Moreover, since May 2024, the provision of cash assistance was interrupted for a period of roughly 10 months, reportedly on account of a lack in the allocation of funds by the MoMA. 955 Following a brief resumption in the spring/summer of 2025, as of 30 June 2025 this element of material reception conditions was once more suspended and is not expected to resume within the year.956 Of the 5,371 applicants who received financial aid in July 2024, the majority were from Afghanistan (17%), followed by Syrians (16%), nationals of Sierra Leone (13%), the DRC (10%), Somalia (8%), Eritrea (7%), and lastly Iraq (6%) and Cameroon (4%). Another 19% of beneficiaries were from a combination of other nationalities. The majority of beneficiaries (60%) were between 18-34 years of age, followed by those between 0-13 (19%), and those between 35-64 (19%), with another 2% being between the age of 14-17 and less than 2% being 65 years of age or older. With the exception of the latter two categories, which are characterised by an equal proportion of male and female beneficiaries, in all other cases the majority of beneficiaries were men. No disaggregated data on the family situation of the applicants was published.957 The amount distributed to each household is proportionate to the size of each household and differs depending on whether the accommodation provided is catered or not. The financial sums in 2024 remained the same as the ones distributed since 2021, ranging from €75 for single adults in catered accommodation, up to a € 420 ceiling for a family of four or more residing in self-catered accommodation.958 In general terms, the sum provided is significantly lower than what is provided under the Minimum Guaranteed Income, which following a slight increase in November 2023, 959 foresees €216 support for a single-member household that is increased by €108 for each additional adult member of the household and by €54 for each minor member, up to a €972 ceiling. In addition to the fact that financial aid preserves refugees’ dignity and facilitates the process of regaining an autonomous life, by allowing them to choose what they need most, the programme has also had a significant and positive impact on local communities, as this assistance is eventually injected into the local economy, family shops and service providers. In proportion to programme’s beneficiaries, UNHCR estimated that approximately €7.4 million in cash assistance was expected to be injected into local economies in December 2020.960 No relevant data has been reported since the MoMA started issuing reports on the implementation of the financial aid programme. 3. Reduction or withdrawal of reception conditions Indicators: Reduction or Withdrawal of Reception Conditions 1. Does the law provide for the possibility to reduce material reception conditions? Yes 2. Does the law provide for the possibility to withdraw material reception conditions? Yes No No Rules regarding reduction and withdrawal There are several situations in which reception conditions may be reduced or withdrawn. 961 Firstly, reception conditions may be reduced or in exceptional and specifically justified cases withdrawn, following a decision of the competent reception authority, where applicants: (a) If provided with accommodation in the context of reception, abandon said accommodation without informing the competent administration or without permission or abandon the geographical location of residence which has been determined for them by the competent authority under Article 49 (2) Asylum Code (see geographical restriction); 955 956 957 958 959 960 961 See RSA, ‘Suspension of financial assistance to asylum seekers in Greece since May 2024’, 1 October 2024, available at: https://tinyurl.com/yk9ke39b. As per information inter alia received during the 7 July CEAS sub-Working Group and the 9 July 2025 National Protection Working Group. MoMA, Factsheet July 2024, op.cit. Competent authorities have not published more recent data since then. Article 3 Ministerial Decision 115202/2021 on the ‘Terms of material reception conditions in the form of financial assistance to applicants for international protection’, Gov. Gazette 3322/B/26-7-2021, available in Greek at: https://bit.ly/4dbV70A. See also: Ministerial Decision 2857/29.9.2021 regulating the cash assistance program. Article 2 (7) JMD 53923/23-7-2021, Gov. Gazette 3359/28-7-2021 as amended by JMD 97046/6.11.2023, Gov. Gazette 6456/13-11-2023, available at: https://bit.ly/4b6IFgO. UNHCR, Factsheet: Greece, 1-31 December 2020, available at: https://bit.ly/2QVbl8I, p. 3. Article 61 (1), (2), (3) and (4) of Asylum Code. 182