A total of 802 new mothers had received the government's €200 support payment by the end of July 2026, while a further 75 applications remain under examination, according to Labour Minister Marinos Mousiouttas.
Responding to a parliamentary question from MP Prodromos Alambritis, Mousiouttas said payments under the Support Scheme for New Mothers Under the Age of 30 began on 17 February 2026.
The scheme was approved by the Council of Ministers on 19 November 2025.
No retrospective application
The minister clarified that the scheme applies only to women who had their first child on or after 1 September 2025 and who had not reached the age of 30 on the date of birth.
As a result, the scheme does not have retroactive effect and does not cover mothers whose first child was born before that date.
Eligibility criteria
According to the scheme's provisions, beneficiaries must have had their application approved for either:
- The Maternity Grant paid by the Social Insurance Services under the Social Insurance Law; or
- The Special Maternity Grant for Unmarried Mothers, administered by the Welfare Benefits Management Service.
Eligible applicants must also be:
- Citizens of the Republic of Cyprus;
- Citizens of another EU member state;
- Third-country nationals recognised as refugees; or
- Third-country nationals holding long-term resident status in Cyprus.
In addition, beneficiaries must be legally and permanently resident in areas controlled by the Republic of Cyprus.
No income or asset criteria
Mousiouttas noted that the scheme does not include any income or property thresholds.
Students and unemployed women may also qualify, provided they meet all other eligibility requirements.
Under Article 28 of the Social Insurance Law 2010, every woman is entitled to a maternity grant if either she or her spouse satisfies the relevant insurance contribution requirements at the time of childbirth.
Where an unmarried mother does not qualify for the maternity grant through Social Insurance, she may apply within one year of the birth for the Special Maternity Grant for Unmarried Mothers, which is provided by the Welfare Benefits Management Service under Cabinet decisions dating from 2007 and 2014.
