The Minister of Finance, Joaquim Miranda Sarmento, acknowledged on Thursday that it will be “much more difficult” to provide pension bonuses in 2026 after the possibility was raised by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and the State Budget proposal for 2026 (OE2026).
“It is much more difficult in 2026 because, indeed, due to these factors I mentioned, particularly regarding PRR loans, we maintain the point we stated in 2024 and 2025, that it will depend on budget execution. But it is significantly more difficult to do so in 2026 than it was in 2024 or 2025, because these PRR loans, a decision by the previous absolute majority government of Dr. António Costa, weigh heavily on public accounts next year,” said the Finance Minister in an interview with Rádio Renascença on the eve of defending the OE2026 proposal in Parliament, which is happening this Friday.
A week ago, it was confirmed by the Finance Minister that “if there is budgetary margin,” the government “will again provide an extraordinary pension supplement,” albeit with the caveat that 2026 will be a more challenging budget exercise.
The Finance Minister confirmed that “if there is budgetary margin,” the government “will again provide an extraordinary pension supplement,” albeit with the caveat that 2026 will be a more challenging budget exercise. Miranda Sarmento also commented on the PS leadership, considering José Luís Carneiro to be “much more moderate” than Pedro Nuno Santos, who would make a “good leader of the Bloco de Esquerda.”
The Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, also promised that in the OE2026, there would be a new increase in the Complemento Solidário para Idosos (CSI), and if there is leeway, he will again provide “mid-year” supplements to the lowest pensions.
In a document regarding the OE2026 proposal, the government states: “The Complemento Solidário para Idosos (CSI) will increase by 40€ in 2026, reaching 670€ in 2026. Additionally, the possibility of an extraordinary supplement for pensioners will be evaluated. This increase will be accompanied by the updating of pensions, supplements, and other social benefits. These measures result in a total investment of 700 million euros.”
Pension Bonus Was Paid in September
In September, the government allocated an extraordinary supplement to pensioners, a type of ‘bonus’ that will cost a total of 400 million euros, according to estimates by Finance Minister Joaquim Miranda Sarmento.
The supplement amounted to 200 euros for pensions up to 522.50 euros, 150 euros for pensions between 522.50 euros and 1,045 euros, and 100 euros for all pensions between 1,045 and 1,567.50 euros.
This supplement covered pensioners from Social Security, Caixa Geral de Aposentações (CGA), and the banking sector, totaling two million and 300 thousand pensioners.
