With just €150 a month, two €50 vouchers, and the constant fear of what tomorrow brings, a woman in the Nicosia district is fighting a daily battle for survival. Struggling with severe health problems and a rigid bureaucracy, she describes to philenews a life that has been “transformed into a drama.”
The woman currently receives a special allowance of €800 while her application for the Minimum Guaranteed Income (EEE) is under review. However, with her rent amounting to €650, she is left with only €150 to cover all other living expenses and utility bills. She estimates that even if her EEE application is approved, the increase will offer only minor relief rather than a dignified standard of living.
Health and mobility barriers
The situation is exacerbated by the fact that both she and her husband, who is not eligible for a pension, face significant health issues that prevent them from working. A disability medical board recently classified her as having a partial disability.
“They gave me some benefits for a car and a wheelchair, but with the intention that I pay for them first and then bring them the receipts,” she claims. This is impossible given her financial state. Her neurosurgeon has advised her not to stand for more than 30 minutes or walk more than 50 metres due to irreversible conditions including diplopia, strabismus, and chronic spinal pain.
The family’s inability to afford a vehicle has cut them off from essential medical services. “I have cancelled doctor appointments many times due to the cost. Whenever I can, I take a taxi, but there are times when I am unable to pay for it,” she says.
Stacking bills and cold winters
The family’s financial desperation is evident in their mounting debt. While social welfare services paid last month’s electricity bill, the water bill remains unpaid. During the winter, they have no means of heating their home. “I have a stove but no money for a gas cylinder. Sometimes a girl from a charity helps me with her own money. The day dawns and we don’t know if we will make it through,” she notes.
When asked why she does not seek cheaper housing, the woman explained that her current flat is the most affordable in the area. Furthermore, moving would disqualify her from receiving the two monthly vouchers provided by her local parish charity—a lifeline she cannot afford to lose.
“What I can tell you with all honesty… is that my problem is massive,” she concludes. “We cannot go to the doctors, we cannot sleep… It is tragic to have nothing in your wallet and not know if the next day you will be able to buy even a loaf of bread.”
Social Welfare Services response
Social Welfare Services (YKE) confirmed to philenews that the woman is receiving an interim allowance of €800 while her EEE application is being processed. The department stated that the evaluation procedure is currently ongoing.