The Solidarity Supplement for the Elderly will increase in 2026 and the new value is already defined in an ordinance published in Diário da República. The update comes into force on January 1st and represents a monthly reinforcement for thousands of pensioners with lower incomes, in support that aims to reduce poverty among the elderly population.
According to the ordinance now published, the annual reference value of the Solidarity Supplement for the Elderly is now set at 8,040 euros. All things considered, this amount corresponds to 670 euros per month, 40 euros more than the value currently in force, which was 630 euros per month. The update corresponds to an increase of 6.24 percent compared to the previous value.
According to the official document, cited by Notícias ao Minuto, this update is part of the plan to gradually reinforce support defined by the current Government.
The Executive recalls that the Solidarity Supplement for the Elderly was created to support older people with insufficient income, with its attribution dependent on strict criteria for verifying resources.
The same source explains that the increase now approved continues the path started in 2024, with an extraordinary update of the reference value, followed by a new increase in 2025.
The objective assumed by the Government is for the CSI reference value to reach 870 euros per month in 2029, in a phased process that aims to guarantee greater social protection for the most vulnerable elderly people.
What is the Solidarity Supplement for the Elderly
The Solidarity Supplement for the Elderly is financial support paid monthly by Social Security to people aged equal to or above the normal age for access to the general regime old-age pension, currently set at 66 years and 7 months.
It is aimed at residents in Portugal with low incomes, functioning as a complement to the pension amounts already allocated or, in some cases, as autonomous support.
According to Social Security, CSI is not automatic and requires the submission of a request, accompanied by authorization to consult the applicant’s tax and banking information and, when applicable, that of their spouse or civil partner.
Who may be entitled to CSI
According to the rules in force, holders of an old-age or survivors’ pension who have already reached legal retirement age are entitled to the Solidarity Supplement for the Elderly.
Recipients of disability pensions under the general regime can also access the support, as long as they are not entitled to Social Benefit for Inclusion.
One of the central criteria is the resource limit. For those who live alone and are not married or in a civil partnership for more than two years, annual income cannot exceed 7,568 euros.
In the case of people who have been married or in a de facto union for more than two years, the couple’s resources cannot exceed 13,244 euros per year, and an individual limit of 7,568 euros is also applied to the applicant.
Furthermore, it is necessary to reside legally in Portugal for at least six consecutive years at the date of the request, and there are specific rules for those who had their last job outside the country. Support is not granted to anyone who has accessed the social pension due to exceeding the income limits defined for that scheme.
Support that grows gradually
According to the official publication cited by , the reinforcement now approved aims to provide greater predictability for beneficiaries and reinforce the response capacity of the social protection system.
The Government emphasizes that the increase in the reference value does not exempt the annual verification of income, an essential condition for maintaining support.
With the new ordinance coming into force from January 2026, beneficiaries of the Solidarity Supplement for the Elderly will now have a monthly supplement that can make a difference to their budget, especially in a context of a general increase in the cost of living.
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