Insurers have only paid out 5% of claims related to Storm Kristin, reports Público. Meanwhile, the Bank of Portugal notes that immigrants spend less time on unemployment benefits than Portuguese citizens. Other headlines include schools risking the loss of 480 million euros in EU funding, a French ex-police officer arrested for double homicide in Portugal, Lisbon's plan to restrict ride-hailing services in tourist areas, and the expropriation of land from major companies like Navigator and Casa Ermelinda Freitas for the Lisbon-Madrid high-speed rail project.
Press review: Insurance payouts for storm claims and high-speed rail expropriations
Thursday, 26 March 2026RSS
Context & Explainers
Segurança Social is Portugal's public social security system, responsible for administering pensions, unemployment benefits, sickness pay, parental leave, family allowances, and other social support payments. It is funded through mandatory contributions from employers and employees.
Most services are managed online through Segurança Social Direta (SSD), where users can check contribution records, apply for benefits, submit declarations, and track payments using their NISS (Social Security Identification Number) and Citizen Card credentials.
Key interactions for residents include registering as a contributor (mandatory for all workers), claiming unemployment benefits, applying for parental leave, and accessing the minimum income scheme (Rendimento Social de Inserção). Self-employed workers (trabalhadores independentes) must also make quarterly income declarations through the platform.
