There is Social Security support designed for elderly people and pensioners with low incomes that may still go unnoticed by potential beneficiaries. It’s called Solidarity Supplement for the Elderly, known as CSI, and can represent an important monthly reinforcement for those living with lower pensions.
According to , a website specializing in current affairs, this support could reach 670 euros per month in 2026, depending on the beneficiary’s income. The amount is not paid equally to all pensioners: it works as a supplement designed to bring the annual income calculated closer to the reference value defined for this year.
The Solidarity Supplement for the Elderly is a monthly cash benefit granted to elderly people with low resources. According to Social Security, it is intended for people aged equal to or greater than the normal age for accessing old-age retirement, which in 2026 is 66 years and 9 months, and who meet the other access conditions.
Social Security also says that disability retirees can request CSI at any age, as long as they do not receive the Social Inclusion Benefit. In 2026, the annual reference value of the CSI is 8,040 euros for an isolated person, the equivalent of 670 euros per month, according to Ordinance No. 480-D/2025/1, of December 30. DECO PROteste also states that the support applies to people with income less than or equal to this annual limit, or up to 14,070 euros per year in the case of couples or people in a stable union for more than two years.
In couples, there is still an important rule: the person requesting the Solidarity Supplement for the Elderly cannot have their own income exceeding R$8,040 per year. This means that the CSI does not automatically add 670 euros to the pension. What it does is supplement the beneficiary’s income up to the expected limit, when the legal conditions are met.
How accounts work
In practice, if a person has an annual income lower than the reference value, they can receive the difference in the form of a monthly supplement. This is why the amount varies from case to case. A simple example helps to understand. If the estimated annual income of an individual person is 4,800 euros, they may be entitled to a supplement of around 270 euros per month, until they approach the annual reference value of 8,040 euros.
The calculation must, however, be based on the annual income considered by Social Security. In the case of pensions, it is not enough to just look at the amount received in a month, because there may be subsidies and other income that are included in the assessment. Decree-Law No. 232/2005 defines the CSI as a differential value benefit, and Social Security describes it as monthly cash support for elderly people and disability pensioners with low incomes, as long as they do not receive Social Benefit for Inclusion.
Residence in Portugal also counts
In addition to income, there are other criteria to be met. One of the conditions is, as a rule, residence in Portugal for at least six consecutive years. In the case of couples, income is analyzed together. For 2026, the annual limit indicated for married people or people in a stable union is 14,070 euros, according to information reported by DECO PROteste and Social Security.
The application may be refused if income exceeds the defined limits or if the remaining conditions are not met. Therefore, the analysis is based on the specific situation of each beneficiary and their respective household.
Since the changes introduced by Decree-Law No. 35/2024, children’s income no longer counts towards the attribution of CSI, which has expanded the universe of people who can qualify to request this support.
There are additional health benefits
CSI is not limited to monthly payments. Beneficiaries may also have access to additional health support. The Gov.pt portal says that beneficiaries of the Solidarity Supplement for the Elderly have free access to medicines reimbursed by the State, upon presentation of the medical prescription at the pharmacy. For those who recently requested the CSI, this access only becomes available after you receive the first supplement payment.
Furthermore, support may be associated with reimbursements or reimbursements for expenses such as glasses, lenses and dental prosthetics, under the terms provided for by the applicable rules. These benefits make CSI particularly relevant for retirees with regular healthcare expenses.
Ordering can be done online or over the counter
The request for the Solidarity Supplement for the Elderly can be made through the Social Security Portal or at Social Security customer services, in accordance with the Social Security Practical Guide. According to 4gnews, the process can also be handled digitally, through Direct Social Security, or in person. Social Security indicates that the response is given in the month after the process is complete.
If the request is approved and duly instructed, the right to the supplement takes effect from the month following the delivery of the complete application. The fact that the request can now be processed digitally makes access easier, but many retirees still don’t know for sure whether they may be entitled to support or how to confirm their situation.
Support that can make a difference
The Solidarity Supplement for the Elderly was created to reinforce the income of older people in situations of greater economic fragility. In many cases, it can represent the difference between a very low pension and a monthly income closer to the reference value defined by law. Even so, support depends on request and verification of conditions. Anyone who receives a low pension, or has family members in this situation, must confirm that they meet the requirements with the INSS.
As 4gnews points out, many retirees may be unaware that they are entitled to this supplement. In 2026, with the reference value at 670 euros per month for an isolated person, the impact on the family budget could be significant.
Also read:
