Parliamentary committee discusses child benefits and support for families with seriously ill children

On Tuesday, the Parliamentary Committee on Labour and Social Insurance in Cyprus held discussions regarding the government's child benefit bill and the urgent need for support for parents with children suffering from serious illnesses. The government confirmed that income and property criteria for child benefits will remain in place, a decision that drew sharp criticism from committee chairman Giorgos Koukoumas of AKEL, as well as from trade unions and children’s rights advocates who argued that the proposed improvements are insufficient for modern families.

Simultaneously, patient associations and members of parliament raised alarms over the lack of state support for families with seriously ill children. Witnesses reported that parents are often forced to rely on private charity and fundraising to cover basic costs, including travel for medical treatment. Lawmakers, including Marina Nikolaou and Andreas Apostolou, proposed new measures, such as extended paid parental leave, advance payments for treatment-related expenses, and the protection of employment status for affected parents. While the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare is evaluating new initiatives, officials acknowledged that current welfare structures are failing to provide comprehensive, timely assistance from the onset of a diagnosis.