Support for parents

This section provides information on the support and benefits that parents are entitled to in the fulfilment of their maternity and paternity rights, including in cases of adoption and improving work-life balance.

The information in this section is organised as follows:

• Parental allowance
• Parental social benefit
• Initial maternity leave allowance
• Social benefit for initial maternity leave
• Initial paternity leave allowance
• Social benefit for initial paternity leave
• Initial parental leave allowance for a parent due to the indisposition of the other parent
• Initial parental leave social benefit for a parent due to the indisposition of the other parent
• Extended parental allowance
• ‘Portugal Concilia’ (work-life balance) measure
• Adoption allowance
• Social benefit for adoption
• Adoption allowance for extended leave

Note: in either case the social benefit can only be claimed when the father or mother is not entitled to the regular allowance as he or she does not meet the necessary conditions.

Parental allowance is granted to fathers and mothers, or other persons with parental rights, who take leave (absence from work) due to the birth of a child. It serves to replace the lost income from work during that period.

Find out more about how to apply for parental allowance.

When the father and/or mother do not work and have not paid social security contributions or do not meet the conditions to be entitled to parental allowance due to the birth of a child, they can claim the parental social benefit.

Find out more about how to apply for parental social benefit.

Mothers may receive an allowance to replace the income from work lost during the period of leave due to the birth of a child.

Find out more about how to apply for the initial maternity leave allowance.

If the mother does not work and has not paid social security contributions or does not meet the conditions for entitlement to parental allowance, she may be granted the social benefit for initial maternity leave on the birth of a child.

Find out more about how to apply for the social benefit for initial maternity leave.

Fathers may receive an allowance to replace the income from work lost during the period of leave due to the birth of a child.

Find out more about how to apply for the initial paternity leave allowance.

If the father does not work and has not paid social security contributions or does not meet the conditions for entitlement to parental allowance, he may be granted the social benefit for initial paternity leave on the birth of a child.

Find out more about how to apply for the social benefit for initial paternity leave.

If one of the parents has a physical or psychological incapacity or dies, an initial parental leave allowance may be granted to the father or mother for the period of the other parent’s untaken initial parental leave allowance.

Find out more about how to claim the initial parental leave allowance for a parent due to the indisposition of the other parent.

If one of the parents has a physical or psychological incapacity or dies, an initial parental leave allowance may be granted to the father or mother for the period of the other parent’s untaken initial parental leave allowance.

Find out more about how to claim the initial parental leave social benefit for a parent due to the indisposition of the other parent.

This is an allowance granted to the mother, the father, or both, alternately, for caring for a child at home for a period of up to 3 months.

The mother, the father, or both, alternately, may be entitled to this allowance if they look after their child at home, as long as the extra leave is taken immediately after the end of the period for which the initial parental allowance or the extended parental allowance of the other parent was granted.

Find out more about how to apply for the extended parental allowance.

Part of the Simplex+ 2016 programme, the ‘Portugal Concilia’ (work-life balance) measure aims to provide online mapping of support services for the general population for finding a balance between working, family and personal life.

Find out more about the ‘Portugal Concilia’ measure.

If you adopt a child under the age of 15, you may be entitled to an allowance to replace the employment earnings that you lose during the periods in which you are unable to work.

Find out more about how to claim the adoption allowance.

If you adopt a child under the age of 15 and you do not work or qualify for the adoption allowance, you may be entitled to a social benefit to replace the employment earnings that you lose during periods where you are unable to work.

Find out more about how to apply for the social benefit for adoption.

Either of the adoptive parents, or both parents on an alternate basis, may be entitled to an allowance for situations where extended leave is taken after adopting a child, in order to provide care for the adopted child at home.

Find out more about how to claim the adoption allowance for extended leave.

More information on motherhood and fatherhood can also be found in the ‘Practical guide: having a child’.