Cyprus - Long-term social care
This chapter contains what you need to know about provisions for long-term social care in Cyprus.
This covers benefits (in cash and in kind) for:
- home care;
- day care;
- institutional care;
- respite care.
In what situation can I claim?
All persons legally residing in Cyprus who are recipients of the Guaranteed Minimum Income (GMI) and persons not eligible to GMI but with insufficient income to cover their social care needs provided that they meet all the other conditions specified in the GMI legislation may receive additional subsidisation for the coverage of these needs by the Welfare Benefits Administration Service.
In the context of the relevant GMI legislative framework, both in-kind and/or cash benefits are provided for long-term social care according to individual’s care needs.
The legislative framework (GMI legislation) does not impose compulsory periods of employment, insurance contribution or economic activity.
The Social Welfare Services or the Department of Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities are responsible for assessing the care needs of GMI applicants/recipients using specialised assessment tools. The results of this assessment are then communicated to the Welfare Benefits Administration Service for their decision.
What conditions do I need to meet?
To apply for care under the Guaranteed Minimum Income and in general the Social Benefits (Emergency Needs and Care Needs) Regulations and Decrees as they are amended or superseded / the Scheme for the Subsidisation of Care Services, a person must complete and submit an application for the provision of a guaranteed minimum income. The supplementary forms (EEE10.v3 and EEE11.v3) for the care of GMI beneficiaries must be submitted at the same time.
People who are already in receipt of the GMI and wish to submit an application to cover care needs must complete and submit the supplementary forms (EEE10.v3 and EEE11.v3) for the care of GMI beneficiaries.
What am I entitled to and how can I claim?
The legislation covers the following types of care:
Home care: covers an extensive range of care services which include personal and household care. The maximum amount granted to cover the needs of home care either by an approved natural and/or legal person, or by Domestic Worker is €400/month per family unit. For extraordinary and justified cases, for instance when additional care attendants are required, a larger amount can be granted.
For persons with disabilities the amounts granted are € 100, € 200, €300, € 400 according to their needs.
For persons aged 80 years old and above the amount for home care is € 200 or € 400.
Institutional care: covers 24-hour care, where the person requires continuous support and their needs cannot be covered by family members or other supportive services in their environment. The State may pay monthly cash benefit for residential care provided by approved physical and/or legal entities. Cash benefits vary from €625 to €745 (without VAT) per month depending on the care needs of the beneficiary (e.g. bedridden, mobility difficulties or not). The level of the subsidisation is defined by an automated analysis of specific assessment tools of institutional care needs.
Day care: is provided by approved adult centres which serve elderly people and people with disabilities during the day and which may be operated by physical and/or legal entities (NGOs, Local Authorities, private sector). Day-care service providers look after people for a number of hours during the day and they provide them with - amongst other things - care services, meals, creative activities and entertainment. It is more flexible and enhances the service provided both to the people themselves, contributing to their social inclusion, and to working members of their family who are burdened with their care. The State may pay a cash benefit of up to €137 for day care provided by approved physical and/or legal entities. The level of the subsidisation is defined by an automated analysis of specific assessment tools of day care needs. In some cases the transportation/accompanying costs are also covered.
Respite care: respite care is temporary/short-term care of a person which allows the unofficial carer to have a holiday/a break from their care responsibilities. The service supports informal carers in their valuable role and simultaneously helps the person stay in their home. Respite care can also be requested by people who live alone and occasionally feel unable to look after themselves and require help. Respite care is arranged depending on the needs and preferences of the people themselves and of their families as far as possible; and it is provided through the above types of care (home, institutional or day care).
In order to claim subsidisation of their care needs, interested persons should complete and submit an application for the Guaranteed Minimum Income with the supplementary forms for the care of GMI beneficiaries (EEE10.v3 and EEE11.v3).
Persons who are already recipients of GMI and have care needs should complete and submit the supplementary form for the care of GMI beneficiaries (EEE10.v3 and EEE11.v3).
Community nursing care
1- Home nursing: includes nursing services brought to the home with the aim of helping people and their families to deal with problems arising after a sudden illness, relapse of a chronic illness or long-term disability and incapacity. It includes evaluation of health risks factors for the person, housing/living and prevention of disease, disability or accident, and also maintaining their health, activity and independence at the highest possible level.
2- Community mental health nursing: the service includes involvement in primary prevention and mental health promotion with a wide range of services and activities, through the following: psychometric assessment tools for mental, biological, social status of the person, cooperation and communication with private psychiatrists, primary care teams, governmental and non-governmental services and counselling and supporting of the families, elderly people.
From January 1st 2021, the Community Nursing Care which includes both General & Mental nursing, is provided to all eligible through the National Health System, after doctor’s referral. A short-term referral is issued for 3 visits and has a time limit of 6 months to be executed. A medium-term referral is issued for 6 visits and has a time limit of 6 months to be executed. In those cases where the nurse and the doctor deem that the specific case needs more visits, then they should submit a joint request for a larger number of visits which will be evaluated by the Health Insurance Organization. Patients are entitled to receive a maximum of 12 visits per year. If the referral concerns a beneficiary who falls into the category of patients suffering from a serious mental disorder, then the beneficiary may receive up to 24 visits
Jargon busters
- Guaranteed Minimum Income is provided under the 2014 Law on the guaranteed minimum income and social benefits in general (Law 109(I)/2014).
- Personal and home care services include, for example, the following: looking after appearance and personal hygiene (e.g. washing/bathing, dressing, oral cleanliness, nail cutting, using the toilet), maintaining hygiene and cleanliness in the house, preparing meals, arranging the purchase of food and necessities, arranging bill payments, washing clothes, and providing assistance with taking medication.
- Approved care programmes/centres are care service providers, physical and/or legal entities, which are approved under the legislation of the Social Welfare Services for institutional or day care. For home care the physical and legal entities should meet the requirements/obligations set by the Director of Social Welfare Services, pending the approval of the relevant legislative framework.
Forms you may need to fill in
- Application for the provision of a Guaranteed Minimum Income (forms ΕΕΕ1.v2, ΕΕΕ3.v2, ΕΕΕ5.v2, EEE.15).
- Supplementary form for the care of GMI beneficiaries (form ΕΕΕ10.v3).
- Special form to cover the need to use incontinence pants (form ΕΕΕ11.v3).
Know your rights
The links below define your rights legally. They are not European Commission websites and they do not represent the Commission's views:
- 2014 Law on the guaranteed minimum income and social benefits in general (Law 109(I)/2104);
- Guaranteed minimum income and social benefits (emergency and care needs) Decrees.
European Commission publication and website
Who do you need to contact?
Social Welfare Services
- Prodromou 63
- 1468 Nicosia
- CYPRUS
- http://www.mlsi.gov.cy/sws
- Email: Central.sws@sws. dmsw.gov.cy
Welfare Benefits Administration Service
- Themistokli Dervi 46
- MEDCON Tower
- 1066 Nicosia
- CYPRUS
- Tel.: 22803030