The Child Care Allowance is a monetary support provided to individuals who need to take leave from work to offer urgent and necessary care to their children (biological, adopted, or stepchildren) in cases of illness or accident, according to Social Security.
“If the children are of legal age, they must be part of the household of the person providing the care,” explains the organization in a practical guide on the subject.
Who is it for?
- employed workers who contribute to Social Security;
- self-employed workers who contribute to Social Security;
- individuals registered in the voluntary social insurance scheme:
maritime workers and national ship watchers of foreign companies;
people receiving a scholarship for scientific research. - employees in early retirement with reduced working hours;
- individuals receiving a relative disability pension, old-age pension, or survivor’s pension who are working and contributing to Social Security.
According to Social Security, “Foster Families are entitled to the Child Care Allowance under the same rules that apply to individuals who need to take leave from work to provide urgent and necessary care to children (biological, adopted, or stepchildren), in case of illness or accident.”
What are the eligibility conditions?
Furthermore, according to Social Security, one must:
- meet the qualifying period, meaning having contributed for at least 6 months (consecutive or not) before the day of leaving work to care for the child;
- have a regularized contribution status on the date they become entitled to the allowance if they are self-employed or covered by the voluntary social insurance scheme.
What is the duration and amount to receive?
“The amount and duration are variable. Check the practical guide for more information,” recommends Social Security.
The document explains that the “amount received per day from the Child Care Allowance corresponds to a percentage of 100% of the net reference remuneration (RRL), and this amount cannot be less than 65% of the reference remuneration (RR).”
Moreover: “If residing in autonomous regions, the amount received increases by 2%; for the calculation of the reference net remuneration, the total gross amount (before deductions) is reduced by the applicable income tax rate (IRS) and the Social Security contribution rate applicable to the person receiving the benefit.”
It should also be noted that “one can apply for compensatory benefits for holiday and Christmas subsidies; for more information, consult the practical guide Compensatory Benefits for holiday, Christmas, or similar subsidies.”
The Government explains that the Social Security simulator “automatically calculates the benefits you may be entitled to, such as family allowance, sickness benefit, unemployment benefit, or Social Insertion Income.”
Notícias ao Minuto | 09:57 – 15/09/2025
