Main tasks

The tasks of the ISSM, IP-RAM are the following:

• To propose strategy measures and contribute to the definition of Social Security policies, objectives and priorities, in accordance with the guidelines and action strategy established at higher levels, participating in the preparation of the sector’s Global Plan;
• To manage and pay benefits from the Social Security system and other social benefits entrusted to the ISSM, IP-RAM in accordance with the law or regulation;
• To ensure and manage the legal link with the Social Security contributors and beneficiaries, as well as their coverage and qualification by the Social Security system;
• To ensure the recognition of Social Security rights and promote the fulfilment of duties by the Social Security system beneficiaries;
• To collect the revenues of the Social Security system, ensuring compliance with the contributory duties by the Social Security contributors and manage their current accounts within the scope of Social Security;
• To ensure ways of recovering the contributors debt to Social Security, in accordance with the law;
• To ensure the enforced recovery and collection of debts from the Social Security contributors and beneficiaries, guaranteeing the application of the special scheme of debt enforcement in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, approved by Decree-Law no. 42/2001 of 9 February and other legislation in force;
• To lodge social security claims within insolvency and enforcement proceedings of a fiscal, civil and labour nature;
• To ensure, within the scope of its tasks, the compliance with the coordination duties and rules established by international Social Security instruments;
• To ensure the ISSM, IP-RAM intervention within the scope of the Autonomous Region of Madeira representation in the negotiations for the conclusion and review of international Social Security instruments relevant to the Autonomous Region of Madeira;
• To ensure the effectiveness of the supplementary system, namely guaranteeing its connection with the public Social Security system, in accordance with the law;
• To carry out inspection and supervisory actions to verify the fulfilment of rights and duties of beneficiaries and contributors of the Social Security system, social solidarity private institutions (IPSS – Instituições Particulares de Solidariedade Social), and other private entities that carry out social support activities;
• To carry out sanctioning powers within the scope of illicit acts of mere social order concerning social support establishments, beneficiaries and contributors, in accordance with the law;
• To ensure, in accordance with the law, the actions necessary for the possible application of sanctioning schemes for criminal offences committed by beneficiaries and contributors within the scope of the Social Security system;
• To ensure legal protection granting in accordance with the law;
• To develop and propose regulatory frameworks governing the authority over the social solidarity private institutions (IPSS) and the cooperation scheme with those institutions and other private entities or establishments that carry out social support activities;
• To develop and implement social action policies, namely by implementing social responses, measures to combat poverty and promote social inclusion, including the creation of emergency lines, social support or social responses, as well as social emergency measures;
• To develop the cooperation with the social solidarity private institutions (IPSS) and carry out its authority over these institutions, in accordance with the law, as well as to develop the cooperation with other social support entities;
• To conclude with the social solidarity private institutions (IPSS) cooperation agreements, management agreements, protocols and other cooperation instruments provided for by law;
• To ensure social support to families, through direct funding, in accordance with the law;
• To develop and support initiatives aimed to improve the living conditions of families and promote equal opportunities, namely those aimed at children, young people, active ageing, dependency, disability and other vulnerable groups;
• To ensure the functional and comprehensive development of skills of people with disabilities, from a perspective of inclusion, rehabilitation and treatment, psychosocial and family support, aimed at promoting well-being, general health, active ageing and quality of life;
• To promote the licensing of social support services and establishments;
• To intervene in the adoption procedure, in accordance with the law;
• To ensure technical advice to the courts, in accordance with the law, in what concerns matters of promotion and protection of children and young people at risk and civil protection measures;
• To pursue preparatory and/or decision-making actions within the scope of Social Security or related matters, under the terms of institutional cooperation and collaboration agreements with other Social Security institutions and entities whose duties are connected with or complementary to Social Security;
• To ensure the management and administration of the assets and rights held by the ISSM, IP-RAM and that constitute the Social Security assets of the Autonomous Region of Madeira;
• To ensure the budgetary management of the appropriations allocated to it, namely within the scope of the Social Security Budget;
• To ensure the management of its financial resources;
• To promote the dissemination and relevant information to beneficiaries, contributors and citizens in general and actions appropriate to the exercise of the right to information and complaint of those concerned, as well as information actions aimed to dignify the image of  the Social Security system.