The family allowance continues to be, in 2026, one of the main support instruments for families with children and young people in Portugal. Paid monthly, this subsidy is intended to help support expenses related to subsistence and education, in a year in which the values were updated and the access criteria remain decisive for the amount to be received.
The child’s age, household income and its composition continue to be the central factors in granting support.
How values are defined
According to the Social Security website, the value of the benefit depends on the household’s income level, calculated based on the Social Support Index, which in 2026 is set at 537.13 euros. This indicator serves as a reference for various public support and defines the access limits and the amounts to be allocated in each situation.
The age of the child or young person has a significant impact on the monthly amount. In the first three years of life, support is higher, reflecting the increased costs associated with this phase. As age increases, the amount tends to decrease, maintaining, however, the logic of progressive protection for households with lower incomes.
The impact of family composition
The composition of the household also influences the final value. Single-parent families benefit from increased support up to the fourth income bracket, and there is also an increase applied to the pre-natal allowance.
These measures seek to alleviate situations of greater economic fragility, especially when there is only one adult responsible for the child or young person.
The benefit values therefore vary between levels, being higher for households at the lowest income levels.
In certain cases, support can also be complemented by other social benefits, such as the Child Guarantee, granted to first-tier families, reinforcing available income in the most vulnerable contexts.
Conditions for accessing support
Access to family benefit is subject to specific conditions. The household cannot hold movable assets exceeding 128,911.20 euros, a value corresponding to 240 times the IAS in force.
This calculation includes bank deposits, shares, bonds, savings certificates and other financial instruments. Residency in national territory or equivalent legal status is also required.
As a general rule, children or young people cannot carry out professional activities, with the exception of those over 16 who work during school holidays. Between the ages of 16 and 24, maintenance of support also depends on completing the annual school test, an essential condition for continued payment.
Assignment in the first months of life
According to , the process of granting the benefit to newborns is currently automatic, being triggered after the child’s civil registration, as long as the legal conditions are met.
Once the allocation proposal is confirmed, the support starts to be paid without the need for new requests, ensuring that the subsidy reaches families from the first months of life.
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