Reaching legal retirement age without ever having paid into Social Security continues to be a reality for many Portuguese people. The question comes up frequently and the answer is essentially straightforward. Anyone who has never made discounts is not entitled to contributory retirement. Even so, the system provides an alternative for situations of economic need, designed to guarantee a minimum income in old age, even outside the contributory regime.
According to the official Social Security website, an institutional portal dedicated to information on social protection and public benefits, there is the Social Old-Age Pension, a monthly support granted to people who reach legal retirement age but do not have the necessary discounts to access the old-age pension under the general regime.
Support for those left out of the contributory regime
The Old Age Social Pension is intended for people resident in Portugal or equivalent to residents who are not covered by any contributory scheme, whether Social Security or another social protection system.
It also includes foreign citizens living in Portugal who are covered by community regulations or by international Social Security agreements signed with countries such as Brazil, Cape Verde, Mozambique, Canada or Australia, as long as they do not have active discounts.
This support also covers those who have made some contributions throughout their lives, but these are insufficient to access the old-age pension, as well as pensioners whose pension awarded is worth less than the amount of the social pension. In these cases, the benefit works as a supplement up to the defined limit.
Low income is a mandatory condition
Access to the Old Age Social Pension is subject to strict income limits. For isolated holders, gross monthly income cannot exceed 40 percent of the Social Support Index value. In the case of couples, the limit rises to 60 percent of the IAS.
The assessment focuses on income before discounts and includes pensions, social support and other sources of income. In addition to the financial criteria, it is necessary to comply with other legal requirements, namely the minimum age required for retirement in force at the time of the request.
The amount awarded is neither fixed nor lifetime at the outset, and may vary depending on the beneficiary’s economic situation and is subject to periodic reevaluations.
The Old Age Social Pension can be combined with other support, as long as the global limits defined by law are respected. Among them are the Solidarity Supplement for the Elderly, the Dependency Supplement, the Extraordinary Solidarity Supplement and the Social Insertion Income.
It is also possible to accumulate survivors’ or widow’s pensions, as long as the combined amount does not exceed the amount of the minimum disability and old-age pension under the general scheme.
Income of another nature is also permitted, as long as it does not exceed the limits considered for granting support.
According to the same source, both the amount to be received and the duration of the benefit depend on the specific situation of each beneficiary.
We recommend that you consult the practical guide dedicated to Old Age Social Pension, which details the award rules, the amounts in force and the procedures necessary to submit the request.
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