The financial support announced by the Government for the victims of Storm Kristin is only expected to reach the affected families at the end of February. Until then, the Minister of Economy suggested that people use “last month’s order”, in a statement that generated a strong public reaction and once again placed the issue of emergency support at the center of the debate.
The position was taken this Monday by Manuel Castro Almeida, in statements to SIC, where he explained that the Executive expects the subsidies to reach the beneficiaries “at the end of this month”.
According to the government official, the approved measures are “muscular”, both in supporting people and companies affected by the storm.
According to the website Notícias ao Minuto, the minister highlighted that there is a legal mechanism that guarantees minimum survival for families in need. This support can reach 537 euros per person or 1,075 euros per household, values associated with the Social Support Index.
Support promised, but yet to arrive
When faced with the fact that many people have not yet received any amount, Manuel Castro Almeida acknowledged that the money is not yet available, but assured that the process is ongoing. “We are supposed to be able to have this money in hand now, at the end of this month, we hope,” he stated.
The journalist insisted on the urgency of the situation, highlighting that many families face immediate expenses and loss of income. According to the same source, the minister’s response was clear: “Now they are supposed to have had last month’s salary (…) now they may be unable to survive. This money will be made available very soon.”
The statements come at a time when several areas of the country continue to assess the damage caused by Storm Kristin, which caused damage to homes, infrastructure and economic activities, leaving many families in a situation of financial fragility.
The Government had already announced that support for victims of the storm would be granted through eventual or exceptional subsidies.
As explained by , this support is aimed at families in need or loss of income who need to make immediate and unavoidable expenses for their subsistence.
The legal framework provides that the value of the subsidy is defined on a case-by-case basis by the Social Security services, with a maximum limit of 1,074.26 euros per household, equivalent to twice the IAS. Support can also be paid in stages, up to a maximum of 12 monthly installments, depending on the assessment of the competent services.
Emergency intervention in affected regions
In addition to direct support for families, the Government also announced emergency intervention in the regions most affected by the Kristin depression.
According to the publication, Manuel Castro Almeida guaranteed that the State will financially support these interventions, with the aim of avoiding further degradation of already damaged infrastructure.
The statements were made after a meeting in Leiria that brought together members of the Government, representatives of construction companies, business associations, intermunicipal communities, the Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation and those responsible for the metropolitan areas of Lisbon and Porto. Above all, on the table was the need to move quickly into the field.
According to the government official, the priority is to prevent “the harm that has already been done” from getting worse, through a quick response in critical areas. Even so, no concrete deadlines or details about the intervention schedule were announced.
While support does not reach the affected families, expectations remain regarding the implementation of the announced measures and the State’s ability to respond quickly to emergency situations caused by extreme weather phenomena.
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