Portugal is implementing a significant reform in its social protection system with the creation of the Single Social Benefit (PSU). This new benefit will consolidate 13 non-contributory social supports currently dispersed across different Social Security schemes, aiming to simplify access and reduce administrative complexity.
The measure, already approved by the Assembly of the Republic, awaits the final version in a legal diploma to clarify technical and operational aspects before its entry into force, scheduled for August 2026. The reform is integrated into the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), with its timeline aligned to European targets; failure to meet deadlines could result in the loss of significant funding.
The main objective of the PSU is to create a single access rule, based on a household assessment, replacing benefits such as social inclusion income and social unemployment benefit. Excluded from this reform are benefits like family allowance and the solidarity supplement for the elderly, as well as contributory benefits. The benefit amount will be calculated based on the social support index (IAS), with adjustments foreseen for specific situations like parenthood or unemployment.
