Official: Pensioners will receive bonuses in December (remember values)

Fhi published this Thursday in Diário da República the decree-law establishing the award of a bonus to pensioners. You'll be paid in December, along with that month's pension. 

“ It is apparent that this year's budget implementation involves the adoption of this measure, the government considers that the conditions for granting an extraordinary supplement to pensioners in 2026 were met of invalidity, old age and survival of the social security system, pensioners for retirement, retirement and survivors of the convergent social protection regime and pensioners in the banking sector whose overall monthly pension amount is equal to or less than three times the value of the existing Social Support Index”, can be read in the government document. 

Remember values:

The amount of the supplement shall be determined on the basis of the overall monthly amount of pensions perceived by the pensioner, as follows:

1. 200 € for pensioners with an amount of €537,13 or less;
2. 150 € for pensioners with an amount exceeding € 537,13 and less than € 1074,26;
3. 100 € for pensioners with an amount exceeding €1074,26 and less than €1611,39.

The decree also states that “the pensioners of invalidity, old age and survivors of the social security system, pensioners for retirement, retirement and survivors of the convergent social protection regime and pensioners of the banking sector are covered by this decree, with pensions due until 30 November 2026, including the total monthly amount of pensions and their extraordinary updating amounts equal to or less than three times the value of the existing Social Support Indexant (IAS).

When does the pension bonus fall into account? 

The supplement will be paid “in conjunction with the pensions of december 2026, no need for the beneficiary’s request”, as had already been announced by the Executive.

“The charges resulting from the award of the supplement are borne by the State Budget”, it can also be read in the same decree.

Do you even receive this amount of retirement? There should be an increase above inflation

As pensions up to eur 1,074 are expected to increase above the inflation rate by 2027, due to the performance of the portuguese economy in the second quarter of the year, which influences the reform update formula. 

The average gross domestic product growth (GDP) in the last two years should be above 2%, ensuring that, by the automatic updating formula in force, about 90% of pensions will increase above inflation.

In the case of pensions up to two IAS, the increase will be higher than inflation if the average economic growth is between 2% and 3%. If that average is below 2%, pensions will only have an update equivalent to inflation.

This is about the increase by means of the mechanism laid down in the law. This provides that pensions are updated in January on the basis of two indicators: the average GDP growth over the last two years and the average change in the last 12 months of the Consumer Price Index (IPC) without available housing on November 30.