Minimum Social Standards in Portugal: changes and adequacy from the pre to the post austerity period

Abstract

Several international and European commitments recognize the right for all to have an adequate level of resources to lead a decent and dignified life and the need for an adequate income support for those who lack sufficient resources (i.e. for those living in poverty). In the last eleven years some important changes were introduced in Portugal affecting this right. Some, like the introduction of the Solidarity Supplement for the Elderly, were positive moves towards the realization of this right, others, like some of the changes introduced in the non-contributory protection system during the period of social and economic crisis in Portugal, had a clear negative impact on the level of income guaranteed by the state for different households types. Using six vignettes for different household types this paper aims: a) to identify the impact on the minimum income guaranteed by the state (for the considered households types) of the main changes introduced after 2006 in minimum wage and in the non-contributory protection system, namely in Social Insertion Income and in Solidarity Supplement for the Elderly, b) to compare the minimum income guaranteed for the considered household types since 2006 and c) to assess the adequacy of the minimum income guaranteed, between 2016 and 2015, considering the relative at risk of poverty line.