There are Portuguese pensioners whose pension is being suspended without any prior notice, not because they have lost the right to the benefit, but because they failed a mandatory administrative procedure. The problem mainly affects Portuguese residents abroad and is linked to proof of life, a requirement that has had more immediate consequences since new rules came into force last summer.
At stake are thousands of pensions paid by Portuguese Social Security to citizens living outside the country, especially in Switzerland and Luxembourg. Even when the right to a pension is fully recognized, simply failing to meet this deadline can lead to a complete interruption of payment, creating situations of unexpected financial fragility.
What is causing the suspension of pensions
According to official data released by the Government, around five percent of Portuguese pensioners residing in Switzerland and Luxembourg had not yet completed the proof of life at the beginning of February, which led to the automatic suspension of their pensions.
According to a source from the office of the Minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security, this is a value that has been decreasing, but which continues to cover hundreds of people.
Proof of life became mandatory under legislation that came into force on July 31 last year, with the aim of confirming that the beneficiary is still alive and, therefore, maintains the right to receive the pension. The same source explains that this procedure now has a direct impact on the processing of pensions, without the need for prior notification.
What was the deadline and why did many fail?
Although the proof of life had to be carried out by November 30, the National Pensions Center decided to accept declarations submitted outside this deadline, as long as they were made before the January pensions were processed. As the Government explains, this limit corresponded to December 15, 2025.
Those who did not meet this date saw their pension suspended at the beginning of the year. In January, 294 Portuguese pensioners residing in Luxembourg and 384 residing in Switzerland were in this situation, according to official figures cited by the Executive.
Regularizations are ongoing but pensions are still suspended
However, the situation began to be regularized. According to the same government source, as of February 2nd, a further 366 life tests had been carried out, 170 of which were for pensioners in Switzerland and 143 in Luxembourg.
This means that around 95 percent of eligible pensioners have already fulfilled the obligation, an increase of five percentage points compared to the previous month.
The Ministry guarantees that, as soon as the proof of life is validated, pension payment is automatically resumed and outstanding amounts are paid retroactively. Still, until the process is completed, the pensioner may be temporarily without any income.
Why does cutting happen even without warning
According to the Social Security services, the suspension results from an automatic procedure provided for by law. This is not an individual administrative decision, but a technical blockage that occurs when the system does not receive the required confirmation within the defined deadlines.
According to the Government, this mechanism aims to prevent undue payments, but recognizes that it may cause difficulties for older pensioners, those with less digital literacy or those with difficulties accessing official communication channels.
The authorities emphasize that there is no definitive loss of the right to a pension, but warn that regularization only occurs after proof of life is effectively carried out and validated by the competent services.
What should affected pensioners do?
The official recommendation is clear. All Portuguese pensioners residing abroad must confirm that proof of life has been carried out and validated. If in doubt, you should immediately contact Social Security services or the official channels available in your country of residence.
As explained by , the collaboration of beneficiaries is essential to avoid further suspensions, remembering that a single missed procedure is enough for the monthly payment to be interrupted, even when all other legal requirements are met.
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