News Details

Government approves measures for pilot projects for informal carers

Updated : 10/03/2020

It was today Published the Ordinance It regulates the terms and conditions of implementation of the pilot projects provided for in the Informal Caregiver Statute, and identifies the support measures applicable to informal caregivers, which will be tested in 30 pilot projects from North to South of the country.

As of 1 April, informal carers residing in the territories of the pilot projects will already be able to apply for the status of informal caregiver with the Social Security services.

Caregivers living in these 30 municipalities will be assigned reference professionals, in the area of Health and Social Security, who will make an Intervention Plan that will include accompanying measures, counselling, training and training for the caregiver. These include: identification of the care to be provided by the informal caregiver, as well as the information supporting such care; assessment of quality of life and burden of informal caregivers or access to health and social support measures, promoting autonomy, participation and quality of life of the person cared for.

This plan will define the necessary rest period, to be preferably allocated to caregivers who are identified as having the greatest need. For rest of the caregiver, the cared person can be integrated in long-term units of the National Network of Integrated Continuing Care, in the social responses Residential Structure for Elderly People and Residential Home or benefit from Home Support Service (SAD).

There are also accompanying measures and special support for integration into the labour market after the end of care.

Also in the scope of the pilot projects, the main informal caregivers will have access to the new Informal Caregiver Support Allowance, which takes as reference value 1 IAS (438.81 euros), and which will vary according to income.

In addition, primary informal carers who wish to access the voluntary social insurance scheme benefit from a 25% increase in the amount of the allowance.

The pilot projects will last 12 months.

To monitor and evaluate the pilot projects, there will be a Commission with two representatives of the associations of carers, Health, Social Security, the National Association of Portuguese Municipalities, the social and solidarity sector, and two personalities of recognized merit and work experience in the field of informal caregivers.

Informal caregivers who do not reside in the territories where the pilot projects will be implemented will be able to apply for the status of informal caregiver from July 1, as established in the Ministerial Implementing Order No 2/2020.

Below is the list of 30 municipalities with pilot projects:

  • Alcoutim
  • Alvaiázere
  • Amadora
  • Arches of Valdevez
  • Boticas
  • Headwaters of Basto
  • Campo Maior
  • Castle of Paiva
  • Coruche
  • Évora
  • Figueira da Foz
  • Fundão
  • Grândola
  • Lamego
  • Mation
  • Matosinhos
  • Mértola
  • Miranda do Corvo
  • Moita
  • Montalegre
  • Mora
  • Moura
  • Penafiel
  • Portimão
  • Sabugal
  • Seia
  • Viana do Castelo
  • Vieira do Minho
  • Vila Real
  • Vimioso