Request a family allowance supplement for children and young people with disabilities

You can apply for the disability supplement at any time. However,

• if you apply within 6 months of the month following the month in which the disability was confirmed, you are entitled to the supplement from that month onwards;
• if you apply after the aforementioned 6‑month deadline has passed, you will only be entitled to the supplement from the month following the month in which you submit your application.

Requirements

The supplement may be requested for children up to the age of 10 on whose behalf the disability supplement was applied for on or after 1 October 2019, provided that the child:

• needs specific individualised educational or therapeutic support, appropriate to the characteristics of the disability, as a means of preventing it from worsening or of removing or mitigating its effects and enabling the child’s full social integration; and
• attends, has been admitted to, or is in a position to attend or be admitted to a specialised rehabilitation establishment.

For beneficiaries of the contributory Social Security scheme

Requirements applicable to the beneficiary:

• They must have a record of remuneration for the first 12 months of the last 14 months from the date on which the application is submitted. This condition does not apply to pensioners.
• Benefits are available only to households where the total value of movable assets (bank deposits, shares, savings certificates and any other financial assets) of all items of the household is less than EUR 122 222.40 (240 times the value of the social support index (IAS)).

Requirements applicable to the child or young person with a disability:

• They must be a dependant of the beneficiary.
• They must not engage in a professional activity covered by a compulsory social protection scheme.

The following family members living in the same household are considered dependants of the beneficiary:

• unmarried descendants
• married descendants whose monthly income is less than twice the amount of the social pension (EUR 245.79)
• legally separated, divorced or widowed descendants whose income is less than the amount of the social pension.

For people in the non-contributory scheme (those who are not covered by a social welfare system and are in a situation of need)

To apply for the supplement, the following conditions must be met:

• either the child / young person or their household must meet one of the following means-tested conditions:
  • gross monthly income equal to or less than EUR 203.70 (40% of the IAS), provided that the household income does not exceed EUR 763.89 (1.5 times the IAS); or
  • household income per person equal to or less than EUR 152.78 (30% of the IAS), and there is a situation of risk or social dysfunction;
• the child or young person is not engaged in a professional activity covered by a compulsory social protection scheme.

The amount of the IAS in 2024 is EUR 509.26.

Documents

You will need to complete and attach the following forms via the e-Clic digital service desk:

• Form RP5034 -DGSS – Application for the disability supplement
• Form RP5039 -DGSS – Proof of disability – Family benefits
• Form RP5045- DGSS – Application for the family allowance for children and young people
• Form GF54-DGSS – Declaration/Amendment – Household composition and income
• Form GF54/1-DGSS – Declaration/Amendment – Household composition and income – Declaration/amendment continuation sheet
• Form GF54/2-DGSS – Declaration/Amendment – Household composition and income. Information and instructions for completing the forms.

It is free of charge.

Online, via the e-Clic digital service desk on Social Security Direct 

To access Social Security Direct, 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 identification number and password.

To apply for the supplement, follow the steps below.

1. Once you are signed in to 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 bonificação por deficiência’ (‘Apply for the disability supplement’).
3. Next, you’ll be asked to define the topic (‘Defina o tema’). You must indicate the following options in the form:
4. ‘Evento de vida’ (‘Life event’): ‘Deficiência’ (‘Disability’)
5. ‘Assunto’ (‘Subject’): ‘Bonificação por deficiência’ (‘Disability supplement’)
6. ‘Motivo’ (‘Reason’): ‘Apresentar um pedido’ (‘Submitting an application’).
7. Click on ‘Confirmar seleção’ (‘Confirm selection’), read the information displayed, and click on ‘Continuar com o pedido’ (‘Continue with the application’).
8. Finally, attach the documents listed (in PDF, JPG or PNG format only), and submit your application.

In person

• At a Social Security service desk.
• At a counter at a Citizen Shop or Citizen Spot that offers the service.

You will need to submit the duly completed Form RP5045?DGSS.

For how long is the supplement paid?

The supplement is paid until the child reaches 10 years of age, as long as all the conditions giving rise to it still apply.

Children and young people on whose behalf an application for the disability supplement was submitted by 30 September 2019 (old scheme), or who are currently receiving it, retain the right to receive it until the age of 24, as long as the conditions giving rise to it still apply.

If the supplement payments ended after 30 September 2019, the new scheme will apply. Therefore, if the child or young person is aged 11 or older, you must apply for the social inclusion benefit.

How much will I receive?

The value of the disability supplement depends on the age of the child or young person:

• Under 14 EUR 71.10
• 14 to 17 EUR 103.56
• 18 to 24 EUR 138.61

If the child or young person lives with one adult only (single-parent family), they are entitled to an extra 50% if the household income falls within the fifth income bracket or lower. The supplement amounts for single-parent families are as follows:

• Under 14 EUR 106.65
• 14 to 17 EUR 155.34
• 18 to 24 EUR 207.92.