Request the exemption from the user charges due to economic hardship
The individuals with low income may request an exemption so they don’t have to pay user charges at the National Health Service (SNS).
To be entitled to the exemption, it is necessary to be part of a household in which the family head has an average monthly income lower than 653.64€. This is called being in a situation of economic hardship.
Service channels
Find out where you can do the service and what the advantages of each channel
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Request now
Click on the 'Request online' button to access the Citizen's Area of the National Health Service
Free of charge
Check the 'What are the documents and requirements' field
This service can be done with video call support. Click on the "Support" button on the right side of the page and schedule.
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Request on the location
Go to a health centre or a Citizen Spot that provides the service
Free of charge
Who can request the exemption from the user charges due to economic hardship?
When can you request the exemption from the user charges due to economic hardship?
You may request the exemption at any time.
Where request the exemption from the user charges due to economic hardship?
Online
At the Citizen’s Area of the National Health Service portal.
Go to:
- the citizen’s cffice of your health centre
- a Citizen Spot.
What are the documents and requirements to request the exemption from the user charges due to economic hardship?
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Online
You will need one of the following sign-in means to access the Citizen’s Area of the National Health Service Portal:
- Citizen Card, PIN codes and card reader.
- Digital Mobile Key.
During the request, your tax identification number (TIN) may be requested.
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On the location
Bring the Citizen Card with you (or other valid identification document, such as the identity document or the passport).
If you do not own a Citizen Card, besides the identification document, you must also bring:
- the user card
- the tax payer card
- the Social Security’s beneficiary card.
What is the price to request the exemption from the user charges due to economic hardship?
It is free of charge.
How request the exemption from the user charges due to economic hardship?
To request the exemption, you need to submit a request, which may be submitted online or in person.
Online
- Access the Citizen’s Area of the National Health Service portal.
- Sign in with your access data.
- On the menu, choose “SNS Benefits > Exemption from User Charges”.
- Follow the filling instructions to request the exemption.
- The request is assessed within 10 business days. To know if the exemption was granted, you may consult the Citizen’s Area of the National Health Service portal.
On the location
- Go to the Citizen’s Office of your health centre or to a Citizen Spot which provides the service to request exemption from taxes.
- The request is assessed within 10 business days. To know if the exemption was granted, you may consult the Citizen’s Area of the National Health Service portal or visit the health centre again.
If the exemption was not granted, be aware of the following:
- You do not need to hold a document which proves you are exempt, as this information is automatically associated to your user’s registry and may be consulted at any unit of the National Health Service.
- You do not need to renew the exemption request, as every year, an automatic reassessment is carried out, based on the income reported to Finances, to confirm if you are still entitled to the exemption. To consult the income considered for this calculation, access your personal area of the Finances Portal and search for “Economic Hardship for User Charges”.
- If your situation changes, you must submit a new request. If the information you provided when you made the request changes or if your tax statement does not reflect the household’s reality, you must submit a new request.