The State Budget for 2026 brings increases to the majority of social benefits paid by Social Security, but there are exceptions in support that do not go unnoticed. According to Notícias ao Minuto, the Government plans to spend 26,357.6 million euros on pensions and social benefits, but support such as the Social Insertion Income (RSI) and the Child Guarantee will not have any reinforcement, and will even suffer slight reductions.
The budget proposal, delivered this Thursday to the Assembly of the Republic, highlights the reinforcement of unemployment benefits, parental benefits, solidarity supplements for the elderly and disability support, among others.
The Executive states that the objective is to “improve family income” and reinforce the commitment to the social and solidarity sector, at a time when the cost of living remains high.
Increases in almost all social support
According to Notícias ao Minuto, family benefits will increase by 27.6 million euros compared to 2025. Unemployment benefits and employment support will increase by 0.9%, with total expenditure estimated at 1,740.1 million euros.
Parenting benefits (which include subsidies paid to parents during leave to care for their children) will increase significantly, by 23.6%, totaling 1,232.5 million euros.
According to the Government, this value is justified by the extension of the initial parental benefit by two months, as well as the increase in the number of beneficiaries and the average value of remuneration.
CSI and Inclusion also rise
Another measure already announced is the increase in the Solidarity Supplement for the Elderly (CSI), which increases by 40 euros per month. The Government forecasts an expenditure of 671.8 million euros on this benefit in 2026, reflecting the increase in the reference value and the impact of the reinforcement approved in January this year.
The Social Benefit for Inclusion (PSI), aimed at people with disabilities, will also be increased by 10.4%, with a total of 886.1 million euros. This increase is due to the forecast of a greater number of beneficiaries, explains the publication.
RSI and Child Guarantee are left behind
But not all installments follow the upward trend. The Social Insertion Income (RSI), which supports families in extreme poverty, recorded a reduction of 700 thousand euros, totaling 354.1 million euros.
The Child Guarantee, created to support children and young people in vulnerable situations, drops from 90 million to 88.5 million euros, which represents a drop of 1.7% compared to the execution scheduled for 2025.
These two benefits are the only ones to escape the general increase, which the Government justifies by stabilizing the number of beneficiaries and with the intention of focusing on the reinforcement of benefits with the greatest direct impact on income from work.
Bet on the social network and the PRR
In the chapter on social action, the budget proposal foresees 4,030.5 million euros to reinforce support for institutions in the social and solidarity sector and expand the National Integrated Continuous Care Network.
According to , part of this amount (around 374 million euros) will come from the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), aimed at financing new social responses and modernizing infrastructure.
The Government promises more rigorous management and monitoring of the application of these funds, in order to ensure that they reach the families and institutions that need them most.
In total, the Executive estimates an overall increase in social spending, but the impact will not be the same for everyone. While pensioners, parents and workers benefit from clear reinforcement, families in extreme poverty will have to continue waiting for more robust measures.
Also read:
