CGTP criticizes pension bonuses as ineffective “panacea”

A CGTP-IN today argued that the extraordinary supplement for pensioners is “a panacea” that “does not compensate for the losses of several years, but rather requires a significant increase in all pensions that guarantees a “worthy life”.

“ This extraordinary supplement, although it may represent a temporary relief for many pensioners who struggle with a permanent shortage of income, aggravated by the brutal increase in the cost of living that has been seen, is just a panacea, which will not change significantly and permanently the incomes of pensioners ", supports the trade union centre in a statement.

For CGTP, this extraordinary supplement of EUR 100 to 200 for pensions up to EUR 1,611,39 – similar to what has been paid in recent years – “will not compensate at all for the losses suffered by pensioners over several years, first with the stagnation of the amounts of their pensions due to their failure to update, and then with the exponential rise in inflation”.

In addition, it does not “change the low general level of pensions”, since, being an extraordinary value, “it will not integrate the value of pensions and will not count for future updates”.

“ In view of the continuing worsening of the price of essential goods, including fuels, energy and housing, which will continue to occur, the allocation for once of a pension supplement will not contribute significantly to the improvement of the living conditions of pensioners, pensioners and pensioners, limited to providing a momentary break”, the central argues.

In this context, CGTP-IN requires “a significant and widespread increase in all pensions, which will actually restore and improve the purchasing power of all pensioners and provide a consistent response to all their needs, guaranteeing them the dignified life they deserve after years and years of work”.

The extraordinary pension supplement to be paid in December will be awarded to those who receive up to a total of EUR 1,611.39 per month and are exempt from withholding tax in IRS, according to a diploma published today.

Decree-Law No 201/2026 published in Diário da República, which establishes this extraordinary support between 100 and 200 euros for pensioners with lower pensions, states that “the value of the supplement is determined according to the overall monthly amount of pensions perceived by the pensioner”.

In other words, as in previous years, support is granted by pensioners and not by pensioners, so those who receive several pensions will see these sums added to determine whether they are entitled to the supplement.

According to the diploma, they are covered by the support “invalidity pensioners, old age and survivors of the social security system, pensioners for retirement, retirement and survivors of the convergent social protection scheme and pensioners of the banking sector, with pensions due until 30 November 2026 inclusive, whose overall monthly amount of pensions and their extraordinary updating amounts are equal to or less than three times the value of the current Social Support Indexant (IAS).

Excluded are pensions for permanent incapacity for work and death arising from occupational disease, other pensions of an indemnifying nature, pensions of a non-contributory nature within the scope of the General Pensions Fund (CGA) and supplements for dependency, dependent spouse and solidarity for the elderly.

The extraordinary supplement will be EUR 200 for those receiving a pension of up to EUR 537,13 (the equivalent of an IAS), EUR 150 for pensioners with pensions of between EUR 537,13 and EUR 1,074,26 (the equivalent of between one and two IAS) and EUR 100 for those receiving between EUR 1,074,26 and EUR 1,611,39 (the equivalent of between two and three IAS).

The supplement will be paid “without the need for the beneficiary’s request”, and will not be subject to withholding at source in the IRS (which does not mean that its value is not accounted for by IRS), and will be impeccable and not relevant for the purposes of calculating the amount of the Solidarity Complement for the Elderly (CSI).

The government estimates to spend EUR 400 million on this support, which will be paid between December 7th and 8th, together with this month's pension, and should cover more than two million pensioners.