Parental Allowance In Portugal - Globaloptimizer.com

Here is some information on parental allowance and leave in Portugal if you work there.

Family Allowances In Portugal

Dependants Have The Following Benefits

Antenatal family allowance: a monthly allowance given to pregnant women beginning in the 13th week of pregnancy and continuing until the baby is born.
Parents’ benefit for children and young people (known as abono de famlia (child allowance)) – given to descendants until they reach the age of 16 or up to 24 if they are enrolled in educational institutions.
Benefit for attending a special education institution; monthly life-long benefit and exceptional supplementary benefits.
Constant care allowance;
Funeral expenses grant.

In the case of paternity, maternity, or adoption, the mother and father may request initial and complementary parental leave for the child’s birth.

The Family Can Receive The Following Benefits

For maternity leave, a subsidio de maternidade (Maternity allowance) is available (120 days). When there is a clinical risk to the employee or unborn child, the employee may be entitled to pay leave before giving birth (in addition to the 120 days), with the option to extend leave for an additional 30 days after the birth (up to 150 days).
Paternity benefit
Benefit for the care of ill or disabled children
Adoption grant
Childcare assistance for severely disabled or chronically ill children
Benefits for particular risks during pregnancy
Parental leave benefit
Benefit for special leave for grandparents

General Conditions

Being unable to work due to pregnancy, maternity, paternity, adoption, child care, child care of the beneficiary or spouse’s children and adopted, underage or disabled children who are ill, child care of severely disabled or chronically ill children, and the birth of grandchildren.
Qualifying period: six calendar months with registered earnings on the date of the factor determining the protection, either consecutive or separate (first day of being unable to work).

Having A Baby In Portugal

If you are planning on having a baby in Portugal, you can rest assured that the Portuguese healthcare system ranks 13th in Europe according to the 2018 Euro Health Consumer Index. Portugal has one of the world’s lowest national fertility rates, with 1.31 births per woman in 2016. In 2018, the country had the second-lowest birth rate in Europe, making it an appealing destination for expectant parents.

The Serviço Nacional de Sade is Portugal’s publicly funded national health service (SNS). Many childcare benefits and maternity care are available to legal residents through the Portuguese healthcare and social security systems.

Pregnancy And Childbirth In Portugal

Maternity care in Portugal is free or inexpensive for those who contribute to social security. This care is also available to dependent family members.

You can have your baby in a public or private hospital maternity ward in Portugal. You can also choose to have a midwife present during the birth. The national healthcare system covers maternity care. In general, you are free to choose the public hospital of your choice; otherwise, you can go to a public hospital in your area unless your practitioner requests otherwise. If you have insurance, you can also choose private healthcare at one of the following private maternity hospitals:

Accessing Maternity Services In Portugal

If you intend to give birth in Portugal, you must first register at a local health center (Centro de sade); this is required to access doctor and midwife services.

Insurance For Maternity Costs In Portugal

In Portugal, the majority of the costs of having a baby are covered by public health insurance. Residents who pass for Portuguese social security can purchase this insurance.

If you need private health insurance to cover the costs of childbirth in Portugal, the following international companies offer maternity coverage:

Pregnancy Testing In Portugal

If you suspect you are pregnant, you can purchase a pregnancy test from any pharmacy in Portugal (teste de gravidez). You can also get a blood test at a local health center (Centro de sade).

Prenatal Care In Portugal

After registering with a health center, you can receive prenatal care through the public healthcare system. Health centers primarily carry out these appointments; however, public hospitals also provide them during the last few weeks of pregnancy. A health center’s doctors can also refer you to a gynecologist, who can provide support during your pregnancy and help you find a midwife.

If you live in Portugal, medical examinations are free. Prenatal care classes, on the other hand, are typically charged.

You should schedule your first prenatal appointment as soon as possible, ideally before the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. In general, appointments will be scheduled every four to six weeks (until the 30th week), every two to three weeks (between the 30th and 36th week), and every one to two weeks (between the 30th and 36th week) (between the 36th week and the birth).

You will receive a pregnancy booklet (Boletim de Sade da Grávida) after first recording the pregnancy. Your doctor or gynecologist will record medical information as the pregnancy progresses in this booklet. You should also bring this to the hospital when you give birth.

Medical personnel speak at least some English but do not rely on it. Instead, bring someone who can translate or learn some basic Portuguese.

You can also hire a doula to give you advice and emotional support. Doulas, on the other hand, are not medical professionals. As a result, they may be denied access to the birthing room. The Doula Association of Portugal can help you find a doula.

Scans, Tests, And Checks

Your and your baby’s general health will be checked during prenatal appointments. Your blood pressure, weight, urine, and nutritional status will be checked regularly. You can also expect gynecological exams, sonars, and a heart rate analysis of the baby. Every trimester of your pregnancy will also include an ultrasound scan.

Portugal has a free and universal National Vaccination Plan (Plano Nacional de Vacinaço).

Antenatal Classes

Antenatal classes are available in both the private and public sectors, most of which occur in hospitals. These classes typically provide detailed information about pregnancy and childbirth. They’ll assist you in making this new adventure less stressful.

Prenatal and postnatal care and classes are available at Portuguese health centers. However, there are a few options; check with your local health center to see what they offer. Prenatal classes are not usually subsidized, and any medication requires a contribution.

Giving Birth In Portugal

The majority of births in Portugal take place in a hospital maternity ward. Home births are uncommon and not covered by the public healthcare system, but there is growing interest in alternative birthing methods. You can hire your own midwife to assist you with home birth.

When you arrive at the medical facility where you will give birth, always bring your Boletim de Sade da Grávida. Once there, a midwife may assist the doctor with the delivery, and you are usually allowed to have one other person in the room when you give birth. If you want an epidural, let the doctor know ahead of time. After giving birth, the baby is weighed, its health is checked, and any defects or illnesses are documented.

Mothers and babies are usually admitted to the hospital for two days after birth. If the mother has had a C-section, this number rises to three.

In Portugal, public health insurance covers the costs of childbirth. Suppose you are a resident of Portugal and are from a country in the European Economic Area (EEA), the European Union (EU), or Switzerland. In that case, you can use the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to travel to your home country to give birth if you have made sufficient social security contributions.

Postnatal Care In Portugal

When registering your baby at a Portuguese health centre, healthcare workers create medical records that record all vaccinations and health checks. You will be given a booklet containing all previous and upcoming appointments, additional information, and a hospital release form.

A nurse will come to check on you and the baby a few days after you leave the hospital.

If you want to join postnatal (pós-parto) classes, contact your health center directly to find out what they offer and how much they charge. Outside institutions also provide postnatal classes.

Vaccinations For Children

The Ministry of Health oversees a national vaccination program in Portugal. Vaccinations are given at regular intervals until the child is 18 months old, then at five to six years old, and then again at ten to thirteen years old.

Tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis, Haemophilus influenza type b infection, hepatitis B, pneumococcal disease, meningococcal disease, measles, mumps, rubella, and human papillomavirus infection are all protected against by the national vaccine program.

Nurseries And Childcare

Nurseries and childcare facilities are uncommon in Portugal. As a result, children under three are typically cared for by family members or babysitters. Most cities, however, have a variety of crèches, childcare centers, nurseries, and kindergartens.

Breastfeeding In Portugal

Some expats have previously complained that attitudes in Portugal towards issues such as breastfeeding versus formula use are somewhat outdated. A World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBTi) report from a few years ago revealed that the country was lagging, with exclusive breastfeeding rates for the first six months (this is as recommended by the World Health Organization) still low in Portugal. Furthermore, only 15 hospitals and one group of sade centers are certified Amigos dos Bebés (baby and breastfeeding-friendly).

However, according to a new report published in 2017, exclusive breastfeeding rates up to three or four months nearly doubled in Portugal over the last twenty years. This resulted in better maternity pay regulations. Maternity leave in Portugal is currently four months long, with the option of being extended to six months. During these extra months, the mother receives only 25% of her gross salary; however, a current petition seeks an increase of 100%.

Registration Of Birth

Babies born in Portugal must be registered at the Portuguese Civil Registry Office within 20 days; the nearest office can be found online. This can also be done (for free) at the hospital maternity ward where your child was born through a government program called Nascer Cidadao.

You will need the following documents to register your baby in Portugal:

ID or passports of the parents
A birth certificate issued by the specific place or the maternity ward where the birth took place

A variety of people can register a child’s birth. These are the parents, a close relative, the parents’ legal representative, or an appointed staff member at the place of birth.

Surprisingly, a baby born in Portugal cannot have more than six individual names. Furthermore, if one of the parents is Portuguese and you want to give your child a non-Portuguese Christian name, you may be asked to show proof that this name is accepted in your country of origin.

Non-Residents, Visitors, And Tourists Giving Birth In Portugal

If you are a non-resident expecting a child in Portugal, you must obtain private health insurance to cover the costs.

Will Your Child Get Portuguese Citizenship?

If one parent was born in Portugal, the child automatically acquires Portuguese citizenship. They will also be granted automatic citizenship if they have no other nationality through their parents or if at least one of their parents has lived in Portugal for five years before their birth.

Parental Leave In Portugal

In Portugal, new mothers are entitled to maternity leave at 100% pay for 120 days. They can take up to 30 days before the baby is born, and they must take at least 42 days (six weeks) after the baby is born.

Maternity leave in Portugal can be extended for up to 150 days at full pay if the following conditions are met:

Both parents shared the leave after the mandatory 42-day post-birth period. Both parents can use the additional 30-day period.
Twins are born to the mother. For each additional birth, mothers are granted an additional 30 days (e.g., 180 days for triplets and 210 for quadruplets).

In Portugal, there are two additional options for taking parental leave:

Parental leave can be extended to 180 days and shared equally by both parents at a rate of 83% of total pay.
Maternity leave can be extended to 150 days with no shared period at an 80% total pay rate.

To be eligible for parental leave in Portugal, you must have worked and contributed to social security for at least six months before filing your claim. In Portugal, maternity and paternity benefits applications can be made at a local Social Security office or a citizen’s shop.

Parental social allowance is also available to those unemployed or who have not contributed enough to be eligible for maternity leave in Portugal. The entitlement period is the same as for standard maternity benefits, but the rates are set at 80%, 66%, and 64% of the Index of Social Support (€435.76 in 2019).

Paternity Leave In Portugal

Working fathers in Portugal are entitled to five consecutive days of paternity leave following the birth of their child, plus an additional ten days within 30 days of the birth, which do not have to be consecutive. Following this period, a father can take an additional ten consecutive days of leave during the mother’s maternity leave. If twins are born, each period is extended by two days for each child.

However, in certain circumstances, such as the mother’s death, physical or psychological incapacity, a shared decision by both partners to switch roles in caring for the baby, or where the mother does not claim any maternity benefits, a new father may have the same leave rights as a mother.

Child Benefits In Portugal

In Portugal, pregnant women receive a prenatal family allowance beginning in the 13th week of pregnancy and lasting up to six months. The allowance is means-tested and is only available to residents with earnings and movable assets below a certain level. The weekly amount varies depending on income, currently between €96.32 and €148.32.

Other child benefits in Portugal include a family allowance for children and young people up to 16, maternity and paternity benefits, adoption grant benefits for the care of ill or disabled children, pregnancy risks benefits, and grandparents’ special leave benefits.

Check the Social Security website for more information on how and where to apply for these benefits. Fill out the form for family allowance for children and young people online and send it to Social Security directly.

Useful Resources

For more information about giving birth in Portugal, refer to this list of links below:

Ajuda de Mae (Mother’s Help)