Miguel A. Lopes / Lusa
The Minister of Labor, Solidarity and Social Security, Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho
The Single Social Benefit (PSU) will oblige beneficiaries of working age to accept offers of employment, training or social solidarity activities. Anyone who refuses may be prevented from receiving this support for two years.
The PSU reference value will correspond to a percentage of the social support index (537 euros) and not the social insertion income as had been announced.
The new social benefit aims to add 13 supports currently existing, including the Social Insertion Income (RSI) and the social unemployment benefit, becoming subject to a set of access conditions.
According to the newspaper, the sanction is foreseen in the request for legislative authorization that the Government sent to Parliament this Monday, together with a decree-law that it intends to approve before August.
To benefit from the PSU, you will need to be registered at the employment centerdemonstrate availability to work or attend training activities professional and, when applicable, participate in social solidarity activities.
These obligations apply to beneficiaries in working ageexcluding pensioners, students, informal caregivers, people with a disability equal to or greater than 80% and citizens who are on sick leave.
According to the proposal presented by the Government, the unjustified refusal of an offer of employment, training or social solidarity activity may result in loss of right to PSU for 24 months. If the refusal is made by a member of the household, that person will be prevented from accessing the benefit during 12 months and will no longer be considered for the purposes of calculating support in a subsequent application.
Social solidarity activities will have a maximum limit of 15 hours per weeknot exceeding eight hours per day. In third renewal benefit, this limit may be extended to 20 hours per weekreinforcing the participation of beneficiaries in social and professional integration measures.
