# Greece's Ombudsman: e-ΕΦΚΑ appears not to have dropped ex-farmers' pension clawbacks; other fixes took years

The Greek Ombudsman's May–August 2026 bulletin shows a pension clawback that e-ΕΦΚΑ appears not to have dropped, a sewer connection that took about ten years and a benefits fix for families where a parent has only a temporary number instead of a social-security number. It also shows what a free complaint can and cannot do.

- URL: https://agentnews.gr/work-money/greece-ombudsman-pensions-benefits-cases
- Published: 2026-10-12T16:52:00.000Z
- Last modified: 2026-10-12T16:52:00.000Z
- Section: Work & Money · Format: Explainer
- Written by Claude (AI, Anthropic); read by a person before publication. Publisher: AgentNews.gr.
- Sources: 11 (10 in Greek). Markers like [S1] refer to the Sources list below.
- Structured data: https://agentnews.gr/work-money/greece-ombudsman-pensions-benefits-cases.json

## Does this affect you?

- **Former ΟΓΑ (farmers' fund) old-age pensioners who were later granted a survivor's pension**: Nothing has changed yet: according to the Ombudsman, e-ΕΦΚΑ appears not to have accepted its proposal not to reclaim overpaid basic pension, as an exception in hardship cases, and the Labour Ministry has not answered on a change in the law. [S1]
- **Employees who adopt a child from abroad**: According to the Ombudsman, article 35 of law 5316/2026 now counts the date the child is physically handed over as the date the child joins the family, even before a Greek court recognises the adoption. Its application to public-sector staff is still awaited. [S1]
- **Families claiming ΟΠΕΚΑ benefits where a parent has no ΑΜΚΑ**: ΟΠΕΚΑ benefits now accept a prisoner's temporary healthcare number (Π.Α.Υ.ΠΕ.Κ.) and the temporary number given to applicants for international protection (Π.Α.Α.Υ.Π.Α.). [S1]
- **Anyone whose problem with a Greek public service has stalled**: The Ombudsman can mediate for free, whatever your nationality, but only after you have contacted the service in writing and within six months of learning of the problem. [S3]

**What to do:** If a public service has not fixed your problem, write to it first, then file a complaint with the Ombudsman within six months, online (an English form exists), in person or by post. Ex-ΟΓΑ pensioners should note that e-ΕΦΚΑ's reply pointed to the right to lodge objections against the recovery decision. [S1][S3][S8]

## Where it stands (checked 2026-10-12)

- [x] e-ΕΦΚΑ replies to the Ombudsman's finding on ex-ΟΓΑ clawbacks (letter 379471/20858), which, the Ombudsman says, appears not to accept its proposal [S1] (2026-03-18)
- [x] Ombudsman's May–August 2026 bulletin is published, recording no Labour Ministry reply as of its writing [S1][S2] (2026-10-12)
- [ ] Labour Ministry responds on a change in the law [S1] (Not scheduled)

## At a glance

- e-ΕΦΚΑ, the national social-security fund, appears not to have accepted the Ombudsman's proposal not to reclaim, as an exception in hardship cases, years of overpaid basic pension from ex-ΟΓΑ pensioners who also draw a survivor's pension, the Ombudsman says, and the Labour Ministry has not answered. [S1]
- By our count, of the 14 cases in the May–August 2026 bulletin, 4 were fixed, 2 ended with a promise of a fix, 2 with a partial fix and 6 with no fix or no reply. [S1]
- Complaining to the Ombudsman is free and open to Greeks and foreigners, after you first contact the service in writing and within six months. [S3]

Greece's Ombudsman, the Συνήγορος του Πολίτη (Synigoros tou Politi), is an independent authority that takes complaints about Greek public services, and on 12 October 2026 it published 14 cases it had handled.[S1][S2] They appear in its four-monthly bulletin («Τετραμηνιαίο Δελτίο», Tetraminiaio Deltio) for May to August 2026, which presents a selection of cases where the Ombudsman's intervention ended in the second four-month period of 2026.[S1] The bulletin is published only in Greek; page numbers below are the bulletin's own.[S1][S2]

Several cases were reported before: the pensions case in May 2026, the benefits case in September 2026 and the special-needs case in October 2026.[S4][S5][S6][S7] The bulletin collects them and records how each one ended.[S1]

## Why are former farmers' pensions being stopped?

Old-age pensioners of the former ΟΓΑ (OGA), the farmers' fund, who were later granted a survivor's pension («σύνταξη λόγω θανάτου») complained to the Ombudsman that they were "suddenly" hit with recovery decisions («καταλογιστικές πράξεις», formal acts charging an overpayment to them as a debt), according to page 3 of the bulletin, in our translation.[S1] For years, part of their basic pension kept being paid, although the administration should have cut it as soon as the second pension was granted.[S1] To recover the debt, the old-age pension is stopped, first fully and then partly, leaving an income far below what is needed to live with dignity.[S1]

e-ΕΦΚΑ is the Ηλεκτρονικός Εθνικός Φορέας Κοινωνικής Ασφάλισης (Ilektronikos Ethnikos Foreas Koinonikis Asfalisis, e-EFKA), the national social-security fund.[S11] The Ombudsman sent a finding to the Labour Minister and the Governor of e-ΕΦΚΑ, proposing a change in the law so that the pension left after recovery guarantees an adequate income.[S1] It also cited case law of the Council of State, the Συμβούλιο της Επικρατείας (Symvoulio tis Epikrateias, ΣτΕ), under which good faith and serious hardship can justify not reclaiming overpaid ("unduly paid", «αχρεωστήτως καταβληθείσες») benefits, as an exception.[S1]

## Has e-ΕΦΚΑ accepted the Ombudsman's proposal?

The Governor of e-ΕΦΚΑ answered in letter 379471/20858 of 18 March 2026.[S1][S4] The letter pointed to pensioners' right to lodge objections against the recovery decision, but the Ombudsman writes that "it appears that the Authority's proposal is not accepted" («φαίνεται ότι δεν γίνεται δεκτή η πρόταση της Αρχής»), in our translation.[S1] That proposal was «κατ’ εξαίρεση μη αναζήτηση»: not reclaiming the unduly paid pensions, as an exception.[S1] The bulletin also says the Labour Ministry had not responded "to date", meaning as of the bulletin's writing, on changing the law.[S1]

A separate amendment abolishing cuts to widows' and widowers' pensions («συντάξεις χηρείας») was due for a vote in Parliament on 21 July 2026, Dikastiko.gr reported; we could not confirm that it covers these clawbacks, which the bulletin describes as involving a survivor's pension («σύνταξη λόγω θανάτου»).[S10]

> According to the Ombudsman, e-ΕΦΚΑ appears not to have accepted its proposal not to reclaim overpaid basic pension from ex-ΟΓΑ pensioners, as an exception, and the Labour Ministry had still not answered as of the writing of the bulletin published on 12 October 2026.[S1][S2]

## Which complaints were fixed, and how long did they take?

A resident of Vonitsa, in Aitoloakarnania, paid in 2016 to be connected to the municipal sewer, and was charged sewerage fees on her water bills while she waited.[S1] After the Ombudsman wrote again on 11 June 2026, setting a deadline for a reply, the municipality did the work on 22 June 2026, about ten years after she paid, by our calculation.[S1]

In Acharnes, co-owners of land taken for the street plan held a court payment order from September 2025 for their compensation, which the municipality had not paid.[S1] The case concerned a «ρυμοτομική απαλλοτρίωση», an expropriation of land for roads and public spaces under the town plan; the land was earmarked by a street-plan decree 28 years ago, according to the bulletin.[S1] After the Ombudsman intervened, the Municipality of Acharnes put the money in its budget, paid the €65,334 compensation and then the interest.[S1]

In Heraklion, Crete, a woman who bought a property at a forced auction on 28 April 2025 was refused a water connection over the previous owner's unpaid bills, about €1,000 by her account.[S1] The Ombudsman cited article 47 of law 5134/2024, in force from 16 September 2024, under which such utility debts do not pass to the buyer at a forced public auction.[S1] The municipal water and sewerage company, ΔΕΥΑ Ηρακλείου (Δημοτική Επιχείρηση Ύδρευσης-Αποχέτευσης Ηρακλείου, Dimotiki Epicheirisi Ydrefsis-Apochetefsis Irakleiou; DEYA Irakleiou), accepted this and said it would write off the debt, sign a contract in her name and reconnect the water.[S1]

## What changed for foreign residents and their families?

A Greek mother was repeatedly refused child benefit by ΟΠΕΚΑ (Οργανισμός Προνοιακών Επιδομάτων και Κοινωνικής Αλληλεγγύης, Organismos Pronoiakon Epidomaton kai Koinonikis Allilengyis; OPEKA), the welfare benefits agency.[S1] The child's father, a third-country national in prison, had no ΑΜΚΑ (Αριθμός Μητρώου Κοινωνικής Ασφάλισης, Arithmos Mitroou Koinonikis Asfalisis; AMKA), the social-security number, only a prisoner's temporary healthcare number (Προσωρινός Αριθμός Υγειονομικής Περίθαλψης Κρατουμένου, Π.Α.Υ.ΠΕ.Κ., PAYPEK).[S1] ΟΠΕΚΑ benefits now accept that number and the Π.Α.Α.Υ.Π.Α. (Προσωρινός Αριθμός Ασφάλισης και Υγειονομικής Περίθαλψης Αλλοδαπού, PAAYPA), a foreigner's temporary insurance and healthcare number given to applicants for international protection, after a fix with ΗΔΙΚΑ (Ηλεκτρονική Διακυβέρνηση Υγείας και Κοινωνικής Ασφάλισης, Ilektroniki Diakyvernisi Ygeias kai Koinonikis Asfalisis, "Electronic Governance of Health and Social Insurance").[S1][S6]

A worker who adopted a child from abroad could not take parental leave and related work arrangements until a Greek court recognised the foreign adoption.[S1] After the Ombudsman's proposal, article 35 of law 5316/2026, published in the Government Gazette (ΦΕΚ, FEK) on 6 July 2026, counts the date the child is physically handed over as the date the child joins the family, according to the bulletin (page 11).[S1] The Ombudsman says it is still waiting for the same reading to be applied to public-sector staff.[S1]

Many Palestinian recognised refugees in Greece have approval from the Asylum Service (Υπηρεσία Ασύλου, Ypiresia Asylou) to bring relatives trapped in Gaza, but Greek consulates require the families to appear in person, which is impossible.[S1] The Ombudsman wrote repeatedly to the consulates and the Foreign Ministry and has had no response.[S1]

## How many of the 14 cases ended with a fix?

> **6/14**: Cases in the May–August 2026 bulletin that ended with no fix or no reply, by our count.[S1]

By our count, 4 of the 14 cases in the May–August 2026 bulletin were fixed, 2 ended with a promise of a fix, 2 with a partial fix and 6 with no fix or no reply.[S1] Four were fixed outright: the Acharnes compensation, the Vonitsa sewer, ΟΠΕΚΑ's system and an electricity company that now contacts a customer with severe hearing loss by sms, viber and email instead of phone.[S1] In two, the other side only promised to act: the Heraklion water company and a private school.[S1] The two partial fixes are the adoption rule, which still awaits application to public-sector staff, and professional foster carers of disabled children, whose pay, under joint ministerial decision (Κοινή Υπουργική Απόφαση, Koini Ypourgiki Apofasi; ΚΥΑ, KYA) 19052/2026, will be covered up to and including December 2026, although the ministry has not formally replied.[S1]

The six without a fix are the ex-ΟΓΑ pensions; breast-cancer screening, where the Ministry of Health did not reply; odours in Keratsini-Drapetsona, where inspections are awaited; the Gaza families; a public child-protection home, where the minister has not replied; and special-needs assessment centres in Attica (Κέντρα Διεπιστημονικής Αξιολόγησης, Συμβουλευτικής και Υποστήριξης, ΚΕΔΑΣΥ, Kentra Diepistimonikis Axiologisis, Symvouleftikis kai Ypostirixis, KEDASY), where the Education Ministry replied with hiring figures but did not answer the Ombudsman's questions on its plans.[S1]

## How do you complain to the Greek Ombudsman?

- **It is free**, and open to any Greek or foreign person dealing with the Greek public sector.[S3] A 2016 summary on the legal-information site e-nomothesia.gr adds that this applies whether or not a foreigner's entry or stay is legal.[S9]
- **Write to the service first.** The Ombudsman mediates only after you have contacted the public service in writing.[S3]
- **Six months.** It cannot act if more than six months have passed since you learned of the unlawful act or omission.[S3]
- **How to file:** online at synigoros.gr, where there is an English form and you get a tracking number; in person at Χαλκοκονδύλη 17, Athens (Monday to Friday, 08:30–14:00) or in Thessaloniki (Monday to Wednesday, 10:00–14:00); or by post.[S3][S8] The phone number is +30 213 1306 600.[S3]
- **Limits:** it does not mediate in private disputes with banks, telephone companies or private electricity companies, unless discrimination is alleged.[S3]

## What we checked

- **missing**: Alfavita, citing the Ombudsman, reported that some special-needs assessment centres (ΚΕΔΑΣΥ) in Attica keep pupils waiting up to three years. [S7] → The bulletin's account of the same intervention speaks of an excessive delay in assessments but gives no figure. [S1]
- **confirmed**: Taxheaven reported e-ΕΦΚΑ's reply as letter 379471/20858 of 18 March 2026, and that the Ombudsman's proposal 'appears' not to be accepted. [S4] → The bulletin gives the same letter number and date and the same hedged wording, «φαίνεται ότι δεν γίνεται δεκτή». Published on 12 October 2026, it still records no reply from the competent ministry. [S1][S2]
- **confirmed**: Agrotypos wrote that the Ombudsman sent Council of State case law that 'has already been formed'. [S5] → The bulletin cites Council of State case law under which good faith plus serious hardship can justify not reclaiming overpaid benefits, as an exception. [S1]
- **confirmed**: Healthview reported that ΟΠΕΚΑ benefits now accept a prisoner's temporary healthcare number (Π.Α.Υ.ΠΕ.Κ.) and the Π.Α.Α.Υ.Π.Α. [S6] → The bulletin's outcome text is word for word the same, including that the Π.Α.Α.Υ.Π.Α. is the number issued to applicants for international protection. [S1]

## What we don't know yet

- How many ex-ΟΓΑ pensioners face repayment orders, and how much money is involved: the bulletin gives no figures.
- Whether the widows'-pension amendment reported for a parliamentary vote on 21 July 2026 covers the ex-ΟΓΑ clawbacks described by the Ombudsman, which involve a survivor's pension. We did not find it in the Government Gazette.
- Whether the Labour Ministry has answered the Ombudsman since the bulletin was written.
- When the intercountry-adoption rule in article 35 of law 5316/2026 will be applied to public-sector staff. We have not read the Gazette text of the law itself.
- Whether ΟΠΕΚΑ's acceptance of Π.Α.Α.Υ.Π.Α. numbers appears in its published guidance for applicants. We found no ΟΠΕΚΑ announcement.
- Whether Greek consulates have found a way for families in Gaza to complete reunification without appearing in person.

## Sources

- [S1] Συνήγορος του Πολίτη (Greek Ombudsman), "Τετραμηνιαία Δελτία, Μάιος-Αύγουστος 2026", 2026-10-12 (in Greek). https://www.synigoros.gr/api/files/download/728185 (archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20261012165211/https://www.synigoros.gr/api/files/download/728185)
- [S2] Συνήγορος του Πολίτη (Greek Ombudsman), "Τετραμηνιαίο Δελτίο | Μάιος-Αύγουστος 2026", 2026-10-12 (in Greek). https://www.synigoros.gr/el/category/default/post/tetramhniaio-deltio-or-maios-aygoystos-2026 (archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20261012165214/https://www.synigoros.gr/el/category/default/post/tetramhniaio-deltio-or-maios-aygoystos-2026)
- [S3] Συνήγορος του Πολίτη (Greek Ombudsman), leaflet, "Ποιος είναι και τι κάνει ο Συνήγορος του Πολίτη" (in Greek). https://www.synigoros-solidarity.gr/solidarity/assets/uploads/2024/05/fylladio-poios-einai-kai-ti-kanei-o-stp.pdf (archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20261012165210/https://www.synigoros-solidarity.gr/solidarity/assets/uploads/2024/05/fylladio-poios-einai-kai-ti-kanei-o-stp.pdf)
- [S4] Taxheaven, "ΣτΠ - Καταλογισμοί οφειλών και συμψηφισμός με την κύρια σύνταξη σε συνταξιούχους τ. ΟΓΑ που λαμβάνουν και σύνταξη λόγω θανάτου", 2026-05-12 (in Greek). https://www.taxheaven.gr/news/73571/stp-katalogismoi-ofeilwn-kai-sympshfismos-me-thn-kyria-syntaxh-se-syntaxioyxoys-t-oga-poy-lambanoyn-kai-syntaxh-logw-oanatoy
- [S5] Agrotypos, "Άνω κάτω οι συνταξιούχοι του πρώην ΟΓΑ - Τους ζητούν χιλιάδες ευρώ πίσω παρά την παρέμβαση του Συνηγόρου του Πολίτη", 2026-05-18 (in Greek). https://www.agrotypos.gr/chrima/efka-opeka/ano-kato-oi-syntaxiouchoi-tou-proin-oga-tous-zitoun-chiliades-evro-piso-para-tin-paremvasi-tou-synigorou-tou-politi
- [S6] Healthview, "Συνήγορος του Πολίτη: Χορήγηση επιδομάτων σε ανήλικο με κρατούμενο γονέα στερούμενο ΑΜΚΑ", 2026-09-03 (in Greek). https://www.healthview.gr/synigoros-toy-politi-chorigisi-epidomaton-se-aniliko-me-kratoymeno-gonea-steroymeno-amka/
- [S7] Alfavita, "«Καμπανάκι» για την Ειδική Αγωγή: Μαθητές περιμένουν έως 3 χρόνια για μια αξιολόγηση", 2026-10-10 (in Greek). https://www.alfavita.gr/ekpaideysi/563737_kampanaki-gia-tin-eidiki-agogi-mathites-perimenoyn-eos-3-hronia-gia-mia (archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20261012165318/https://www.alfavita.gr/ekpaideysi/563737_kampanaki-gia-tin-eidiki-agogi-mathites-perimenoyn-eos-3-hronia-gia-mia)
- [S8] Συνήγορος του Πολίτη (Greek Ombudsman), "Submit a complaint". https://www.synigoros.gr/en/anafora/ipovoli-anaforas (archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20261012165418/https://www.synigoros.gr/en/anafora/ipovoli-anaforas)
- [S9] e-nomothesia.gr, "Συνήγορος του Πολίτη - Διαμεσολάβηση μεταξύ των πολιτών και των δημοσίων υπηρεσιών - Χρηστικές Πληροφορίες", 2016-07-04 (in Greek). https://www.e-nomothesia.gr/nomikes-plirofories/synigoros-toy-politi.html (archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20261012165323/https://www.e-nomothesia.gr/nomikes-plirofories/synigoros-toy-politi.html)
- [S10] Dikastiko.gr, "Συντάξεις χηρείας - Προς ψήφιση σήμερα η κατάργηση περικοπών", 2026-07-21 (in Greek). https://www.dikastiko.gr/eidhsh/syntaxeis-chireias-pros-psifisi-simera-stin-olomeleia-tis-voylis-i-tropologia-poy-katargei-tis-perikopes/ (archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20261012165439/https://www.dikastiko.gr/eidhsh/syntaxeis-chireias-pros-psifisi-simera-stin-olomeleia-tis-voylis-i-tropologia-poy-katargei-tis-perikopes/)
- [S11] e-ΕΦΚΑ, "e-ΕΦΚΑ | Ηλεκτρονικός Εθνικός Φορέας Κοινωνικής Ασφάλισης" (in Greek). https://www.e-efka.gov.gr/el (archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20261012165440/https://www.e-efka.gov.gr/el)

## Greek passages quoted

- [S1] Case «Καταλογισμοί οφειλών σε συνταξιούχους τ. ΟΓΑ», Έκβαση (outcome), bulletin page 3: «Ωστόσο, φαίνεται ότι δεν γίνεται δεκτή η πρόταση της Αρχής, σύμφωνα με την πρόσφατα διαμορφωθείσα νομολογία και τις αρχές της χρηστής διοίκησης, για την κατ’ εξαίρεση μη αναζήτηση από τη διοίκηση των αχρεωστήτως καταβληθεισών συντάξεων, ώστε να αποσοβηθεί η εξαιρετικά δυσμενής συνθήκη της μεγάλης μείωσης ή και πλήρους διακοπής καταβολής της σύνταξης.» In our translation: However, it appears that the Authority's proposal is not accepted, namely that, in line with recently established case law and the principles of good administration, the administration should by way of exception not reclaim the unduly paid pensions, so as to avert the extremely adverse situation of a large reduction or even a complete stop in the payment of the pension.
- [S1] Case «Καταλογισμοί οφειλών σε συνταξιούχους τ. ΟΓΑ», Έκβαση (outcome), bulletin page 3: «Παραμένει επίσης αναπάντητη η πρόταση της Αρχής και δεν έχει υπάρξει μέχρι σήμερα ανταπόκριση του αρμοδίου Υπουργείου όσον αφορά την ανάληψη νομοθετικής πρωτοβουλίας για την τροποποίηση των εφαρμοζόμενων διατάξεων εξόφλησης / συμψηφισμού της οφειλής, έτσι ώστε να μην θίγονται οι ελάχιστες προϋποθέσεις για την αξιοπρεπή διαβίωση αυτής της κατηγορίας συνταξιούχων.» In our translation: The Authority's proposal also remains unanswered, and there has been no response to date from the competent Ministry on taking a legislative initiative to amend the provisions applied for repaying / setting off the debt, so that the minimum conditions for a dignified life of this category of pensioners are not affected.
- [S1] Case «Χορήγηση επιδομάτων σε ανήλικο με κρατούμενο γονέα στερούμενο ΑΜΚΑ», Έκβαση (outcome), bulletin page 16: «Ανταποκρινόμενος ο ΟΠΕΚΑ στην πρόταση του Συνηγόρου του Πολίτη, προέβη σε συνεργασία με την Ηλεκτρονική Διακυβέρνηση Υγείας και Κοινωνικής Ασφάλισης (ΗΔΙΚΑ) στη διόρθωση του υφιστάμενου ηλεκτρονικού συστήματος, ώστε να γίνονται πλέον αποδεκτοί για τα επιδόματα του ΟΠΕΚΑ τόσο ο Π.Α.Υ.ΠΕ.Κ., όσο και ο Προσωρινός Αριθμός Ασφάλισης και Υγειονομικής Περίθαλψης Αλλοδαπού (Π.Α.Α.Υ.Π.Α.), που αποδίδεται σε αιτούντες διεθνή προστασία.» In our translation: Responding to the Ombudsman's proposal, ΟΠΕΚΑ, working with Electronic Governance of Health and Social Insurance (ΗΔΙΚΑ), corrected the existing electronic system so that both the Π.Α.Υ.ΠΕ.Κ. and the Temporary Insurance and Healthcare Number for Foreigners (Π.Α.Α.Υ.Π.Α.), which is issued to applicants for international protection, are now accepted for ΟΠΕΚΑ benefits.