First law: 1935 (1919 legislation never implemented).
Current laws: 1980 (social pensions for noncontributors), 1985 (integrated agricultural workers into general system), 1989 (voluntary insurance) and 1993 (wage-linked pensions).
Type of program: Social insurance system.
Exchange rate: U.S.$1.00 equals 174.51 escudos.
One euro equals 200.482 escudos.
Employed persons and self-employed. Special systems for miners, longshoremen, railway workers, fishermen, and merchant seamen.
Voluntary coverage available to persons not covered by any other contributory program.
Social pension: All persons not covered under a contributory pension program.
Special systems will gradually be unified with general system.
Insured person: 11% of earnings. Self-employed, 25.4% for mandatory coverage and 32% for voluntary coverage.
Employer: 23.75% of payroll. Includes 0.5% to cover employment-related illness.
Government: Subsidy for social pension and health care.
The combined contribution is divided between the different branches as follows: old age 13.9%; disability 6.9%; survivors 4.1%; sickness 3.3%; maternity 0.5%; work injury (employment-related illness only) 0.5%; unemployment 3.5%; and family allowances 2.8%.
Old-age pension: Age 65 (men and women), 15 years of contributions must have 120 days of registered pay per year.
Pension payable at age 60 if unemployment benefit has been depleted. Other special retirement ages: Miners 50; longshoremen, fishermen, and merchant seamen 55. Retirement from covered employment necessary until age 70. Payable abroad.
Disability pension: Loss of 2/3 of earning capacity.
60 months of contribution. Payable abroad.
Survivor pension: Deceased met pension requirements or was pensioner at death. Payable abroad.
Social pension: Age 65, disabled (age 18 or older). No coverage under any contributory social security program. Monthly income may not exceed 30% of national minimum wage for single person or 50% for couple.
Not payable abroad, except if specified in a reciprocal agreement.
Old-age pension: 2% of average annual earnings during highest 10 of last 15 years times years of insurance.
Minimum monthly pension: 30% of average earnings or a minimum fixed amount depending on the number of contributions, whichever is higher. Maximum monthly pension: 80% of average earnings.
Supplement for assistance provided by a third person: 11,310 escudos.
Schedule of payments: 13th month payment each Christmas; 14th month payment each July.
Adjustment: According to changes in annual cost-of-living.
Social pension (income-tested): 23,600 escudos a month (plus 9,750 escudos if constant attendance needed).
Disability pension: 2% of average annual earnings during highest 10 of last 15 years times years of insurance.
Minimum monthly pension: 30% of average earnings or a minimum fixed amount depending on the number of contributions, whichever is higher.
Maximum monthly pension: 80% of average earnings.
Constant-attendance supplement: 11,310 escudos a month.
Schedule of payments: 13th month payment each Christmas; 14th month payment each July.
Adjustment: According to changes in annual cost-of-living.
Social pension (income-tested): 23,600 escudos a month (plus 9,750 escudos if constant attendance needed).
Survivor pension: 60% of pension of insured. Limited to 5 years to widow unless over age 35, disabled, or caring for child. Equally paid to widow or widower.
Orphans: 20% of insured's pension for 1st, 30% for 2, and 40% for 3 or more orphans under age 18 (25 if student, no limit if disabled); maximum, 40%, 60% or 80% if full orphans.
Parents or grandparents: Combined pensions total 30%, 50%, or 80% of insured's pension, according to whether there are 1, 2, or 3 beneficiaries.
Maximum survivor pensions: 100% of pension of insured.
Supplement for assistance provided by a third person: 11,310 escudos.
Schedule of payments: 13th month payment each Christmas; 14th month payment each July.
Death grant: An amount equal to 6 times average monthly earnings during the best 2 of the last 5 years.
Social pension for widows (income-tested): 60% of normal social pension.
Social pension for orphans: Combined benefit totals 20%, 30%, or 40%, of normal social pension.
Ministry of Labor and Solidarity, general supervision through the State Secretariat of Social Security and Work Relations.
Regional Social Security Centers and National Pension Center, administration of program.
First law: 1935 (1919 legislation not implemented).
Current laws: 1988 and 1990 (sickness) and 1988, 1995 and 1998 (maternity).
Type of program: Social insurance system (cash benefits) and universal system.
Medical benefits: All resident citizens, foreign residents whose countries have reciprocal agreements with Portugal.
Cash sickness benefits: Employed persons (self-employed, voluntary coverage).
Cash maternity benefits: Employed persons and self-employed.
Voluntary insurance available to certain categories of persons not covered by any other contributory program.
Insured person: See pension contributions, above.
Employer: Same.
Government: Same.
Cash sickness benefits: 6 months of insurance, including 12 days of contribution in the 4 months before onset of illness.
Maternity cash benefits: 6 months of contribution.
Sickness benefit: 65% of earnings in last 6 months preceding the 2 months prior to the month during which illness began (80% to 100% if hospitalized for tuberculosis). Benefit rises to 70 percent of earnings in case of long-term illness (at least 365 days). Payable after 3-day waiting period (waived if hospitalized or if postpartum)
for up to 1,095 days (no limit if tuberculosis).
Minimum sickness benefit: 30% of minimum wage.
Maternity benefit: 100% of average earnings during last 6 months preceding the 2 months prior to delivery, payable 110 days before and 60 days after birth.
Minimum maternity benefit: 50% of minimum wage.
Medical benefits: Medical services provided directly to patients by health centers and by hospitals. Includes: general and specialist care, maternity care, hospitalization, surgery, and listed medicines.
Duration: Services provided as needed based on some patient participation.
Medical benefits for dependents: Same as for insured worker.
Ministry of Labor and Solidarity, through the State Secretariat of Social Security and Work Relations and Ministry of Health, general supervision.
Regional Social Security Centers, administration of program for cash benefits.
Regional Health Administration, administration of program for medical benefits.
First law: 1913.
Current laws: 1965, 1971, 1992.
Type of program: Work injury: Employer must purchase liability insurance with private carrier. Employment-related illness: Social insurance system.
Employed persons. Self-employed (voluntary).
Insured person: None.
Employer: Work accidents: varies according to risk (average rate, 3% of payroll). Employment related illness: See pension contribution, above.
Government: None.
Work-injury benefits: No minimum qualifying period.
Employment-related illness: According to risk based on official tables.
Temporary disability benefit: 1/3 of basic wage during 1st 3 days and 2/3 thereafter, payable until recovery or determination of permanent total disability. Temporary partial loss compensated at the rate of 2/3 of lost earning capacity.
Permanent disability pension: If total incapacity for work in usual profession, 1/2 to 2/3 of basic earnings, according to residual earnings capacity. If total incapacity for all work: 80% of basic earnings; partial incapacity for all work: 2/3 of lost earning capacity.
Survivor pension: 30% of covered earnings to spouse, 40% if widow age 65 or disabled.
Orphans: 20% if 1 orphan, 40% if 2, or 50% if 3 or more orphans under age 18 (25 if student). Full orphans receive double benefits.
Funeral grant: Lump sum equal to 30 days' earnings. Benefit doubles if body must be transported.
Ministry of Finance, General supervision.
Insurance Carriers, manage work accident insurance policies.
Ministry of Labor and Solidarity, general supervision through the Secretary of State for Social Security and Work Relations.
National Occupational Disease Insurance Fund, administration of occupational disease program.
First law: 1975.
Current laws: 1989 and 1993.
Type of program: Social insurance system and social assistance system.
Employed persons and persons seeking first employment.
Exclusions: Self-employed, domestic employees, and temporary and occasional employees.
Insured person: See pension contributions, above.
Employer: Same.
Government: Same.
Unemployment benefit: 540 days of earnings in the 24 months just before unemployment.
Social assistance unemployment benefit (income-tested): 180 days of earnings in the 12 months just before unemployment. Registration at employment office is required. Capable of and available for work.
Unemployed involuntarily.
Unemployment benefit: 65% of average earnings.
Minimum benefit: 1 times minimum wage. Maximum: 3 times minimum wage. Duration: between 10 and 30 months depending on age of insured.
Social unemployment benefit: 70% of minimum wage if single.
Between 90-100% depending on size of family. Duration: between 5 and 30 months depending on age of insured.
For insured age 55 and over, the unemployment benefit is paid until age 60 when the unemployment benefit is converted to old-age benefit.
Ministry of Labor and Solidarity, general supervision through the State Secretariat for Social Security and Work Relations.
Local employment centers and regional social security centers administration of program.
First law: 1942.
Current laws: 1980 and 1997.
Type of program: Employment-related system.
Employed persons, unemployed and pensioners.
Voluntary insurance available to certain categories of employed persons not covered by any other contributory program.
Insured person: See pension contributions, above.
Employer: Same.
Government: Same.
Family allowances: Child must be under age 16 (25 if student or handicapped).
Family allowances: 1 st income level (family income equal to or lower than one and a half times the national minimum wage): children up to 12 months of age: 14,730 escudos a month for each of first 2 children; 22,100 escudos for 3 rd and each additional child.
Children over 12 months of age: 4,420 escudos a month for each of first 2 children; 6,630 for 3 rd and each additional child.
2 nd income level (family income higher than one and a half times the national minimum wage and lower than or equal to 8 times that wage): children up to 12 months of age: 11,450 escudos a month for each of first 2 children; 15,400 escudos for 3 rd and each additional child. Children over 12 months of age: 3,070 escudos a month for each of first 2 children; 4,170 for 3 rd and each additional child.
3 nd income level (family income higher than 8 times the national minimum wage): children up to 12 months of age: 7,450 escudos a month for each of first 2 children; 9,690 escudos for 3 rd and each additional child. Children over 12 months of age: 2,840 escudos a month for each of first 2 children; 3,690 for 3 rd and each additional child.
Special supplements for each disabled child: 8,470 escudos a month if under age 14; 12,330 escudos if between ages 14 and 18; and 16,510 escudos if between ages 18 and 24.
Special education allowance: Payable to descendants of employed persons if under age 24 and attending school in a special educational establishment or receiving another special educational assistance, variable amount.
Constant attendance supplement: 11,310 escudos a month.
Life allowance: 23,600 escudos a month.
Funeral grant: 31,230 escudos.
Supplement for parents taking leave to care for sick children under age 10 (no limit if disabled): 65% of salary (paid under maternity benefits scheme).
Ministry of Labor and Solidarity, general supervision through the State Secretariat for Social Security and Work Relations.
Regional Social Security Centers, administration of program.