The partial unemployment benefit, known as subsídio de desemprego parcial, is designed to help people earn an income while making the transition back to work.

The benefit is available to people who have applied for or are already receiving the standard unemployment benefit and then begin working part-time or independently. For employees, the weekly hours must be below those of a comparable full-time job, and their salary must be lower than their unemployment benefit. Self-employed workers may qualify if their relevant annual income is below the value of their benefit, according to the Portuguese government’s gov.pt guidance.

The amount is calculated using the person’s existing unemployment benefit and new earnings. Portugal’s Social Security information says the partial payment is generally the original benefit increased by 35%, minus the income from work. For self-employed workers, the calculation uses a monthly share of their declared annual income. The partial payment cannot normally be higher than the original unemployment benefit.

For example, someone receiving €500 a month in unemployment benefit who starts a part-time job earning €350 could receive a partial benefit of €325. Together, the salary and benefit would total €675. The actual amount depends on the person’s circumstances and Social Security’s calculation.

Anyone who starts working after applying for unemployment benefit has 90 consecutive days from the start of the activity to submit the required documents to Social Security. The government says late submissions can reduce the period for which the benefit is paid by the length of the delay. Applicants may need to provide their part-time employment contract and salary details. Self-employed applicants must provide evidence of their activity and income.

The support runs for no longer than the remaining period of the person’s original unemployment entitlement. It may also stop if the part-time contract ends or the recipient no longer meets the relevant conditions.

Partial unemployment benefit cannot be combined with some other payments, including sickness benefit, parental or adoption benefit, and certain pensions or regular payments from a former employer. The government advises people to check the full conditions with Social Security before applying.

The scheme offers a way for eligible people to take up lower-paid or part-time work while keeping some financial support. Applications and documents can be submitted through Segurança Social Direta or at a Social Security service desk.

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