PASYDY union responds to Audit Office report on Welfare Benefits Administration Service

The PASYDY union branch representing the Welfare Benefits Administration Service (YDEP) in Cyprus has requested a more comprehensive presentation of facts following a special report by the Audit Office. The union asserts that YDEP had already identified and addressed many of the issues raised in the report before its publication. According to the union, only 10% of YDEP staff hold permanent positions, with the remainder being hourly, contract, or seconded workers, despite managing 80% of the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare's budget. The service processes 40,000 payments monthly for 150,000 households, totaling an annual budget of €500 million. Regarding performance, the union highlights that in 2024, 925 beneficiaries of the Guaranteed Minimum Income (EEE) were referred to employment, with hundreds more placed in language and training programs. The union emphasizes that significant reductions in application processing delays have been achieved since 2022 despite severe understaffing. While the union acknowledges the Audit Office's role, it argues that public statements regarding the findings failed to reflect the full context of the service's internal actions. The Audit Office has not yet issued a public counter-response to these claims.