The Prime Minister announced today that the Government will increase, from June onwards, the reference value of the Solidarity Supplement for the Elderly (CSI) by 50 euros. The Executive will also eliminate children’s income as an exclusion factor.
From June onwards, the reference value of this benefit will increase from 550 to 600 euros and only the values of pensioners and retirees who apply for it will be counted.
Luís Montenegro reiterated that the Government maintains the objective of the CSI reference value reaching 820 euros in the legislature, but admits bringing it forward. “We will do everything to advance the achievement of this objective”, he said at the press conference at the end of the Council of Ministers, in which he was flanked by the Minister of Health, Ana Paula Martins, the Minister of Labor, Solidarity and Social Security, Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho.
The Council of Ministers also approved the free use of medicines subject to medical prescription for approximately 145 thousand CSI beneficiaries. “The first measure was to increase the level of reimbursement for prescription medicines to 100%”, said the head of Government.
Currently, the contribution was set at 50%.
“Often, (CSI beneficiaries) end up not accessing the full range of their treatments due to the very degraded economic condition in which they live. With this effort, we will allow this to no longer happen,” she stressed.
The free use of medicines subject to medical prescription will come into effect on June 1, in a measure that will cost 10.4 million euros. From that date onwards, explained Luís Montenegro, beneficiaries will be able to collect medicines at the pharmacy “without making any payment”.
CSI is monthly support paid in cash to elderly people living in poverty. Citizens over 66 years of age and with annual income less than or equal to 6,608 euros are eligible. In the case of a couple, this income must be less than or equal to 11,564 euros.
Tags: Government increases CSI reference
