child or other dependant (up to a maximum of two dependent children and other dependants). The increase for the main dependant/spouse is paid only when the income of the main dependant/spouse from his/her employment or the amount of the benefit which the main dependant/spouse can receive from the Social Insurance Fund does not exceed the amount which corresponds to the increase in the benefit for dependants. Where both spouses are entitled to the benefit at the same time, the increase for dependants is paid only to the spouse who is entitled to the higher increase of benefit. The weekly amount of the supplementary benefit is equal to 50% of the average weekly insurable earnings of the beneficiary in excess of the basic insurable earnings. However, in no circumstance is the supplementary benefit higher than the weekly basic insurable earnings amount.

In order to claim the benefit, an unemployed person must attend in person at the nearest social insurance office and sign the unemployment register. The claimant has to attend for the purpose of signing the register at regular intervals which are fixed by the social insurance office.

Loss of benefit. The claimant loses the entitlement to unemployment benefit for up to six weeks if he:
- Was to blame for losing his job or left the job voluntarily without good cause
- Refuses or neglects to submit an application for suitable work or to accept an offer of suitable work;
- Fails to take advantage of an opportunity for suitable work
- Refuses or neglects without good reason to comply with instructions issued by the Director of Social Insurance to attend a course of vocational training.
An insured person has no entitlement to unemployment benefit for days on which he does not work because of a strike due to an industrial dispute.

A person who is not satisfied with the decision of the Department of Social Insurance concerning his application can challenge the decision by addressing an appeal to the Minister for Labor and Social Insurance within 15 days of receiving notification of the decision.

Minimum income guarantee - Beneficiaries and conditions for entitlement

Every person legally residing in the Republic of Cyprus is entitled to benefit from the entire range of services provided by the Social Welfare Services. The services include those provided by the Family and Child Services (support services for the family, child protection services, adoption, probation services, etc.), the Service for Public Assistance, the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities and the Community Work Service (cooperation with local authorities and nongovernmental organisations).

Safeguarding of a minimum standard of living – beneficiaries and terms of entitlement. The public assistance legislation safeguards the right of every person who is residing legally in Cyprus to a dignified standard of living. Public assistance may be provided in the form of money and services in order to meet the basic and special needs of the beneficiary and his dependants. The services include home care, day care and residential care.

The social protection network in Cyprus caters for a wide variety of needs and compares well with the systems of other countries. The Public Assistance and Services Law safeguards the right of every person who is residing legally in the Republic to a dignified standard of living.

Public Assistance is paid to needy persons. The current monthly rate of the assistance for basic needs is £182.00 for the head of a family, £91.00 for each dependant aged 14 and over and £54.50 for each dependant under 14 years of age.