Receive the family allowance for children and young people
The family allowance is a monthly cash benefit paid to compensate for the costs of a family raising and educating children and young people.
Service channels
Learn where you can carry out the service and what are the advantages of each channel
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Request now
Through the Direct Social Security
Free of charge
To access Social Security Direct (SSD), you will need to sign in using one of the following means of authentication:
- your Citizen Card
- a Digital Mobile Key (CMD)
- your Social Security number and password.
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Request on the location
Free of charge
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What are the documents and requirements to receive the family allowance for children and young people?
To receive the family allowance for children and young people automatically, the following requirements must be met:
- the child and the parents must have a Citizen Card;
- the child and the parents must reside in Portugal;
- the child must have been born in the last 6 months;
- the child must be in the parents’ household, or must not be registered in another household;
- at least one parent must have a Social Security Direct (SSD) account;
- the parents must be in the same household or have no other registered household;
- the parents must be over 18 years of age; alternatively, if a parent is 16 or 17 years of age, they must be married to the other parent;
- the parents must be paying Social Security contributions;
- the household income must be no higher than the fourth income bracket.
If you do not meet all of these requirements, you will not receive the allowance automatically. Instead, you will need to apply through SSD.
When can you receive the family allowance for children and young people?
You may request the family allowance at any moment. Nevertheless:
- if you request it within six months from the month following the occurrence of the fact which determines its assignment (for instance, birth, attendance of the educational level required for the age), you are entitled to the allowance from that month.
- if you request it after that period, you are only entitled to it from the month following the request’s delivery.
For how long will I receive the family allowance for children and young people?
The family allowance for children and young people ends when:
- the young person ceases to be enrolled in education that corresponds to their age group;
- the young person starts a professional activity;
- the child or young person ceases to reside in Portugal; or
- the child or young person’s Portuguese residence permit expires (for those who are not Portuguese citizens).
Entitlement to the family allowance for children and young people is suspended while the young person is working, unless they have an employment contract and are on school holidays.
Entitlement to the allowance may be resumed, at the request of those concerned, once the conditions for entitlement are met again.
The suspension and resumption of the right take effect in the month following that in which Social Security becomes aware of the reasons for the suspension.