Request the solidarity supplement for the elderly

To apply for the solidarity supplement for the elderly, you must meet the following requirements:

• you are at least 66 years and 4 months old;
• you are a Portuguese citizen;
• you have lived in Portugal for at least 6 years;
• you are receiving an old-age pension, a survivor’s pension or an invalidity pension (but not social inclusion benefit);
• you are not entitled to the social pension because your income is above the threshold of:
  • EUR 203.70 for a single person; or
  • EUR 305.56 for a couple;
• you income is equal to or below the CSI threshold of:
  • EUR 7 208 per year for unmarried people and for people who have been living with another person as a couple for less than 2 years; or
  • for people who have been married or living as a couple for over 2 years – the income of the person applying for the supplement must be no more than EUR 7 208 per year, and the couple’s combined income must be no more than EUR 12 614 per year.

You must submit the following forms:

• Application for the solidarity supplement for the elderly – consult the information and instructions for completing the application
• Annex – Income
• Declaration of authorisation of payment to a third party.

You must submit the following identification documents (yours and those of the person you are married to or cohabiting with):

• identification document (Citizen Card, ID card, civil registry certificate, birth certificate or passport)
• Social Security Identification Card (if you have a lifetime ID card)
• tax identification number (taxpayer number), if you do not have a Citizen Card.

When applying for the CSI, you will also need to submit the following documents concerning your assets

If there are any changes in your income and/or assets while receiving the CSI, you must inform Social Security of these changes by submitting updated documents.

If you own immovable property (residences, land, buildings) other than the property you live in

You must submit a current Property Description Document (Caderneta Predial) or Certificate of Title Search (Certidão de Teor Matricial) issued by the Tax Office, and a copy of the document proving your acquisition of the property.

If you have bank accounts, savings certificates, Treasury bills, shares or other movable assets

You must submit documents proving the value of your movable assets (issued by banks or other competent institutions).

If you receive pensions, supplements or allowances from entities other than Social Security

You must submit documents proving the value of any pension, supplement or allowance you receive from entities other than the Portuguese Social Security.

You may need to submit more documents if you are a foreign national, if your last employment was abroad or if you are eligible to claim the old-age pension.

If you are a Portuguese citizen or a national of a European Union Member State

A certificate from the municipal council for your residence proving that you have lived in Portugal for at least 6 years.

If you are a citizen of a country outside the European Union

A Portuguese residence permit or another document provided for by law, or a declaration by a competent authority, proving that you have lived in Portugal for at least 6 years.

If your last employment was abroad

A document specifying the date on which you started receiving your pension.

If you do not have a Social Security Identification Number (NISS)

Request for identification of natural persons covered by the social protection system for citizenship.

If you are eligible to apply for the social pension

Application for an old-age pension.

Online on Social Security Direct (SSD)

To access Social Security Direct (SSD), you will need to sign in using one of the following means of authentication:

• your Citizen Card
• a Digital Mobile Key (CMD)
• your Social Security number and password.

To apply for the supplement, follow the steps below:

1. In SSD, in the ‘Perfil’ (‘Profile’) menu, select the option ‘e-Clic - contactos’ (‘e-Clic – contacts’).
2. Click on ‘Criar pedido’ (‘Create application’) and describe what you want to do (e.g. ‘Pedir o Complemento Solidário para Idosos’ (‘Apply for the solidarity supplement for the elderly’).
3. Next, you’ll be asked to define the topic (‘Defina o tema’). You must indicate the following options in the form:
   • ‘Evento de vida’ (‘Life event’): ‘Apoio social’ (‘Social support’)
   • ‘Assunto’ (‘Subject’): ‘Complemento Solidário para Idosos (CSI)’ (‘Solidarity supplement for the elderly (CSI)’
   • ‘Motivo’ (‘Reason’): ‘Apresentar um pedido’ (‘Submitting an application’).
4. Click on ‘Confirmar seleção’ (‘Confirm selection’), read the information displayed, and click on ‘Continuar com o pedido’ (‘Continue with the application’).
5. Finally, add the documents listed (PDF, JPG or PNG format only), and submit your application.

In person

You must submit the necessary forms and documents at a Social Security service desk.

How much solidarity supplement for the elderly will I receive?

Each month, you will receive a sum corresponding to the difference between the annual value of the supplement (EUR 7 208) and the annual value of your income, divided by 12.

The maximum amount that one person can receive is EUR 600.67 per month. The reference value of the supplement for couples is EUR 12 614.

The request is free of charge.