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Pensions
Information from the EU on state, personal and occupational pensions in Portugal and who may qualify...
There are three types of pension awarded in Portugal: Old Age, Survivors' and Invalidity.
Old Age Pension
Award conditions:
- 65 years of age
- 15 calendar years, consecutive or discontinuous, with registered earnings (qualifying period)
Subject to particular conditions, the pensionable age may also be brought forward in the following cases:
- Long-term involuntary unemployment
- Specially protected professional activities
- Situations giving rise to specific protection measures for activities or enterprises, due to short-term economic factors
Survivors’ Pension
Awarded to the following family members, if the deceased beneficiary fulfilled the 36 month qualifying period with registered earnings:
- Spouse and former spouses
- Person who lived for more than two years in a situation identical to that of a spouse
- Descendents, including newborn and fully adopted children: up to 18 years of age; or up to 27 years of age if they are not engaged in an activity covered by a compulsory social protection scheme, and subject to certain conditions; without limit of age in the case of the disabled, provided they are beneficiaries of dependants’ benefits in that capacity
- Ascendants for whom the deceased beneficiary was responsible, if no spouse, former spouse or descendents are entitled to the same pension
Death allowance [subsídio de morte]
The death allowance is awarded to family members of the deceased beneficiary who are entitled to the survivors’ pension, with no requirement for a qualifying period. In the absence of the latter it may be awarded to other relatives, of similar status to or comparable to the beneficiary, in a direct line or up to the third degree in a collateral line, provided the deceased was responsible for them when he or she died.
Invalidity Protection
Invalidity protection for beneficiaries of the General Social Security Scheme is provided by the following benefits: invalidity pension; long-term care supplement; pension supplement for a dependant spouse.
Invalidity pension [pensão de invalidez]
Awarded to employees who are permanently unfit to work, confirmed by the Incapacity Verification System, due to a non-occupational cause subsequent to their registration with the social security system. To be accepted, they must have had registered earnings in the social security system for five consecutive or separate calendar years (for partial invalidity) or three years for total invalidity.
Long-term care supplement [Complemento por dependência]
Awarded to social security scheme pensioners who are in a position of dependency, i.e. those who cannot meet their basic daily needs independently. Different degrees of dependency are considered in awarding and determining the amount of the payment.
Occupational Accidents and Diseases
Occupational accidents: The social security system does not cover risks relating to accidents at work. Employees are protected against accidents at work by compulsory insurance agreed between employers and insurance companies.
Occupational diseases: These are diseases included in the List of Occupational Diseases affecting employees who have been exposed to the relevant risk due to the nature of the industry, activity or conditions, or the normal working environment and working practices.
Persons suffering from occupational diseases, duly certified by the National Occupational Risks Protection Centre, are guaranteed access to certain financial and cash allowances.
Text last edited on: 08/2010
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