Background information

Through Decree-Law No. 28-A/2022, of 25 March, the Government created an extraordinary support to mitigate the effects of the increase in the prices of basic food goods on families that were beneficiaries of the social energy tariff electricity (TSEE). In the first phase of this support the government decided through Decree-Law no. 30-D/2022, of April 18, to extend the scope to households that, not being beneficiaries of the TSEE, benefited of minimum social benefits. This support had a second phase, approved by Decree-Law no. 42/2022, of June 29, under which, in July 2022, social security paid €60 to families residing in Portugal who were beneficiaries of the TSEE and to families beneficiaries of minimum social benefits.

This new measure aims to support those vulnerable families to face the escalation of price in food basic goods resulting from the war in Ukraine. The support is set up by Decree-Law 85-B/2022 of 22 December.

Content of measure

The support consists of a single payment (one-off measure) of €240 to be paid in December 2022 to households beneficiaries of the social energy tariff electricity (TSEE) residing in Portugal, as well as to families who, not falling within this scope, are beneficiaries of minimum social benefits by reference to the month of November 2022. It applies to households with a level of annual income up to €5,808.

This one-off measure of €240 applies to households who have received €60 monthly support in a previous phase (Decree-Law no. 42/2022, of 29 June), residing in Portugal who were beneficiaries of the TSEE and beneficiaries of minimum social benefits by reference to the month of November 2022.

Use of measure

It is estimated to cover 1,037 million households.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Applies to all workers	Does not apply to businesses	People on social benefits People on low incomes

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Social insurance	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Informed	Consulted
Form	Not applicable	Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Social partners jointly
• Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

Involved in the framework of the tripartite Permanent Commission of Social Concertation (CPCS), which includes the government representatives and representatives of employer confederations, i.e., the Entrepreneurial Confederation of Portugal (CIP), the Confederation of Commerce and Services of Portugal (CCP), the Confederation of Farmers of Portugal (CAP), and the Confederation of Portuguese Tourism (CTP); and the representatives of trade union confederations, i.e., the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (CGTP) and the General Union of Workers (UGT).

Views and reactions

Not available yet.

Sources

• 25 March 2022: Decree-Law 28-A/2022, of 25 March (dre.pt)
• 18 April 2022: Decree-Law 30-D/2022 of 18 April (dre.pt)
• 29 June 2022: Decree-Law 42/2022 of 29 June (dre.pt)
• 22 December 2022: Decree-Law 85-B/2022 of 22 December 2022 (dre.pt)