Social Security and Health Benefits in Portugal

Information on the Portuguese national health care system, with details on who benefits and where and how to register with the authorities and what contributions and benefits to expect...

Social Security benefits only apply to Portuguese nationals, qualifying European Union nationals, and those legally resident in Portugal as well as their spouses and dependents. Citizens of other countries should seek advice from their Embassy or Consulate regarding obtaining private insurance.

• Comprehensive information in English from the European Commission: Click here (PDF)

The social security system has three basic schemes:

1. A contributory scheme for employed individuals and their families (for sickness, birth/adoption, disability, retirement, unemployment, death, work-related accidents or illness)
2. A contributory scheme for self-employed individuals (for birth/adoption, disability, retirement, death; optional coverage for family as well as illness and work-related illness)
3. A non-contributory scheme for those who do not meet the minimum income requirements to belong to either of the first two schemes (for disability, retirement, death and family)

All individuals registered for social security coverage are also covered for healthcare in Portugal. All healthcare benefits are administered by the Ministry of Health (Ministério de Saúde) while social security benefits (pensions, disability, maternity/paternity benefit, etc.) are administered by the Social Security Institute (Instituto da Solidariedade e da Segurança Social).

• Ministério de Saúde (Ministry of Health)
  At: Alameda D. Afonso Henriques, 45, 1049-005 Lisbon
  Tel: 218 430 500
  Fax: 218 430 530
  Helpline 24/7: 808 242 424
  e-mail
  

• Instituto da Solidariedade e da Segurança Social (Social Security Institute)
  At: Rua Rosa Araújo, nº 43, 1250-194 Lisbon
  Tel: 808 266 266 / 218 425 700
  Fax: 272 240 900
  e-mail or email
  

• The Social Security website has information in English: Click here

Contributions are made by both employer and employee. Employer contributions cover work-related accidents and occupational illness. The Portuguese government pays for healthcare coverage while the employee pays for other benefits including maternity, old-age pensions and disability.

Healthcare Coverage

Once an individual begins working in Portugal and is registered with social security, they are automatically registered for healthcare coverage. Deductions for coverage are automatically taken from their pay and a healthcare card is issued by the local Ministry of Health. This healthcare card was known as the Livrete de Assistência Médica, is now called the card Cartão do Utente (service user card).

Visits to doctors and dentists at medical centres (Centros do Saúde) and hospitals (Hospitais Públicos) affiliated with the Ministry of Health are virtually free under the system. A small charge is paid for some consultations and treatments under a modest patient co-participation introduced a few years ago. The cost of necessary medication is partially covered, though pharmaceuticals deemed non-essential are not covered.

Registering with Social Security

Registration to obtain a social security number is done only once. The number issued is used throughout the holder's life.

To apply for a Social Security Card (Cartão de Segurança Social), contact a local office of the Social Security Institute.

• To find the nearest social security office: Click here

The following documents will be required when registering with social security:

• Passport (Passaporte)
• Identity Card (Bilhete de Identidade)
• Portuguese tax number or national insurance number from country of origin (Número de Indentificação Fiscal - NIF)
• Residency Card (Cartão de Residência), or evidence of application
• Proof of address in Portugal (Comprovativo de Morada)
• Employees (Trabalhadores por Conta de Outrem) must complete Form RV1009/2009
  • For a downloadable Form RV1009/2009: Click here (PDF; in Portuguese)
• Self-employed workers (Trabalhadores Independentes) must complete Form RV1000/2007 - DGSS
  • To download Form RV1000/2007 - DGSS: Click here (PDF)

Employees must contact the Social Security Institute within 24 hours of beginning any new job in Portugal. This is to ensure that contributions are properly credited. This can be done via the internet, using Form RV1009-DGSS or in another written form. The notification must include:

• the worker's full name
• date of birth
• nationality
• residence status
• social security number (if the employee has one)
• professional category
• location of workplace
• start date of employment
• name, address, social security and tax number of the employer
• if the employee has never worked in Portugal before, this must be indicated
• To download Form RV1009/2009: Click here (PDF)

Employers are also required to report to the Social Security Institute any new worker.

Contributions

European Union citizens who have made social security contributions elsewhere in the EU may be covered under reciprocal agreements. Contact the Social Security Institute (Instituto da Solidariedade e da Segurança Social) for further information.

Employees pay a percentage of their salary which varies from between 10 and 15 percent per month. The employer matches it with approximately twenty percent. The employer must complete Form RV1009/2009 (the employee should sign it) and it must be turned in to the Social Security Institute.

Self-employed workers currently pay between 25.4 and 32 percent per month, or up to 12 times the minimum national wage determined by the worker. A percentage must be deducted directly from the Green Receipt Book (Caderneta de Recibos Verdes) for each invoice issued. Payments can be made on a monthly basis via the Multibanco ATM system or at the Post Office (Correios de Portugal) and any differences between payments and the final calculation will be reconciled at the end of the tax year.

Social security affiliation is voluntary for self-employed workers whose gross yearly income is less than or equal to six times the national minimum wage, it is mandatory for those self-employed workers who earn more than six times the national minimum wage.

• For a list of current contribution rates: Click here

Payments must be made on or before the fourteenth of each calendar month, and can be made via the ATM Multibanco cash points (select Pagamentos ao Estado then Segurança Social and key in the details) or at the Post Office. Payments made after the sixteenth of the month are subject to interest.

Social Security Benefits

Contact the district Social Security Institute office to apply for maternity, paternity, adoption, grandparent, sickness and disability benefits.

• To find the nearest social security office: Click here

Maternity (maternidade)

In order to be eligible for maternity benefit, mothers must have contributed and received social security coverage for at least six months prior to the birth.

Mothers can receive 100 percent of their average daily income for 120 days, 90 of which are to be taken after childbirth. The average daily income is calculated using the mother's salary for the six months prior to the two months before the birth. There is a minimum amount payable.

An additional 30 days is available for each multiple birth. Mothers can opt to take 150 days of leave, with the extra 30 days being taken after childbirth. In this case she will receive 80 percent of her average daily earnings. In certain instances the 30 additional days may be shared with or given to the father. In the event of a miscarriage, 14 to 30 days of paid leave are available.

If their job normally requires them to work at night or in dangerous situations, pregnant women, women who have recently given birth and breastfeeding mothers are also entitled to a 65 percent maternity allowance, based on their average daily salary. The average daily income is calculated using the mother's salary for the six months prior to the two months before the birth.

• For further information from the Social Security Institute about maternity benefit: Click here

Paternity (paternidad)

Working fathers are eligible for five days of paid paternity leave; they receive 100 percent of their average daily salary. The average daily income is calculated using the father's salary for the six months prior to the two months before the birth. This paid leave may be extended if the mother has medical complications, if the mother of the child dies or if the mother shares her maternity leave with the father. Self-employed fathers are not eligible for paternity leave.

• For further information from the Social Security Institute about paternity benefit: Click here

Adoption

Adoption benefit is available for adoptive parents and paid at 100 percent of the adoptive parent's average daily salary for the first 100 days after the adoption of a child under 15 years of age. If two parents are adopting together, the leave may be shared between them. The average daily income is calculated using the salary of the adoptive parent for the six months prior to the two months before the adoption. An additional 30 days paid leave is granted for each additional adopted child.

• For further information from the Social Security Institute about adoption benefit: Click here

Grandparents

Paid leave is available to grandparents of babies born to individuals under the age of 16 who are living with the grandparent. The benefit is equal to 100 percent of the grandparent's average daily salary. The average daily income is calculated using the salary of the grandparent for the six months prior to the two months before the birth. This benefit is not available to the self-employed.

• For further information from the Social Security Institute about the grandparent benefit: Click here

Temporary sickness/incapacity (incapacidade temporária)

A cash benefit is available for qualifying workers who are temporarily too ill or incapacitated to continue working. The self-employed may also be eligible for this benefit if their social security scheme includes it.

In order to be eligible, the worker must have worked (and contributed to social security) for at least six months prior to the accident or sickness, and worked at least 12 days in the 4 months immediately preceding the incapacity. The self-employed and those voluntarily contributing to the social security system must have contributed until at least the end of the third month prior to the accident.

The hospital or doctor treating the patient will provide a Temporary Incapacity Certificate (Certificado de Incapacidade Temporária por Estado de Doença - CIT). This must be sent to the Social Security Institute within five days of the patient's receipt. The Social Security Institute and the employer have the right to request subsequent medical assessments.

Up to 75 percent of reference earnings (generally the salary paid in the six months prior to the incapacity divided by 180) will be paid, depending on the duration of the incapacity. Individuals with tuberculosis are entitled to a greater percentage.

• For information on how the benefit is calculated: Click here
• For an example of the Temporary Incapacity Form Mod 141.10 (Certificado de Incapacidade Temporária): Click here (PDF)
• To download an Accident Declaration Form Mod GIT37 (Declaração de Acidente): Click here (PDF)

A benefit is also available for those receiving temporary incapacity benefit who are not eligible due to absence from work for their employer's annual or Christmas holiday bonus. The benefit pays 60 percent of the missed bonus.

• To download the application form for missed holiday compensation, RP5003/2008 (Requerimento de Prestações Compensatórias): Click here (PDF)

Long-term sickness (invalidez)

Qualifying workers suffering from a chronic illness (but not a work-related injury or illness) that makes them unable to work (such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, AIDS, Parkinson's disease, etc.) may receive Incapacity Benefit (Invalidez).

• For information from the Social Security Institute regarding the long-term sickness benefit: Click here

There are two types of invalidity classification, determined by the ability of the applicant to earn a salary.

1. Relative/partial invalidity (invalidez relativa)
2. Total invalidity (invalidez absoluta)

Initially the incapacitated worker must receive Temporary Incapacity Benefit (Certificado de Incapacidade Temporária por Estado de Doença).

• For an example of the Temporary Incapacity form Mod 141.10 (Certificado de Incapacidade Temporária): Click here (PDF)

After 1,095 days it is necessary to submit a Pedido de Pensão de Invalidez form CNP 501-458 which must include a declaration (Atestado do Medico) signed by a doctor or a medical specialist.

A supplemental questionnaire, form CNP501-458/A, must also be filled out by applicants who have worked and been covered by social security institutions outside of Portugal who file for long-term invalidity benefit in Portugal.

• Forms can be downloaded: Click here and select from the drop-down menu
• For a downloadable form CNP501-458/A: Click here (PDF)

A long-term care supplement is also available to supplement the cost of caregivers.

• For information from the Social Security Institute on the long-term care supplement: Click here

Disability benefits (incapacidade)

A disability benefit is payable to qualifying individuals who are incapable of working due to work-related injury or illness.

The monthly payment is 2 percent of the recipient's average annual salary for the highest-salaried 10 years out of the last 15, multiplied by the total number of qualifying calendar years. Or, if it results in a larger payment, an alternative calculation is 2 percent (2.35 percent for those with over 21 qualifying years) of the recipient's monthly average adjusted lifetime salary for every qualifying year up to 40 years. There are minimum and maximum payment amounts.

The amount of any benefit depends on the nature and severity of the disablement or incapacity and the ability to work, either full time or part time.

In order to apply for disability benefit, form CNP 501-590 as well as supporting documents must be submitted.

• To download Form CNP 501-590: Click here (PDF)

Unemployment benefits (subsídio de desemprego)

Employees who are made redundant or involuntarily unemployed are entitled to receive unemployment benefit of 65 percent of their salary for up to 900 days, depending on how long the recipient has contributed to the social security system as well as their age.

It is possible to receive partial unemployment benefit if a part-time job is found.

A Declaration of Unemployment Status (Declaração da Situação de Desemprego) form RP 50440DGSS, must be submitted to a local Employment Centre within 90 days

• For a downloadable form RP 5044-DGSS: Click here (in Portuguese)

Self-employed workers are not entitled to Unemployment Benefit (Subsídio de Desemprego) if their business fails, but if they are unable to work because of serious illness and have paid Social Security contributions they may be entitled to Incapacity Benefit (Invalidez).

There is no system of Income Support in Portugal. Self-employed people are recommended to take out private insurance.

Pension benefits (pensão)

Those who have made sufficient social security payments in Portugal may be eligible for a Portuguese pension.

Those eligible for a foreign pension may receive it under bilateral agreements and still be eligible for a Portuguese pension.

• To claim for an invalidity pension fill out Form Mod CNP 501-458 (Questionário/Pedido de Pensão de Invalidez e de Velhice a Organismo Estrangeiro) if National Insurance Contribution payments have been made in your country of origin
  • To download Form CNP 501-458: Click here
• To claim for a pension fill out Form Mod CNP 600-587 (Requerimento de Pensão (Social))
• Present Form E-121
• Forms can be downloaded: Click here and select from the drop-down menu

It is compulsory to declare income from all pension sources – company, private pension plans, and state pensions from other countries, which may be liable to taxation.

• Fill out Declaration to Holding Other Pensions Form Mod CNP 501-591 (Declaração de Titularidade de Outros Pensões)
  • To download Form CNP 501-591: Click here

The pension can be paid directly into a bank account:

• Fill out a Bank Payment Request Form (Pedido de Pagamento de Pensão por Conta Bancária): Click here

The Portuguese Social Security website has comprehensive information in English on pensions.

• For further information from the Segurança Social: Click here