Centeno's departure from the central bank was reported last Friday.
Centeno's pension reform fits within the existing Banco de Portugal pension fund
Monday, 16 March 2026RSS
Context & Explainers
The Public Administration (Administração Pública) is Portugal's central, regional and local government bodies and the public-sector workforce that deliver services like healthcare, education and municipal functions. A pay rise announced on 20 February 2026 raised the state's base public-sector salary to €934.99 with retroactive payments back to January 2026, so employees and those who contract with state bodies should expect updated payrolls and potential budget effects.
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.
