Report by Humayun Kabir from Lisbon Portugal.
The Portuguese government has announced the approval of an extraordinary supplement for pensioners, a move aimed at bolstering the income of over two million retirees. The measure, unveiled by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro during the State of the Nation debate in parliament, will see a one-time payment made in September.
The supplement is structured in tiers based on monthly pension amounts. Pensioners receiving up to €522.50 will be eligible for a €200 supplement. Those with pensions ranging from €522.50 to €1,045 will receive €150. A supplement of €100 will be granted to pensioners with incomes between €1,045 and €1,567.50.
The Prime Minister stated that the “transformative agenda will continue” and that this measure is a part of it. The Council of Ministers formally approved the decree-law, which has already been promulgated by the President of the Republic.
This extraordinary supplement is expected to cost the state approximately €400 million. The government has indicated a preference for this type of one-off payment over a permanent increase to pensions, citing the need to avoid rigid structural expenses while still providing support to those with lower incomes. The measure will apply to pensioners from the Social Security system, the Caixa Geral de Aposentações (CGA), and the banking sector.