Support for the purchase of gas cylinders continues to be relevant help for thousands of Portuguese families, in a context in which energy prices remain high and the pressure on household budgets shows no signs of abating. This year, the State is once again investing in this mechanism, maintaining a program created to respond to situations of greater social vulnerability.
Throughout this year, the Government will maintain extraordinary support of 15 euros per gas cylinder, through the “Solidarity Gas Bottle” program, according to an order published this Thursday in Diário da República. The maximum global allocation foreseen for this support exceeds two million euros, resulting from the sum of the amount allocated for 2026 with the balance carried over from the previous year, according to the specialized technology portal Pplware.
Support remains in the face of high LPG prices
According to order no. 1016/2026, signed by the Minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, the Executive considers that the situation at the beginning of 2026 remains marked by instability and high prices for liquefied petroleum gas.
In this context, the Government reaffirms its commitment to supporting the most vulnerable consumers and promoting sustainable policies to combat energy poverty, maintaining this exceptional support.
How many cylinders can be supported
The regulation establishes that the support is valid for the acquisition of two LPG cylinders per month and per beneficiary, however, it cannot exceed the maximum limit of 12 cylinders per year. Each cylinder entitles you to a 15 euro voucher, which serves as a direct contribution to the amount paid by the consumer.
Funding available in 2026
For 2026, the Environmental Fund budget foresees a maximum allocation of 865 thousand euros for the “Solidarity Gas Bottle” program, a sum that will be formalized in the order approving the budget of that fund. To this amount must be added the remaining balance from 2025, worth 1.2 million euros, bringing the maximum global support allocation to 2,065,000 euros, according to the same source.
Who can benefit from support
To access support, you must reside in Portugal and hold an electricity supply contract. Consumers covered by the social electricity tariff can also apply.
Furthermore, it is enough for one of the members of the household to be a beneficiary of a minimum social benefit for support to be granted.
Social benefits covered
Among the benefits considered valid for application purposes are the Solidarity Supplement for the Elderly and the Social Insertion Income.
Beneficiaries of the Social Disability Pension of the Special Disability Protection Regime, the Supplement to the Social Benefit for Inclusion and the Social Old-Age Pension are also covered. The Social Unemployment Benefit is also part of the list of benefits that allow access to this support, according to the source cited above.
Where to submit the application
The application must be submitted to the parish council in the applicant’s area of residence. If this council does not adhere to the program, the request can be made to the nearest participating parish council. The National Association of Parishes provides an updated list of parish councils that participate in the program on its website.
Required documents
To formalize the application, it is mandatory to present the electricity bill and, when applicable, a document proving receipt of a minimum social benefit, in accordance with .
It is also necessary to present the invoice proving the acquisition of the LPG cylinder, indicating the respective NIF, as well as the citizen card of the holder of the electricity contract.
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