Council of Ministers approves measures for retirees and the health sector

O Government announced, this Thursday, three measures aimed at pensioners and retirees with lower incomes. At issue is the increase to 100% of the reimbursement for medicines with a medical prescription, the increase in the value of the solidarity supplement for the elderly to 600 euros and the elimination of the criterion of children’s income for the attribution of the solidarity supplement for the elderly.

At the press conference after the Council of Ministers meeting, the Prime Minister appeared accompanied by the Minister of Health and the Minister of Labor, Solidarity and Social Security.

Luís Montenegro stressed that the approved measures are of “utmost importance” because, he claims, they come “give greater dignity” to those who today are “the poorest of the poorest” – pensioners and retirees who benefit from the solidarity supplement for the elderly (monthly support paid in cash to elderly people over 66 years of age in a situation of poverty – to be eligible you must have an annual income of less than or equal to 6,608 euros, or 11,564 euros, in the case of a couple).

The measures

As regards reimbursement of medically prescribed medicines, the Prime Minister talks about increasing the reimbursement level from 50% to 100%for elderly people with lower incomes, and guarantees that the process is already being streamlined with pharmacies.

The Government had already confirmed that the measure will cost 10.4 million euros. The free comes into force on June 1st. From that date onwards, the Prime Minister assures, beneficiaries will be able to pick up their medicines at the pharmacy “without making any payment”.

Regarding the increase in the solidarity supplement for the elderly, Luís Montenegro reinforces the commitment that this will reach 820 euros by the end of the legislature. For now, “with immediate effect”, it will be increased to 600 euros – plus 50 euros than the current 550 euros paid to those who benefit from this support.

“From June onwards, all pensioners and retirees who have a solidarity supplement for the elderly will have a monthly increase of 50 euros”, guaranteed Luís Montenegro.

This policy, says Luís Montenegro, will cover “the 145 thousand pensioners and retirees who already benefit” from the solidarity supplement for the elderly and also all those who, with income between 550 and 600 euros per month, apply for this support, filling out the requirements.

The last of the three measures announced concerns the elimination of the condition that established that children’s income was a criterion for the attribution, or not, of the solidarity supplement for the elderlymaking the attribution of these to some candidate beneficiaries unfeasible.

For Luís Montenegro, what is at stake is “politics of justice”committing to continue to consider this matter as a priority.

Housing Strategy.

The prime minister was also asked about other topics that would have been the subject of discussion in the Council of Ministers. Luís Montenegro said that a “housing strategy” that will be made public “in the coming days”.

The strategy will be “subject to parliamentary dialogue prior to the legislative and administrative adoption of individual measures”the Council of Ministers then said in a statement.

“The Strategy includes innovative measures to promotion of public, private and cooperative supply, and support for demand”, especially for “young people, vulnerable people and the middle class”adds the statement, which highlights that the purpose is still “correct serious errors and omissions in public policies in recent years”.

The Council of Ministers also approved a decree-law that “changes the land registry regime”.