From 2026, Social Security will suspend the payment of certain pensions for those who live abroad and do not provide proof of life within the legal deadline: first, for those who miss the exceptional date of November 30, 2025 and, secondly, for those who do not meet the new annual deadline between May 1 and September 15, they will only receive payment again after regularizing the situation, with payment retroactive to the moment of suspension.
What pensions can be suspended by Social Security in 2026?
These new rules target pensioners from the general Social Security regime, with old-age, disability or survival pensions, who live outside Portugal. The mandatory proof of life was created by Decree-Law no. 40/2025, of March 26, and regulated by Ordinance no. 274/2025/1, of July 31.
Implementation is phased. In 2025, proof of life will already be mandatory for pensioners with a registered address in Switzerland and Luxembourg, older than the normal age for accessing the old-age pension.
In 2026, the range expands: pensioners residing in Switzerland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium, Cape Verde and the United Kingdom, aged above the normal age for accessing the old-age pensionset at 66 years and 9 months in 2026.
From 2027 onwards, the obligation will be generalized to all general regime pensioners with a registered address abroad, unless waived in cases where there is an agreement to exchange data on deaths with the country of residence.
What does “until this date” mean? The key deadlines
For those already covered in 2025 (Switzerland and Luxembourg), the critical date is November 30, 2025: if proof of life is not submitted by that day, pension payment is suspended from January 2026.
From 2026 onwards, the “normal” annual deadline comes into force: proof of life must be carried out between May 1st and September 15th of each year, for all pensioners covered at that time. In case of failure, Social Security may also allow the test to be completed by October 15th, after notification to that effect.
If, even so, the pensioner does not comply by this last date, the consequence is clear in the law and official guidelines: the pension is suspended from the month following the end of the applicable period.
What are the requirements to be met?
The central requirement is annual proof of life, made by the pensioner himself from the calendar year following the start of payment of the pension or change of residence abroad.
Ordinance no. establishes three ways to comply:
• Digital: through Direct Social Security, with authentication (for example, Digital Mobile Key or NISS), presentation of a valid identification document (Citizen Card, Identity Card or passport) and facial recognition.
• In person: in Social Security services in Portugal, in Lojas do Cidadão with Social Security services, in Portuguese embassies and consulates, as well as in municipalities and parish councils.
• Documentary: sending an international certificate of proof of life or equivalent document issued by a reputable entity in the country of residence (local social security, court, notary, local authority, health establishment), with signature certified in person.
In addition to proof of life, it is critical to have an updated address and contact details in the Social Security system. It is based on the registered address and information from the system that the universe of pensioners covered is defined every year and where notifications, electronically or by letter, go when there is no registration with Direct Social Security.
If proof of life is not provided by the deadline (November 30, 2025, in the exceptional regime; September 15 — or, in the case of a new attempt, October 15 — in the following years), Social Security suspends the payment of the pension.
This does not mean losing the right to retirement: after the person provides valid proof of life and it is validated, payment is resumed retroactively to the date of suspension, that is, the pensioner receives the outstanding amounts.
Until then, however, months can go by without any monthly transfer — in practice, income, credits and current expenses are not covered if there are no other sources of income. The real risk in 2026 is, therefore, being temporarily left without a pension for failing to comply with a simple procedure, but with tight deadlines and automatic consequences.
Who is exempt from this Social Security obligation?
Not all retirees abroad have to provide proof of life. The law provides exemptions for pensioners residing in countries with which Portugal has entered into international social security instruments that include death data exchange agreements, allowing Social Security to know electronically when a beneficiary dies.
Special forms of proof may also be provided when the pensioner is physically unable to do so (for example, due to severe disability), allowing a legal representative to carry it out, as long as they present the required documentation (proof of impossibility, identification document and proof of powers of representation).
It is also important to highlight that these rules do not apply to pensioners living in Portugal: the target of the measure is pensions paid to residents abroad, where, according to the Government, prolonged payments to deceased people were detected, worth many millions of euros.
How do you know if your pension can be suspended in 2026?
If you meet all of these points, you are potentially covered by suspensions in 2026:
– Receives an old-age, disability or survival pension from the general Social Security scheme;
– Has a registered address abroad (Switzerland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Belgium, Cape Verde or United Kingdom);
– In 2026, it will be old above the normal age for accessing the old-age pensionset at 66 years and 9 months;
– You have received or will receive notification from Social Security to provide proof of life.
If you are in this group, the message is direct and in line with the title: in 2026, Social Security will even suspend your pension if you do not meet these requirements by the deadline indicated — be it November 30, 2025, in the exceptional regime, or September 15 (or, as a last resort, October 15) in the following years. The only way to avoid being left without a pension is to provide proof of life within the deadline.
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