The Ombudsman has suggested to the Secretary of State for Social Security that the qualification of 'single-parent household' be re-evaluated regarding the allocation of family allowances. In a statement, the Ombudsman noted that current criteria lead to decisions that do not reflect the reality of the families the benefit is intended to protect. The issue arose from a case where a mother with three children lost her single-parent status when her eldest daughter reached the age limit for the allowance, despite the daughter having a severe disability and remaining fully dependent on her mother. Consequently, the Ombudsman has called for a review of the current regulations to ensure the objectives of the single-parent supplement are met.
Family allowance: Ombudsman suggests reflection on the qualification of single-parent households
Thursday, 19 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.
