Family allowance for Children and Young People

• They are resident in the national territory or in an equivalent situation.
• They do not work
• Their household:
  • Does not have movable assets (bank accounts, shares, investment funds and other financial assets) of an amount higher than 115.303,20 € at the time of the claim
  • Has a reference income equal to or lower than the amount established for the 3^rd income echelon (11.434,23€), or equal to or less than the 4^th income bracket in the case of children aged 72 months or less, or who are institutionalised. 
• Family allowance is payable until the age of 16. After 16, children and young persons are entitled only if they are studying and attending the following levels of education:
  • from 16 to 18, if they are enrolled in a grammar school, its equivalent or higher level, or if they are attending a study-training course indispensable to obtain the respective degree
  • from 18 to 21, if they attend a secondary level schooling year, its equivalent or higher level, or if they are attending a study-training course indispensable to obtain the respective degree
  • from 21 to 24, if they are either enrolled in high level education establishments or attending a study-training course indispensable to obtain the degree
  • Until 24, in the case of handicapped descendants who are entitled to benefits for expenses due to handicap under the family protection subsystem.

The family allowance for children and young people is paid on a monthly basis:

• Until the age of 16
• Until the age of 24 for handicapped descendants
• During the above school year for young people aged 16 and over
• During the period of vocational training.

When the young people reach the mentioned age limits in the course of the school year, they shall continue to receive it until the end of that year.

The calculation of the amount of the family allowance for children and young persons is based on:

• the child’s age
• the composition of the household and
• level of the reference income of the household.

SSI / 2022: 443,20 €

SSI / 2023: 480,43 €

Amount per child or young people

The Child Guarantee is a regular cash benefit that complements the Family Benefit. It is aimed at children and young people aged under 18 and who belong to households at risk of extreme poverty. For more information on the Child Guarantee entitlement conditions, please consult the respective Practical Guide: Guia Prático - Garantia para a Infância (Practical Guide – Child Guarantee)

Situations in which the Family Benefit amount is increased:

When the household is composed of two or more children aged up to 36 months and in single-parent situations.

Household with two children:

• 40,25€: 1st income level
• 33,24€: 2nd income level
• 30,09€: 3rd income level
• 15,69€: 4th income level

Household with more than 2 children:

• 80,51€: 1st income level
• 66,47€: 2nd income level
• 60,18€: 3rd income level
• 31,38€: 4th income level

Single-parent households (only one adult):

• 50% increase in the Family Benefit amount for the 1st income level
• 42,5% increase in the Family Benefit amount for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th income levels
• 35% increase for pregnant women entitled to the Prenatal Family Allowance

Increase in the amount

The amount of the family allowance for children and young persons is increased in case of:

• Larger families - The amount of the family allowance to be granted to every child shall double after the birth or integration of a second child in the family during the period between 12 and 36 months). As from the birth of the third child in the same household, that amount shall increase threefold.

This increase is due from the month after the birth or the integration of the 2^nd, 3^rd and more children.

• Single parent families – the amount of the family allowance is increased by 35% as well as other associated supplements.

A single parent family is made up of people entitled to the Family Benefit for Children and Young People and one more person who can be a relative in a direct ascending line till the 3^rd degree or in the collateral line, till the 3^rd degree, an adopting parent, guardian or person to whom the applicant has been entrusted by decision of the court or of the legally competent services.

Additional amount

The additional amount is equal to the Family Benefit for Children and Young People monthly amount. It is granted in September to compensate for school expenses. The beneficiaries of the additional amount are children and young people:

• aged between 6 and 16
• who are receiving the Family Benefit corresponding to the 1st income level
• who are enrolled in an educational level.

In situations where the granting of the Family Benefit for Children and Young People is underway and the household members are not required to submit an income statement for tax purposes, the granting of the additional amount does not require an application submission.

Amount per child or young people  –  Larger families

Amount per child or young people  – Single parents

You can apply for the benefit through:

• The Segurança Social Direta, at www.seg-social.pt
• The form Mod.RP5045-DGSS, accompanied by the documents indicated therein, to be submitted:

o At the Social Security office
o At the citizen's shops.
 

If the subsidy is applied for online, at the Segurança Social Direta, the means of proof can be sent by the same route as long as they are correctly scanned.

You should apply for the benefit within 6 months following the month in which the determining event occurred.

After this period, you are only entitled from the month following the submission of the application.

For more information go to this Pratical Guide.