Equate Social Solidarity Cooperatives and People's Houses with Private Social Solidarity Institutions

At any moment.

On the location: 

• Social Security’s service desks (in the area of the requesting entity's registered office)
• Citizen Shop desks.

• In the case of Social Solidarity Cooperatives: 

  • copy of the act of incorporation and cooperative bylaws 
  • credential issued, under the legal terms, by the Cooperativa António Sérgio para a Economia Social - Cooperativa de Interesse Público de Responsabilidade Limitada, which confirms the cooperative nature of the applicant, its normal functioning and its social solidarity purposes.

• In the case of People’s Houses: 

  • copy of the act (or license) of incorporation and people’s house bylaws 
  • copy of the identification card of a legal person. 

• It is free of charge.

• Within 30 days from the date of receipt of the application, or from the date of submission of the elements requested by the District Centre of the Social Security Institute. 

Equivalence presupposes: 

• The legality of the act of incorporation and the bylaws of the applicant, assessed in the light of the legislation applicable to "social solidarity cooperatives" or “people’s house", depending on the nature of the applicant and also the applicable provisions of the Statute of Private Institutions of Social Solidarity (IPSS); 
• The verification of the conditions for the attainment of the objectives defined in the Statute of the IPSS, in particular the objectives in the field of Social Security: support for children and young people; support for the family; support for social and community integration; protection of citizens in old age and invalidity and in all situations of lack or reduction of means of subsistence or of capacity for work; 
• The application of the same status of rights, duties and benefits, namely, tax, accountability, conducting surveys, trade unions and inspections of institutions and their establishments.