Social Security Basics
We, TEKA, commit to the sound and responsible management of contributions. Our main aim is to maintain a sustainable and adequate system that will ensure the highest possible pensions.
TEKA’s operation is characterised by transparency. Contributions are credited to individual savings accounts and insured persons can monitor the progress of their savings from their phone or computer.
The accounts are managed by specialised professionals. Insured persons can participate in the management of their contributions by choosing from a small number of appropriate differentiated risk products, depending on their personal financial planning.
However, making the right choice requires an understanding of the social contract of work: what are the key characteristics of the social security system, how are contributions determined and what is their rate, how are pension benefitsdetermined and what is their rate.
Because informed citizens can make better decisions and control more effectively.
Since TEKA’s services are aimed at people at the beginning of their career (either as salaried or non salaried and self-employed persons), we introduce the Short Lessons on Social Security section, to explain the workings of TEKA and the Social Security system.
Social Security Contributions
Social security contributions are amounts paid by employers and employees to Social Security Funds (SSFs). They are an integral part of a person’s salary which is withheld by employers and paid to SSFs on behalf of the employees.
Contributions are calculated as a percentage of gross earnings and are distinguished in employer and employee contributions.
Employee contributions are deducted from gross earnings and the remaining amount is a person’s “net” earnings. Furthermore, taxes are deducted from a person’s “net” earnings and the remaining amount is the amount that is deposited in the employees’ bank accounts.
Employer contributions is money belonging to the employees but are called employer contributions because they are paid by employers.
Employer contributions are not deducted from the gross salary (as employee contributions are) but are part of employers’ expenditure for work provided along with gross employee earnings. And since this is money that belongs to the employees, it is paid by the employer to the SSFs on behalf the employees.
As of 1.1.2020, contributions of professionals, non salaried and self-employed persons are no longer linked to declared income. Instead, they are determined according to insurance categories which insured persons can choose freely and independently for each insurance branch, on an annual basis.
The rationale behind social security contributions
Social security contributions are mandatory in order for the Social Security and the welfare state in general to operate adequately. The introduction of the Social Security system and the compulsory inclusion of all workers ensures that upon retirement the standard of living is not very different from what they had during employment.
Contributions paid correspond to future benefits, as follows:
What are the contribution rates?
For salaried persons, contributions are calculated as a percentage of the gross salary.
For non salaried persons, self-employed persons and professionals, main insurance contributions are divided in six (6) insurance categories plus one (1) special category specifically for new insured persons during their first five (5) years of insurance. Auxiliary insurance contributions are divided in three (3) categories (see tables below):
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Insurance category
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Monthly main insurance contribution since 1.1.2026
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|---|---|
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1st
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185,09€ (pension branch) + 65,68€ (health branch)
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2nd
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222,12€ (pension branch) + 78,81€ (health branch)
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3rd
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281,82€ (pension branch) + 78,81€ (health branch)
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4th
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354,66€ (pension branch) + 78,81€ (health branch)
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5th
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440,64€ (pension branch) + 78,81€ (health branch)
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6th
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597,06€ (pension branch) + 78,81€ (health branch)
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Special category for new professionals
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111,06€ (pension branch) + 39,40€ (health branch)
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Insurance category
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Monthly auxiliary insurance contribution since 1.1.2026
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|---|---|
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1st
|
46,57€
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2nd
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56,13€
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3rd
|
66,88€
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Social security contributions are not taxes
Many people think that the social security system operates in the same way as the tax system.
Taxes are used for the functioning of the State and the implementation of social policies, while contributions is money that belongs to insured persons. This is why there is a key difference between contributions and taxes.
Both are calculated as a percentage of income, but tax rates are graduated meaning that they increase depending on income. This ensures the redistributive function of taxation: Those with higher income pay proportionately more in taxes (larger part of their income) to finance the social state which returns to the vulnerable more than they contributed. This ensures the redistribution of wealth through the taxation of income.
On the contrary, social security contributions are applied horizontally. All citizens that have salaried occupation pay the same contributions for their main pension regardless of their income. The same applies to the return of these contributions to insured persons. The main and auxiliary pension benefit does not depend on the person’s needs but on the contributions paid.
National pension
Regardless of the contributions paid, insured persons receive a national pension of €446,87. Thanks to the national pension, even low income persons who have contributed little for a short period of time are entitled to a basic pension.
The national pension is one part of the main pension and constitutes the redistributive component of our social security system. It is financed from the state budget, i.e. from taxes and not from the contributions of insured persons. Therefore, redistribution within our social security system is achieved through taxation, while the contributions we pay are not redistributive.
In order for a person to be entitled to a full national pension they must have
- 20 years of employment and insurance,
- 40 years of residence in Greece and
- be of retirement age.
Contributory pension
This is the 2nd part of the main pension. It is called contributory because it depends on the main pension contributions paid by a person in the course of their work life. The rules for calculating the contributory pension is a little complicated because it incorporates incentives for people to remain longer in the workforce but the redistributive nature of the pension remains a key factor. Those who have contributed more over longer periods receive proportionately more.
Persons with twice the salary, pay double the contributions and are entitled to a contributory pension that is twice as high.
Persons with twice as many years of insurance pay double the contributions and are entitled to more than double the contributory pension. The contributory pension is more than double due to the incentives provided for extending people’s work life.
In order for a person to be entitled to a main pension they must have at least 15 years of insurance and meet the appropriate age limits.
Auxiliary pension
The auxiliary pension has a supplementary role in the social security system: It supplements pensioners’ income and it depends on the auxiliary pension contributions paid by the person during their work life.
It is a fully contributory pension. Persons with twice the salary or twice as many years of insurance pay double the contributions and are entitled to an auxiliary pension that is twice as high.
In Greece, auxiliary pensions were applied universally in 1983. In practice, they are the monthly amount provided to pensioners as a supplement to their main pension following the payment of monthly social security contributions that are independent from the main pension contributions.
You can find detailed information about TEKA’s auxiliary pension eligibility, contributions and benefits here.
Useful Terms
Pay-as-you-go system: Pay-as-you-go is the system in which the contributions of current insured persons are used to fund the pensions of current pensioners.
Defined contribution system: This is the system whereby the contributions paid by insured persons during their work life are accumulated in individual accounts and invested. The contributions and any returns from the investments comprise their personal savings that will fund their pension and support their standard of living during retirement. The amount of the pension is proportionate to the amount accumulated in their individual accounts.
Individual Account: The account within the new auxiliary pension system (TEKA) where each insured person’s contributions and return on investments are accumulated and that will be the basis for the calculation of the life-long, monthly auxiliary pension awarded upon retirement.
Fiscal risk: The risk for a pensioner of a Pay-as-you-go system to receive a lower pension because of fiscal restrictions due to the poor outlook of public finances.
Demographic risk: The risk for a pensioner of a Pay-as-you-go system to receive a lower pension as a result of deteriorating demographics, i.e. fewer contributions due to a lower number of newcomers joining the workforce and the disproportionate increase in the number of pensioners that share these contributions.
Market risk: The risk faced by defined contribution systems due to market fluctuations.
Risk diversification or spread: This is a term used in investments. Different assets are subject to different risks. Combining them in a portfolio spreads the risk and reduces the overall risk associated with a portfolio in the sense that it reduces the fluctuations of its value. The concept however is far broader and older. For example, a farmer growing many different types of crops is essentially spreading the risk associated with poor weather, market conditions or crop disease thus lowering the risk to their income.
Diversification in an insurance system is achieved when different parts of the pension are subject to different risks. In our new social security system, the three parts of the pension will be exposed to three separate and independent risks (fiscal, demographic and market risk).
The amount of the main contributory pension, that is paid according to the pay-as-you-go system, depends on the number of contributors (workers) divided by the number of pensioners and is subject to the demographic risk. The new, defined contribution auxiliary pension is subject to the market risk. Finally, the national pension, which is funded by the State budget, is subject to the fiscal risk.
The three pillars of pension systems
The three distinct pillars of pension systems are the state pension, the occupational pension and the personal pension.
The first pillar is the main, state scheme which is mandatory. Its benefits, in the form of regular pension payments, are guaranteed by the State and are usually defined. The scheme may be managed directly by the State or by public entities setup for this purpose. The pension benefits are guaranteed by the State.
The second pillar schemes, known as “occupational schemes”, are linked to employment or occupation. These schemes are funded by employer (not always) and employee contributions which are saved, invested and used to finance future pension benefits. Additionally, they often cover various risks such as death, disability and longevity.
The third pillar comprises a person’s overall savings for their old age. These savings are distinct from any personal savings that can be used in the short term. Third pillar schemes are generally contracts signed by individuals with service providers such as insurance companies (excluding group insurance contracts) or other organizations.