The PS (Socialist Party) and PSD (Social Democratic Party) MPs elected by the Azores to the Assembly of the Republic (AR) asked the Government for explanations after they challenged changes to the mobility allowance, due to the requirement that beneficiaries have their tax affairs regularised. MP Paulo Moniz (PSD) described the change in the eligibility criterion for the allowance as “arbitrary and inappropriate”...
MPs criticise changes to the social mobility allowance
Monday, 22 December 2025RSS
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.
