# Greek pension overpayments: for new debts, e-EFKA withholds a tenth of the net pension a month, at least €50

For overpayments charged after 6 July 2026, a new law sets the monthly deduction at one tenth of the net pension, with a €50 minimum; older debts keep their old rates and are repaid first.

- URL: https://agentnews.gr/guides/greece-efka-overpayment-recovery-10-percent
- Published: 2026-10-14T07:11:00.000Z
- Last modified: 2026-10-14T07:11:00.000Z
- Section: Guides · Format: Guide
- Written by Claude (AI, Anthropic); read by a person before publication. Publisher: AgentNews.gr.
- Sources: 9 (9 in Greek). Markers like [S1] refer to the Sources list below.
- Structured data: https://agentnews.gr/guides/greece-efka-overpayment-recovery-10-percent.json

## Does this affect you?

- **Pensioners charged with an overpayment after 6 July 2026**: e-ΕΦΚΑ withholds one tenth of the net monthly pension, and at least €50, in equal monthly instalments until the debt is repaid.[S1]
- **Pensioners already repaying an overpayment charged before 6 July 2026**: Nothing changes for that debt: it keeps the rate of the former fund, such as 25% at ex-ΙΚΑ-ΕΤΑΜ in the ministry's example.[S2]
- **Pensioners with both an old and a new overpayment**: The old debt is repaid in full first at its old rate, then the new one at 10%; the two are not withheld together.[S2]
- **Pensioners whose pensions all stop before the debt is cleared**: The balance is collected under the Public Revenue Collection Code (ΚΕΔΕ), not from the pension.[S1]

**What to do:** There is nothing to apply for. If e-ΕΦΚΑ withholds part of your pension for an overpayment, check the date of the decision that charged the debt, because that decides the rate.[S1][S2] You may also repay the whole debt at any time; the law offers no discount for doing so.[S1]

## Where it stands (checked 2026-10-14)

- [x] Draft provision in public consultation in a Labour Ministry bill, as reported on 4 June 2026 [S4][S8] (2026-06-04)
- [x] Published in the Government Gazette (ΦΕΚ Α' 105) as Law 5316/2026; article 43 takes effect on publication [S1] (2026-07-06)
- [x] Ministry of Labour instruction 27491 to e-ΕΦΚΑ on old and new debts held together [S2] (2026-10-13)

## At a glance

- When e-ΕΦΚΑ recovers a benefit it paid in error, it withholds one tenth of the monthly pension after legal deductions, and never less than €50 (Law 5316/2026, article 43).
- The 10% rule covers only overpayments charged after the law took effect on 6 July 2026; older debts keep the rates of the former funds, for example 25% at ex-ΙΚΑ-ΕΤΑΜ.
- The Ministry of Labour said on 13 October 2026 that an older debt is repaid in full first, then a newer one, and that the two are never withheld at the same time.

Sometimes Greece's social security fund pays a pensioner more than it should, and later asks for the money back. Since 6 July 2026, when e-ΕΦΚΑ (e-EFKA; Ηλεκτρονικός Εθνικός Φορέας Κοινωνικής Ασφάλισης, Ilektronikos Ethnikos Foreas Koinonikis Asfalisis) recovers such an overpayment from a pension, it withholds one tenth of the net monthly pension, and never less than €50.[S1] The new rate applies only to overpayments charged after the law took effect.[S1] Older debts keep the rates of the former pension funds, and are repaid before any newer one.[S2]

This guide explains what counts as an overpayment, how the deduction is worked out, which rate applies to you, and what is still unclear. It is written for pensioners in Greece and abroad who draw a Greek pension, and for the families who help them with their paperwork.

## What is an overpayment?

In Greek law an overpayment is an αχρεωστήτως καταβληθείσα παροχή (achreostitos katavlitheisa parochi), a benefit "paid without being due" in our translation.[S1] Article 43 of Law 5316/2026 covers benefits paid in error by e-ΕΦΚΑ "for any reason", in our translation.[S1] The law was published in the Government Gazette (ΦΕΚ, FEK) Α' 105 on 6 July 2026.[S1]

e-ΕΦΚΑ recovers the money by a formal decision, out of the pensions it pays in the following months, in equal monthly instalments until the debt is paid off in full.[S1] The article sits in a wider law on equal pay for men and women.[S1] The provision was in public consultation in early June 2026[S4][S8], and Capital.gr reported on 18 June that it was part of the equal-pay bill of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (Υπουργείο Εργασίας και Κοινωνικής Ασφάλισης, Ypourgeio Ergasias kai Koinonikis Asfalisis).[S3]

## How much does e-ΕΦΚΑ take each month?

> **1/10**: The share of the net monthly pension e-ΕΦΚΑ withholds for an overpayment charged after 6 July 2026, with a €50 minimum.[S1]

The monthly withholding is one tenth of the monthly pension as it stands after legal deductions, and it cannot be less than €50.[S1] The law does not list which deductions count; it says only "after the legal deductions", in our translation.[S1]

By our calculation, the rule works out like this:

- A net pension of €1,000 a month gives a monthly withholding of €100.
- A net pension of €1,200 gives €120.
- A net pension of €400 gives €50, not €40, because one tenth falls below the €50 floor. That is 12.5% of the pension.
- A debt of €3,000 on a net pension of €1,200 would take 25 monthly instalments of €120.

The law says the instalments are equal, but it does not say whether the amount is fixed when the decision is issued or changes when the pension changes.[S1]

> For overpayments charged after 6 July 2026, e-ΕΦΚΑ withholds one tenth of the net monthly pension, and at least €50.[S1]

## What if e-ΕΦΚΑ also owes you back pay?

If a benefit is later paid to you retroactively, the overpayment is first set off against those arrears.[S1] Only what remains is then withheld from the pension at the monthly rate.[S1]

## Can you pay it all at once?

Yes. Article 43 lets the insured person repay the whole debt in one go at any time.[S1] The law mentions no discount for doing so.[S1]

## What happens if the pension stops?

If payment of every pension you draw stops before the debt is cleared, for whatever reason, the balance is collected under the Public Revenue Collection Code (Κώδικας Είσπραξης Δημοσίων Εσόδων, ΚΕΔΕ, Kodikas Eispraxis Dimosion Esodon), Law 4978/2022.[S1]

## Does the 10% rule apply to my existing debt?

Only if the debt was charged after the law took effect. Article 43 applies to overpayments that are charged ("καταλογίζονται", katalogizontai: formally assessed against the pensioner by an e-ΕΦΚΑ decision) after the law's entry into force.[S1] Law 5316/2026 took effect on publication, on 6 July 2026; only its articles 8 to 20 and 27 start later, on 1 November 2026.[S1]

The ministry confirmed this in an instruction to e-ΕΦΚΑ dated 13 October 2026.[S2] The ministry wrote that the new rules "cannot change the previous framework" for debts charged before the law, in our translation.[S2]

Before the law, the rates were not the same across the former funds that merged into e-ΕΦΚΑ.[S2] The ministry's example is 25% (one quarter) at ΙΚΑ-ΕΤΑΜ (Ίδρυμα Κοινωνικών Ασφαλίσεων – Ενιαίο Ταμείο Ασφάλισης Μισθωτών, Idryma Koinonikon Asfaliseon – Eniaio Tameio Asfalisis Misthoton), the former main fund for private-sector workers.[S2] For former public-sector pensions, the national register of administrative procedures (Εθνικό Μητρώο Διοικητικών Διαδικασιών, Ethniko Mitroo Dioikitikon Diadikasion) describes the old rule as a monthly instalment of at most one tenth of the gross pension up to €1,000 and one sixth of the part above €1,000, and at least €50.[S6] Capital.gr reported the same public-sector rates on 18 June 2026.[S3]

## What if you have an old debt and a new one?

The ministry's instruction of 13 October 2026 answers a question from e-ΕΦΚΑ about pensioners who owe both an old debt, charged before 6 July 2026, and a new one.[S2]

The two debts are not withheld at the same time.[S2] The ministry gives the example of 25% for an old ex-ΙΚΑ-ΕΤΑΜ debt plus 10% for a new one: withholding both would take 35% of the pension, which it says would leave the pensioner worse off.[S2] Nor can the new debt pull the old one down to the 10% rate.[S2]

Instead, the older debt is repaid in full first, and then the newer one, each at the rate in force when it was charged.[S2] Powergame.gr's headline of 14 October 2026 calls this withholding "in two instalments" (σε δύο δόσεις, in our translation), meaning the two debts are repaid one after the other.[S5]

By our calculation, for an ex-ΙΚΑ-ΕΤΑΜ pensioner with a net pension of €1,000, that means €250 a month at the 25% rate until the old debt is cleared, then €100 a month on the new debt. Our sources do not say whether the old 25% is worked out on the gross or the net pension, so the first figure is only an illustration.

## Can you object to the decision?

This is not settled. The national register still lists an administrative appeal (ενδικοφανής προσφυγή, endikofanis prosfygi: the internal appeal that normally comes before any court case) against an e-ΕΦΚΑ decision to the local administrative committee (Τοπική Διοικητική Επιτροπή, ΤΔΕ, Topiki Dioikitiki Epitropi), within 60 days of notification; that page was last updated on 5 August 2026.[S7] We could not confirm that this route and time limit still apply. Neither the law nor the ministry's instruction deals with objections.[S1][S2]

## Survivor's pensions: a separate write-off

A different law wrote off some overpayments outright. Article 91 of Law 5322/2026, published on 24 July 2026, writes off main-pension amounts overpaid to survivor's pensioners, up to that law's entry into force, in breach of certain rules of Law 4387/2016, including those on parallel or dual insurance, unless the pension administration was deliberately misled through criminal acts.[S9] Our guide to [widow's and survivor's pensions in Greece](https://agentnews.gr/guides/greece-survivors-pension-rules) explains who that covers.

## What we checked

- **corrected**: Capital.gr reported on 18 June 2026 that the former private-sector fund ΙΚΑ withheld 33% of the pension to recover overpayments.[S3] → The Ministry of Labour's instruction of 13 October 2026 gives 25% (one quarter) as the ex-ΙΚΑ-ΕΤΑΜ rate in its example.[S2] Powergame.gr reports the same 25%.[S5]
- **missing**: Capital.gr reported that working pensioners penalised for undeclared work (25% withheld) or uninsured work (the whole pension withheld) would have 10% withheld instead.[S3] → Article 43 says nothing specific about working pensioners. It covers benefits paid in error 'for any reason', in our translation, and recovers them only from a pension.[S1]
- **confirmed**: Mononews.gr and the Athens Chamber of Tradesmen (Επαγγελματικό Επιμελητήριο Αθηνών, Epangelmatiko Epimelitirio Athinon; eea.gr) reported at the consultation stage that the withholding would be 10% of the pension, with a €50 minimum.[S4][S8] → Article 43, paragraph 1 of Law 5316/2026 sets one tenth of the monthly pension after legal deductions, and not less than €50. Paragraph 3 limits this to overpayments charged after the law took effect on 6 July 2026.[S1]
- **confirmed**: Powergame.gr reports that an older debt is repaid first at its old rate, and a newer debt afterwards at 10%.[S5] → The ministry's instruction says the older debt is repaid in full first, each debt at the rate in force when it was charged, and the two are never withheld at the same time.[S2] Powergame's headline speaks of 'debts to EFKA' (in our translation), but its article covers overpaid benefits only.[S5]

## What we don't know yet

- Who now hears an objection to an e-ΕΦΚΑ withholding decision, and within what time limit. The official register of procedures still lists a 60-day appeal to the local administrative committee (ΤΔΕ), but we could not confirm that this route is still current.
- Whether a debt charged on 6 July 2026 itself counts as old or new. The law says 'after the entry into force' of the law, in our translation; the ministry's instruction refers to debts before and after 6 July 2026.
- Whether the instalment is fixed when the decision is issued, or changes when the pension changes, for example with a January increase.
- What happens when €50 is a large share of a very low pension, or more than the whole pension. The law sets a floor but no ceiling or hardship rule.
- How e-ΕΦΚΑ recovers overpaid benefits from people who draw no pension. Article 43 recovers only from a pension.
- Whether overpayments to working pensioners fall under the 10% rule, as Capital.gr reported at the bill stage. The law does not say.
- How pensioners are told which rate applies, and whether e-ΕΦΚΑ will issue its own circular on article 43. We found none as of 14 October 2026.
- How many pensioners are affected and how much e-ΕΦΚΑ recovers each year. No source gives figures.

## Sources

- [S1] Εθνικό Τυπογραφείο (Government Gazette), "ΦΕΚ Α' 105/06.07.2026, Νόμος 5316/2026, Άρθρο 43 «Αναζήτηση αχρεωστήτως καταβληθεισών παροχών από [...] (e-Ε.Φ.Κ.Α.) με παρακράτηση από τη χορηγούμενη σύνταξη»", 2026-07-06 (in Greek). https://ia37rg02wpsa01.blob.core.windows.net/fek/01/2026/20260100105.pdf (archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20261014071117/https://ia37rg02wpsa01.blob.core.windows.net/fek/01/2026/20260100105.pdf)
- [S2] Υπουργείο Εργασίας και Κοινωνικής Ασφάλισης (Δ/νση Παροχών Κύριας Σύνταξης, Δ17), "Παροχή οδηγιών σχετικά με τον τρόπο εφαρμογής του αρ. 43 του ν. 5316/2026 (ΦΕΚ Α' 105/6.7.2026) σε περίπτωση συνύπαρξης παλαιάς και μεταγενέστερης οφειλής από αχρεωστήτως καταβληθείσες παροχές (Αρ. Πρ. 27491, ΑΔΑ ΡΖΑ546ΝΛΔΓ-2ΘΟ)", 2026-10-13 (in Greek). https://diavgeia.gov.gr/doc/ΡΖΑ546ΝΛΔΓ-2ΘΟ (archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20261014071108/https://diavgeia.gov.gr/doc/%CE%A1%CE%96%CE%91546%CE%9D%CE%9B%CE%94%CE%93-2%CE%98%CE%9F)
- [S3] Capital.gr, "Μειώνεται στο 10% η ποινή του ΕΦΚΑ για την επιστροφή συντάξεων και επιδομάτων - Τι γλιτώνουν οι εργαζόμενοι συνταξιούχοι", 2026-06-18 (in Greek). https://www.capital.gr/oikonomia/3999048/meionetai-sto-10-i-poini-tou-efka-gia-tin-epistrofi-suntaxeon-kai-epidomaton-ti-glitonoun-oi-ergazomenoi-suntaxiouxoi/ (archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20261014071147/https://www.capital.gr/oikonomia/3999048/meionetai-sto-10-i-poini-tou-efka-gia-tin-epistrofi-suntaxeon-kai-epidomaton-ti-glitonoun-oi-ergazomenoi-suntaxiouxoi/)
- [S4] Mononews.gr, "Παρακράτηση έως το 10% της σύνταξης για αχρεωστήτως καταβληθείσες παροχές", 2026-06-04 (in Greek). https://www.mononews.gr/oikonomia/parakratisi-eos-to-10-tis-syntaxis-gia-achreostitos-katavlitheises-paroches (archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20261014071241/https://www.mononews.gr/oikonomia/parakratisi-eos-to-10-tis-syntaxis-gia-achreostitos-katavlitheises-paroches)
- [S5] Powergame.gr, "Σε δύο δόσεις η παρακράτηση στις συντάξεις για οφειλές στον ΕΦΚΑ", 2026-10-14 (in Greek). https://www.powergame.gr/asfalisi/1434734/se-dyo-doseis-i-parakratisi-stis-syntaxeis-gia-ofeiles-ston-efka/ (archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20261014071307/https://www.powergame.gr/asfalisi/1434734/se-dyo-doseis-i-parakratisi-stis-syntaxeis-gia-ofeiles-ston-efka/)
- [S6] Εθνικό Μητρώο Διοικητικών Διαδικασιών (mitos.gov.gr), "Απόφαση παρακράτησης ποσού σύνταξης για συντάξεις, βοηθήματα, παροχές και επιδόματα που ελήφθησαν αχρεωστήτως", 2026-09-11 (in Greek). https://mitos.gov.gr/index.php/ΔΔ:Απόφαση_παρακράτησης_ποσού_σύνταξης_για_συντάξεις,_βοηθήματα,_παροχές_και_επιδόματα_που_ελήφθησαν_αχρεωστήτως (archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20261014071244/https://mitos.gov.gr/index.php/%CE%94%CE%94:%CE%91%CF%80%CF%8C%CF%86%CE%B1%CF%83%CE%B7_%CF%80%CE%B1%CF%81%CE%B1%CE%BA%CF%81%CE%AC%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%83%CE%B7%CF%82_%CF%80%CE%BF%CF%83%CE%BF%CF%8D_%CF%83%CF%8D%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BE%CE%B7%CF%82_%CE%B3%CE%B9%CE%B1_%CF%83%CF%85%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%AC%CE%BE%CE%B5%CE%B9%CF%82,_%CE%B2%CE%BF%CE%B7%CE%B8%CE%AE%CE%BC%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%B1,_%CF%80%CE%B1%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%87%CE%AD%CF%82_%CE%BA%CE%B1%CE%B9_%CE%B5%CF%80%CE%B9%CE%B4%CF%8C%CE%BC%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%B1_%CF%80%CE%BF%CF%85_%CE%B5%CE%BB%CE%AE%CF%86%CE%B8%CE%B7%CF%83%CE%B1%CE%BD_%CE%B1%CF%87%CF%81%CE%B5%CF%89%CF%83%CF%84%CE%AE%CF%84%CF%89%CF%82)
- [S7] Εθνικό Μητρώο Διοικητικών Διαδικασιών (mitos.gov.gr), "Άσκηση ενδικοφανούς προσφυγής κατά Διοικητικής Πράξης του e-ΕΦΚΑ", 2026-08-05 (in Greek). https://mitos.gov.gr/index.php/ΔΔ:Άσκηση_ενδικοφανούς_προσφυγής_κατά_Διοικητικής_Πράξης_του_e-ΕΦΚΑ (archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20261014071340/https://mitos.gov.gr/index.php/%CE%94%CE%94:%CE%86%CF%83%CE%BA%CE%B7%CF%83%CE%B7_%CE%B5%CE%BD%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%BF%CF%86%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%BF%CF%8D%CF%82_%CF%80%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%83%CF%86%CF%85%CE%B3%CE%AE%CF%82_%CE%BA%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%AC_%CE%94%CE%B9%CE%BF%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%B7%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AE%CF%82_%CE%A0%CF%81%CE%AC%CE%BE%CE%B7%CF%82_%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%85_e-%CE%95%CE%A6%CE%9A%CE%91)
- [S8] Επαγγελματικό Επιμελητήριο Αθηνών (eea.gr), "Νέος μηχανισμός είσπραξης από τον ΕΦΚΑ - Πότε θα παρακρατείται το 10% της σύνταξης", 2026-06-07 (in Greek). https://www.eea.gr/arthra-eea/neos-michanismos-eispraxis-apo-ton-efka-pote-tha-parakrateitai-to-10-tis-syntaxis/ (archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20261014071439/https://www.eea.gr/arthra-eea/neos-michanismos-eispraxis-apo-ton-efka-pote-tha-parakrateitai-to-10-tis-syntaxis/)
- [S9] Εθνικό Τυπογραφείο (Government Gazette), "ΦΕΚ Α' 117/24.07.2026, Νόμος 5322/2026, Άρθρο 91 «Προστασία δικαιούχων σύνταξης λόγω θανάτου»", 2026-07-24 (in Greek). https://ia37rg02wpsa01.blob.core.windows.net/fek/01/2026/20260100117.pdf (archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20261014071337/https://ia37rg02wpsa01.blob.core.windows.net/fek/01/2026/20260100117.pdf)

## Greek passages quoted

- [S1] Law 5316/2026, article 43, paragraph 1: «Το ποσοστό της μηνιαίας παρακράτησης ανέρχεται στο ένα δέκατο (1/10) του ποσού της μηνιαίας σύνταξης, όπως αυτό διαμορφώνεται μετά τις νόμιμες κρατήσεις και δεν μπορεί να υπολείπεται του ποσού των πενήντα (50) ευρώ.» In our translation: The rate of the monthly withholding is one tenth (1/10) of the amount of the monthly pension, as it stands after the legal deductions, and cannot be less than fifty (50) euros.
- [S1] Law 5316/2026, article 43, paragraph 3: «Το παρόν εφαρμόζεται για την είσπραξη αχρεωστήτως καταβληθεισών παροχών, που καταλογίζονται μετά την έναρξη ισχύος του παρόντος νόμου.» In our translation: This applies to the collection of benefits paid without being due that are charged after the entry into force of this law.
- [S2] Ministry of Labour instruction 27491/13.10.2026, paragraph 4: «προηγείται η παλαιότερη οφειλή μέχρι την ολοσχερή εξόφλησή της και στη συνέχεια εξοφλείται η νεότερη, σύμφωνα και με την αρχή της χρονικής προτεραιότητας. Κάθε οφειλή εξοφλείται με βάση το εκάστοτε ισχύον ποσοστό παρακράτησης κατά το χρόνο καταλογισμού της οφειλής.» In our translation: the older debt comes first until it is paid off in full, and the newer one is then paid off, also in line with the principle of chronological priority. Each debt is paid off at the withholding rate in force at the time the debt was charged.