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People with disabilities in Cyprus face widespread poverty due to state policies that tie support to strict income criteria, the head of the Cyprus Confederation of Disabled People’s Organizations (KYSOA) said, urging the government to adopt long-promised reforms.
Citing new Eurostat data showing 27.6% of people with disabilities in Cyprus struggled to make ends meet in 2024, KYSOA President Themis Anthopoulou said disability in Cyprus “leads to destitution” because most benefits are linked to the Guaranteed Minimum Income (GMI). Of the 15,000 current beneficiaries, only 4,000 receive allowances without income checks, she said, while another 15,000 people are excluded entirely.
Anthopoulou called for disability allowances to be detached from GMI criteria, which also consider the income of beneficiaries’ adult children. “This only happens in Cyprus,” she said, warning that current rules force families into poverty.
Deputy Social Welfare Minister Marilena Evangelou said new legislation, a campaign pledge of the president, is being drafted to unify benefits and services while removing income restrictions. Consultations with KYSOA and other groups are ongoing, she said, stressing that the law aims to correct “long-standing gaps” and will be completed “as soon as possible.”
Anthopoulou said the reform could double the number of beneficiaries and described it as a “landmark social welfare reform,” but insisted funding levels must match KYSOA’s proposals. She criticized Cyprus for ranking near the bottom of the EU in disability spending relative to GDP despite strong economic growth.
Beyond financial aid, Anthopoulou highlighted barriers in employment, education, culture, and tourism, citing widespread inaccessibility and social stigma. “Disability does not mean ‘I can’t.’ The ‘I can’t’ arises when the environment is inaccessible,” she said.
Evangelou pointed to recent steps, including recognition of cochlear implants as a permanent disability, new day care and housing facilities, incentives for social enterprises, and the country’s first autism strategy.
KYSOA continues to press ministries across government for accessibility reforms, from schools to cultural venues. “Disability affects every aspect of society,” Anthopoulou said. “We are all potentially people with disabilities.”
With information from CNA.
