Portugal advances approval of the Unified Social Benefit (PSU)

Portugal's government and the Socialist Party (PS) have reached an agreement to move forward with the Prestação Social Única (PSU), a reform that would merge several non‑contributory welfare payments—including unemployment subsidies, parental benefits, and old‑age and widow pensions—into a single mechanism. The plan aims to simplify rules, reduce bureaucracy and improve data coordination, though details such as the asset‑ownership limit (proposed between 30 and 60 times the Indexante dos Apoios Sociais) and whether social work will be mandatory remain unsettled.

Opposition parties raised concerns that the consolidation could blur distinct rights and that conditions like forced social work might stigmatise beneficiaries. PSD parliamentary leader Hugo Soares praised the agreement as “very important for the country” but accused Chega of “going back to back‑pedalling” and called the party “highly inhumane”, saying Chega’s stance would leave vulnerable immigrant families without support.

The agreement is expected to be formalised by decree, making the PSU a central component of Portugal’s social safety net pending final legislative approval.