Overview

Parliament approved amendments to the State Student Assistance Law, expanding eligibility criteria and increasing financial support for students. Changes include higher income thresholds, increased grant amounts and removal of income and asset criteria for large families.

Key Revisions

Lawmakers increased the eligible household income threshold by €5,000, expanding access to state support. Families with annual income up to €44,000 will receive a 10% increase in student grants under the updated framework.

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Eligibility rules were revised to remove income and asset criteria for families with more than five dependent children. Previous restrictions on combining student aid with tax deductions were also removed, allowing broader financial support. Authorities may extend the application deadline subject to approval by the Council of Ministers.

Voices From Parliament

Sotiris Ioannou, Member of Parliament representing E.L.A.M, said the changes will expand access to support with limited budget impact. He added that families with four children remain partially excluded under the current criteria.

Alekos Tryfonidis, Member of Parliament from DIPA, said higher income thresholds and the removal of asset requirements will allow more students to access funding. He noted that eligibility rules for households with four dependent children remain unresolved.

Christos Christofidis, Member of Parliament from AKEL, said the amendments mark progress after years without changes to student support policy. He added that approximately 3,200 additional families are expected to benefit from the revised framework.

Impact And Implementation

The updated law expands the number of eligible households and increases financial support levels. Changes are expected to improve access to higher education funding across different income groups. Implementation will depend on application uptake and administrative adjustments following the legislative changes.