“Personal Assistant” Program: €34.8 Million ESPA Boost for Nationwide Rollout

The Greek government is moving to scale up the “Personal Assistant” program for people with disabilities, transitioning it from a pilot scheme into a nationwide operational policy, supported by €34.8 million in funding from the ESF+ (ESPA 2021–2027).

The total public co-financed budget amounts to €34,822,760, following a decision by Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance Nikos Papathanasis. The program falls under the “Human Resources and Social Cohesion” operational framework and is overseen by the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family Affairs, led by Minister Domna Michailidou.

The rollout is scheduled to enter full-scale implementation in June.

How the funding is allocated

According to the official financial plan:

• around €30 million will be directed to the provision of Personal Assistant services over a three-year period,
• approximately €5 million will be allocated to supporting implementation actions.

These include digital infrastructure, training systems, evaluation mechanisms, and administrative support structures.

What the Personal Assistant service provides

The program is designed to support people with disabilities through a personally selected assistant, chosen either directly by the beneficiary or their legal representative.

The Personal Assistant may provide support:

• at home,
• outside the home,
• in daily mobility,
• in work and social activities,
• and in everyday personal needs.

A key principle of the program is individualized support, meaning assistance is tailored to each person’s specific needs, lifestyle, and preferences.

The objective is to strengthen:

• independent living,
• social inclusion,
• and participation in employment and community life.

From Recovery Fund pilot to ESF+ expansion

The program was initially implemented as a pilot project funded through Greece’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). The new ESF+ funding ensures continuity and marks its transition into a long-term structural social policy.

Officials describe this shift as a move from experimental implementation to a permanent national support mechanism.

Digital systems, training, and implementation infrastructure

A significant part of the budget will fund the operational backbone of the program, including:

• upgrading the digital management platform,
• redesigning training materials for assistants,
• expanding e-learning systems,
• training both beneficiaries and assistants,
• establishing evaluation committees,
• operating a dedicated support helpdesk,
• and public awareness campaigns.

The aim is to create a fully standardized national framework for the Personal Assistant system.

Policy significance

For the Greek state, the program represents a major pillar of disability and social inclusion policy.

It is intended to address long-standing structural gaps in care provision, reducing reliance on informal family support and improving access to independent living services.

However, implementation remains the key challenge. Policy analysts highlight that success will depend on:

• availability of trained personal assistants,
• efficiency of evaluation procedures,
• and nationwide coverage capacity.

Ultimately, the program’s effectiveness will be judged not by its budget size, but by whether it delivers real, individualized support on the ground for people with disabilities across Greece.