DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTIVITIES OF TEBE


A1. The Greek Fund for Craftsmen and Small Traders (TEBE) is a Legal Entity of Public Law in operation since 1939 and a main insurance institution for the self-employed.Its current structure consists of Central and Regional Services in a level of Directorates, Departments and Offices. 

The task of TEBE's Central Service is to provide instructions and directions, to coordinate, supervise and lead the Regional services and ensure their administrative assistance. 

Task of the Regional Directorates of TEBE is to issue decisions on pension claims and, according to their local competence, on matters of   sickness benefits and payment of allowances. 

The Regional Departments and Offices are geographically decentralized units of the Regional Directorates or Departments, accordingly. Their task is to exercise their competence on insurance matters and to provide insurance benefits without delay to the insured persons of their area of competence, according to the decision for the transfer of competence from the President of TEBE to the heads of these Departments or Offices.  

A2. TEBE insures 540.578 persons in  Greece.  

The Fund's Services execute a number of administrative acts regarding writing-off from the Fund's Registers, new registration,classification to a higher insurance category, acknowledgment of insurance time, admission to voluntary insurance etc. of the insured persons - starting from first registration with the Fund until cessation of the insurance relation.  

A3. TEBE attends to payment of the insurance contributions by the insured persons, takes all legal steps provided for collection, provides all kinds of certification requested for every use and grants all benefits the insured persons are entitled to. 

Collection of contributions is done in two ways: 

Through pre-printed invoices mailed bimonthly and computer controlled in the Attica district and a number of Departments in other cities. 

In the rest of the cities and towns of Greece, through contribution stamps that are placed on the social security books of the insured persons by contributions collectors who collaborate with the Fund and who are paid by a percentage on the proceeds.  

A4. TEBE provides: Medical Care to the insured persons and the members of their families through affiliated practitioners of 14 specialties who provide their services at set hours at their private consulting offices with no participation on the part of the insured. 

Medicines, through affiliated pharmacies providing all required medicines for recovery of their health with a cash participation of 25% down to 0% in accordance to applying provisions. 

Hospital care in Class B at all Public Hospitals and affiliated private clinics.

 Therapeutic means necessary for recovery of the health of the insured persons with a cash participation of 25% down to 0%. 

Paraclinical examinations and special therapies by affiliated private Laboratories and all Public Hospitals with a cash participation of 25% down to 0%.  

Childbirth allowance, funeral expenses. From 1/1/2001 dental care will be provided also.  

A5. TEBE awards old age, invalidity or survivors pensions to persons having all necessary requirements. 

Pensions are paid monthly through the National Bank of Greece and the

Greek Postal Service. 

The number of TEBE pensioners throughout Greece are 156,000 persons.

 A6. TEBE keeps a landed property registry, keeps track of leases or rental contracts for real estate and movable property consisting of bank accounts, Stock Exchange securities, interest-bearing bills,bonds, mutual funds etc.

 It pays salaries to all its personnel, liquidates the amounts of entitled benefits and reimburses levies for third parties. 

A7. For the above mentioned activities, according to the regulation of TEBE, its personnel should not exceed the number of 1,770 employees; today 1,100 people serve in it.

                                          M.PAPADAKI

                                          A.MYTAKIS