Abono de família para crianças e jovens

The core family benefit paid by Segurança Social. Means-tested using 5 income brackets (escalões), based on the household reference income vs. the IAS (Indexante dos Apoios Sociais, €522.50 in 2025).

• Bracket 1 (income ≤ 0.5 × IAS): €185.10/month per child under 3, €92.55 per older child
• Bracket 2 (0.5–1 × IAS): €153.10 / €76.55
• Bracket 3 (1–1.5 × IAS): €122.45 / €61.20
• Bracket 4 (1.5–2.5 × IAS): €73.30 / €36.65
• Bracket 5 (above 2.5 × IAS): €48.05 / €24.05 (in some cases €0)

+50% extra for single-parent households. +20% from the 2nd child for brackets 1–3.

Bonificação por deficiência

Monthly disability bonus paid on top of the Abono de família when a child has a recognised disability:

• €67.05/month for children under 14
• €97.65/month for ages 14–18
• €130.65/month for ages 18–24

Pays until age 24 if education/rehabilitation continues. Paid by Segurança Social.

IRS — tax deductions per dependant

The income tax (IRS) grants annual fixed deductions:

• €600 per dependant child
• €750 per child under 3 (raised to €900 from the 2nd child onwards)
• Higher deductions for single-parent households

Childcare and education expenses also deductible (up to €800/year for childcare under 3, up to €1,000/year for education).

Parental leave — Subsídio parental inicial

Multiple options funded by Segurança Social:

• 120 days at 100% of reference salary (4 months)
• 150 days at 80% (5 months)
• 180 days at 83% (6 months, requires both parents to take at least 30 days each)

Paternity leave: 28 days mandatory (7 immediately after birth, then 21 within 42 days), 100% paid.

Additional parental leave for the second parent: 7 optional days during the mother’s initial leave.

Creche Feliz — free creche under 3

Launched September 2022 and progressively extended, the Creche Feliz programme guarantees free childcare (creche) for all children under 3 in IPSS (Instituições Particulares de Solidariedade Social) and private agreement creches.

Funded jointly by the State and municipalities. Major support for parental return to work, particularly for low-income families.

ATL — Atividades de Tempos Livres

After-school and holiday activities (ages 6–12) partially subsidised by municipalities and Segurança Social through agreements with IPSS. Out-of-pocket cost varies (often €30–€80/month) depending on household income.

Abono pré-natal

Prenatal allowance paid from the 13th week of pregnancy until birth. Same income brackets as Abono de família. Amount: €185.10/month in bracket 1, down to €48.05 in bracket 5.

Official sources

• Segurança Social — Abono de família
• Segurança Social — Parentalidade
• Autoridade Tributária — IRS
• Creche Feliz