Various Social Security benefits, including unemployment benefits and family allowances, will increase in 2026 due to the update of the Social Support Index (IAS), which is expected to rise to 537 euros.
The IAS serves as a reference for Social Security to calculate various social benefits, namely the sickness benefit, the unemployment benefit or the social integration income, as well as the family allowance, access to scholarships, or the solidarity supplement for the elderly, among others.
IAS to increase by about 14 euros
The formula for updating the IAS takes into account the average annual growth rate of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) over the past two years, ending in the 3rd quarter, as well as the average inflation over the last 12 months, excluding housing, pertaining to November.
Based on data released today by the National Statistics Institute (INE), and considering that the update is rounded to the first decimal place, the IAS will rise by 2.8% in 2026 to 537.13 euros.
This represents an increase of 14.63 euros compared to the current 522.50 euros.
The Social Support Index (IAS), which serves as a reference for Social Security to calculate various social benefits, will rise next year to 537.13 euros.
Lusa | 13:33 – 28/11/2025
What is the IAS?
According to the law, the IAS “constitutes the determining reference for establishing, calculating, and updating supports and other expenses and revenues of the central administration of the State, the Autonomous Regions, and local authorities, regardless of their nature, as provided in legislative or regulatory acts”.
According to the rules, the value of the IAS is “updated annually with effect from January 1 of each year, taking into account the following reference indicators”:
- The real growth of the gross domestic product (GDP), corresponding to the average annual growth rate over the last two years, ending in the 3rd quarter of the year preceding the one to which the update refers or in the immediately preceding quarter, if the former is not available by December 10;
- The average variation over the last 12 months of the CPI, excluding housing, available in December of the year preceding the one to which the update refers, or on November 30, if the former is not available by the date of signing the update decree.
Furthermore: “For the purposes of this law, the annual variation of the GDP is that which occurs between the 4th quarter of one year and the 3rd quarter of the following year”.
A large portion of pensions will have an update of 2.77% next year, according to calculations based on data released this Friday by the National Statistics Institute (INE).
Beatriz Vasconcelos | 11:46 – 28/11/2025
