On this page

1. Housing

2. Social services
3. Healthcare
4. Financial services
5. Quality assurance

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Housing

National Housing Support – Porta 65 Jovem and Porta 65 Jovem+ ((Youth Rent Support Programme)

The Porta 65 Jovem programme has been in place since 2007, following the approval of Decree‑Law No. 308/2007, which established a national rent‑support scheme for young people aged 18 to 35. In 2024, the Government introduced Porta 65 Jovem+, a reinforced modality designed to support economically vulnerable young people, including those leaving institutional care, single‑parent households and youth at risk of social exclusion. Porta 65 Jovem+ has been in force since August 2024 and remains active under the current national housing policy framework. Both programmes operate on a continuous basis, with no defined end date.

New Housing Incentives and Tax Relief

Since August 2024, additional housing incentives have been introduced to support home ownership among young people under 35. These include:

• State-backed guarantees covering up to 15% of the property value, enabling 100% mortgage financing;

• Exemption from Municipal Property Transfer Tax (IMT) and Stamp Duty (IS) for properties valued up to €316,772;

• Partial exemptions for properties up to €633,453 3.

These measures aim to reduce financial barriers and promote long-term residential stability for young people across Portugal.

Social services 

Linha Nacional de Emergência Social (LNES). National Social Emergency Line – 144

Linha Nacional de Emergência Social (LNES), reachable via 144, is a free, 24/7 public helpline operated by the Instituto da Segurança Social (ISS). It provides immediate intervention in cases of social vulnerability, including:

• Victims of domestic violence;

• Children and young people at risk;

• Individuals with loss of autonomy;

• Homeless persons.

The service ensures rapid triage and referral to appropriate social services, supporting both emergency response and long-term social reintegration.

Child and Youth Protection – Protecting Seal Project

The Protecting Seal (Selo Protetor) programme, coordinated by the National Commission for the Promotion of the Rights and Protection of Children and Young People (CNPDPCJ), is currently in its 8th edition (2025–2027). Applications are open to all Competent Entities in Children and Youth Affairs (ECMIJ), and certified organisations demonstrate proactive methodologies in safeguarding children and young people across all contexts of life.

ASE (School Social Support)

School Social Support (Ação Social Escolar – ASE) is governed by the national framework established through Decree‑Law No. 55/2009 of 2 March, which has remained in force with subsequent updates. The ASE scheme has been implemented since 2009 and aims to ensure equal opportunities by supporting pupils from low‑income families with school‑related expenses such as textbooks, materials, meals and transport.

Social Welfare Services (SAS)

The social welfare system of public higher education offers scholarships, through a money allowance that contributes to the costs inherent to the attendance of a higher education degree or of out conducting a mandatory professional internship.

It is given as a non-refundable grant, in the same year, for students that lack financial resources.

Support in transportation

In of most of the Portuguese public transportation services, there are discounts and different student bus tickets for young people. The discount is established according to each family’s School Social Support category.

4_18@escola.tp – (School Transport Pass for ages 4–18) is a national public‑transport discount programme introduced in 2017 to reduce mobility costs for children and young people and promote equal access to education. It provides subsidised monthly passes for pupils aged 4 to 18 enrolled in basic and secondary education, with the level of discount linked to the student’s Social School Support (ASE) category. The programme aims to facilitate daily school attendance, support low‑income families and reduce early school leaving by removing financial barriers to transport. Outcomes reported by transport operators and municipalities include a significant increase in the number of pupils using public transport for school journeys and improved regularity of attendance among beneficiaries. The scheme operates on a continuous basis and remains in force nationwide. sub23@escola.tp – (School Transport Pass for students under 23) is a national public‑transport discount programme created in 2017 to support young people enrolled in higher education, both public and private. It provides subsidised monthly travel passes for students up to the age of 23 (or 24 in the case of integrated master’s degrees), helping to reduce mobility costs and ensure equal access to tertiary education. The level of discount is linked to the student’s Social School Support (ASE) category, and the measure aims to promote educational continuity, ease the financial burden on low‑income households and improve regular attendance in higher education institutions. Reported outcomes include increased uptake of public transport among university students and improved accessibility to academic institutions for economically vulnerable groups. The programme remains in force and operates on a continuous basis within the national public‑transport framework.

Healthcare

Legislation and intersectoral strategies intended for vulnerable groups

Intervention in child and juvenile health: 

• Portugal provides a set of health‑care services specifically designed for children and young people, supported by a comprehensive legal framework that ensures targeted interventions across the National Health Service (SNS). Youth‑specific health appointments are regulated by the National Youth Health Programme, in force since 1 June 2013, established through Despacho n.º 6378/2013 (Order No. 6378/2013). This programme mandates regular health‑promotion and monitoring consultations for all young people up to the age of 18. Additional protection mechanisms for vulnerable children and adolescents are defined in the Regulamento n.º 31292/2008 (Regulation No. 31292/2008), which sets out multidisciplinary procedures for early detection, assessment and coordinated intervention in situations of risk. Preventive and counselling services are also provided through the Cuida‑te Programme, created by Portaria n.º 655/2008 (Ministerial Order No. 655/2008), offering free psychological support, sexual‑health counselling and addiction‑prevention services for young people aged 12–30. Early‑childhood support is further ensured by the National System for Early Intervention in Childhood (SNIPI), established by Decreto‑Lei n.º 281/2009 (Decree‑Law No. 281/2009), which provides integrated health, education and social‑care responses for children up to six years old at risk of developmental difficulties.
• The main target groups of these services include all young people covered by the SNS up to the age of 18, and young people aged 12–30 benefiting from youth‑specific services, with particular attention to vulnerable groups such as NEETs, young migrants, adolescents exposed to violence, Roma youth and young people experiencing psychosocial or mental‑health vulnerabilities.
• The professional development of health mediators is supported through continuous training opportunities delivered by the Directorate‑General of Health (DGS), regional health administrations and specialised programmes such as PAPES and Cuida‑te. These opportunities include accredited courses, peer‑learning sessions and thematic workshops covering mental‑health first aid, sexual and reproductive health, intercultural communication, and early identification of risk behaviours.
• Support for the development of a national network of health mediators occurs through intersectoral collaboration between health, education and social‑protection bodies. Schools participating in the Health Promotion and Education Support Programme (PAPES), local health‑centre groups (ACES), hospitals and youth organisations work together to establish coordinated referral pathways, shared guidelines and consistent methodologies. Although this structure does not constitute a formal national network with statutory status, it functions in practice as an articulated system ensuring coherent and youth‑friendly health‑care provision across regions.

Programmes and services for access promotion

Support Programme for Health Promotion and Education

According to the concept of Health Promoting Schools (HPS) of the World Health Organisation (WHO, 2009), the Directorate-General of Education developed the Support Programme for Health Promotion and Education (PAPES), 

which has been implemented since 2010 to strengthen health literacy and preventive education across Portuguese schools. PAPES provides structured national guidelines and resources in three core fields: (1) mental health and violence prevention, (2) nutrition education and physical activity, and (3) affectivity and sexual education. Its main objectives are to promote healthy behaviours, prevent risk‑taking among children and young people, develop whole‑school approaches to wellbeing, and support teachers in delivering evidence‑based health‑education activities.

The programme targets pupils in basic and secondary education, as well as teachers, school leadership teams and school‑based health‑promotion coordinators. Activities include awareness sessions, classroom resources, teacher training, school‑community partnerships and integration of health‑promotion principles into school development plans. Reported outcomes include improved availability of structured health‑education materials, enhanced teacher capacity and greater alignment between schools and local health‑sector partners. Although participation levels vary by school cluster, PAPES remains the national reference framework for school‑based health promotion.

PAPES operates within the legal framework set by the Ministry of Education for health education in schools, and its implementation is coordinated by the DGE in partnership with regional education authorities and the Ministry of Health.

National Programme for Oral Health Promotion (PNPSO)

The National Programme forOral Health Promotion (PNPSOPrograma Nacional de Promoção da Saúde Oral) is a national public‑health programme established under Despacho n.º 11391/2005 (Order No. 11391/2005), later reinforced through Portaria n.º 301/2009 (Ministerial Order No. 301/2009). It aims to improve access to oral‑health services for children, adolescents and other priority groups by providing preventive, diagnostic and treatment care through accredited private dental services working in cooperation with school‑health teams and child and youth health programmes.

The core objectives of the PNPSO are to reduce oral‑health inequalities, prevent dental disease at early ages, promote healthy habits, and ensure timely access to dental care for children and young people. The programme includes annual dental check‑ups, preventive interventions such as fluoride varnish applications, and treatment referrals for identified clinical needs. Its main target groups are children aged 3, 6, 7, 9, 12 and 15 years, as well as pregnant women and economically vulnerable young people identified through the National Health Service (SNS) and school‑health channels.

Implementation relies on the distribution of “cheques‑dentista” (dental vouchers), which enable beneficiaries to access free dental care from participating dentists. Monitoring reports from the Ministry of Health indicate sustained increases in coverage rates, significant improvements in early detection of dental problems, and reductions in untreated dental caries among school‑age children. The programme operates on a continuous basis and remains the central national mechanism for promoting oral health among young people.

Cuida-te Programme, coordinated by the Portuguese Institute of Sports and Youth (IPDJ, I.P.), is a national initiative aimed at promoting youth health and well-being among individuals aged 12 to 30. It also targets strategic stakeholders such as educators, health professionals, youth workers, families, and community leaders.

Initially launched in 2008, the programme was restructured in 2019 to reflect updated scientific evidence and respond to emerging public health challenges. These included growing socioeconomic inequalities, the need for evidence-based prevention, and the importance of long-term, multi-level strategies.

The programme’s main goal is to reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases and foster healthier lifestyles through health education, literacy, early detection, counselling, and referral services. Its core areas of intervention include mental health and emotional well-being, physical activity, nutrition, sexual and reproductive health, and the prevention of addictive behaviours.

Implementation of pilot experiments in the field of Integrated Long-term Mental Health Care (ICMS)

Ministry of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security and Ministry of Health

The expansion and improvement of the National Network of Integrated Continuous Care (RNCCI) focused on the mental health component, and units and teams providing Integrated Continuous Mental Health Care (CCISM) were implemented for the adult population and for children and adolescents (Order no. 1269/2017, of 2 February). The CCISMs are therefore innovative in that they also include types of units and teams for children and adolescents, an age group with a marked lack of structures in this area. The development of new responses for children and young people up to the age of eighteen is, in fact, one of the most striking and positive contributions of the implementation of Continuous Mental Health Care, an area in which there is an effective lack of responses. Within the scope of integrated continuous mental health care, twenty-two units and teams are operating (pilot experiments), covering 280 users.

Cross-sectoral policies

In Portugal, access to healthcare is supported by local strategies involving the establishment of interinstitutional Community Councils. These councils bring together representatives from various sectors, including health and education, with the aim of promoting local governance and coordination of healthcare services.

These councils typically include representatives from local authorities, social security services, schools, social solidarity institutions, community associations, reference hospitals, volunteer organisations, and the National Commission for the Promotion of the Rights and Protection of Children and Young People

Children and Youth Health Appointments

It is a monitoring appointment, for health promotion and disease prevention, for children and young people under the age of eighteen.

The appointments must take place according to the schedule established by the regulations of the Directorate-General of Health (DGS) and the strategic guidelines of the National Health Plan.

In addition to the strictly clinical issues related to growth and development, information is provided about health and wellness: nutrition, prevention of infectious diseases, accident prevention, vaccination, recreational and leisure activities, sports and sexuality.

Support Centres for Children and Youth at Risk

A network of support centres for primary health and hospital care, is available in health centres and hospitals.

It promotes the protection of children and young victims of abuse and neglect. The intervention should be made, initially, by formal and informal entities, public and private, that deal with children and young people in the sectors of health, education, and social service.

SOS Children

SOS Children (SOS Criança), operated by the Child Support Institute (Instituto de Apoio à Criança – IAC), is a national anonymous and confidential helpline that provides immediate support, counselling and guidance to children, young people, families, and professionals. The service intervenes in situations of abuse, neglect, violence, psychological distress, bullying, parental conflict or any circumstances placing a child or young person at risk. SOS Children offers crisis intervention, emotional support, risk assessment, referral to child‑protection authorities, and follow‑up when necessary. Its main objective is to ensure early detection of risk, provide rapid assistance, and facilitate access to appropriate protection and social‑services responses.

Sexualidade em Linha (Sexual Health Helpline) 

This service promotes support and counselling provided by phone/written by sexual health professionals. This tool is exclusively dedicated to young people and ensures a free, anonymous and confidential service, provided by a sexual health specialized team.

Financial services 

Vulnerable youth's access to credit - National Microcredit Programme

The National Microcredit Programme (Programa Nacional de Microcrédito), established by Decreto‑Lei n.º 138/2010 of 28 December (Decree‑Law No. 138/2010), provides small loans to individuals who lack access to traditional banking services and wish to develop a small business or self‑employment initiative. The programme aims to promote entrepreneurship, individual autonomy and social inclusion through economic participation. It is primarily intended for people facing significant barriers to entering the labour market, including unemployed young people at risk of social exclusion. The programme is implemented by the Institute for Employment and Vocational Training (IEFP, I.P.) in partnership with the António Sérgio Cooperative for the Social Economy (CASES).

Priority is given to unemployed young people aged between 16 and 34.

The programme is a measure promoted by the Institute for Employment and Vocational Training,, in partnership with António Sérgio’s Cooperative for Social Economy (CASES).

For more information, see chapter 3 – Employment and Entrepreneurship; sub-chapter 3.9 – Startup Funding for Young Entrepreneurs.

Measures against financial exclusion

National Plan for Financial Education - Everyone Counts (Todos Contam)

Portugal’s National Plan for Financial Education 2021–2025 is a strategic initiative coordinated by the National Council of Financial Supervisors (CNSF), comprising the Bank of Portugal, the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM), and the Insurance and Pension Funds Supervisory Authority (ASF). The Plan aims to promote financial literacy and inclusion across all age groups and sectors of society, aligning with international principles such as those of the OECD/INFE.

Financial education in schools

A Financial Education Framework (Referencial de Educação Financeira) was developed following a cooperation protocol signed in 2011 between the Ministry of Education and the National Council of Financial Supervisors (CNSF). This framework provides structured guidance for the integration of financial education across preschool, basic and secondary education, as well as adult education and training. It was produced jointly by the Directorate‑General for Education, the National Agency for Qualification and Vocational Education and Training, and the CNSF, and serves as the national reference document for implementing financial literacy within educational and training contexts. 

Global Money Week

Portugal actively participates in Global Money Week, an international campaign coordinated by the OECD/INFE, aimed at raising awareness among young people about financial matters. In 2025, the initiative was celebrated jointly with the Financial Education Week, involving schools and institutions across the country.

Training for educators

A national training programme supports educators and teachers at all levels in implementing the Financial Education Framework. It is designed to build capacity for delivering financial education in schools and adult learning environments.

Quality assurance

Institutional Monitoring

The Social Security Institute (ISS), under the Ministry of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security, is responsible for monitoring social responses at both national and district levels. In addition to overseeing operational mechanisms, the ISS collects and publishes key performance indicators such as:

• Number of beneficiaries of social services and social‑inclusion programmes;
• Coverage rates for measures targeting families, children, and young people;
• Timeliness of service delivery, including response times in emergency or high‑risk cases;
• Effectiveness indicators, such as reintegration rates, uptake of employment‑support measures, and continuity of support for vulnerable households.

Outcomes reported annually include improvements in access to social services, reductions in persistent poverty among supported households, and evidence of strengthened coordination between local and national providers. ISS publications also highlight trends in youth‑specific support measures, such as the increased use of family benefits, child‑protection responses and employment‑activation programmes.

Governance Structures

Two key bodies oversee cooperation and quality in the social sector, going beyond procedural coordination to include monitoring indicators and assessment of results:

1. Permanent Commission for the Social and Solidarity Sector (CPSS)

The CPSS brings together government representatives and leading social‑economy organisations (e.g., CNIS, União das Misericórdias, União das Mutualidades, CONFECOOP). Beyond defining policy priorities, the Commission monitors:

• Annual funding volumes allocated to cooperation agreements;

• Compliance indicators related to the management of social facilities (e.g., staffing ratios, service capacity, quality‑standards adherence);

• Sustainability indicators, such as financial stability of partner institutions.

Documented outcomes include the annual adjustment of cooperation agreements, improved alignment between national priorities and local service provision, and strengthened governance of IPSS-run facilities.

2. National Cooperation Commission (CNC)

The CNC is responsible for monitoring and evaluating the implementation of cooperation agreements and social‑policy measures. Alongside its regular meetings and regulatory assessments, it tracks:

• Quality‑assurance indicators relating to service delivery, user satisfaction, facility inspections and compliance with legal standards;

• Performance indicators, such as the number of validated cooperation agreements, corrective measures adopted, and responsiveness to identified gaps;

• Equity indicators, measuring geographic distribution of services and coverage in disadvantaged territories.

Reported outcomes include enhanced harmonisation of procedures across districts, more consistent regulatory compliance among service providers, and evidence‑based adjustments to national cooperation frameworks.

House Plan Monitoring

The House Plan (Plano CASA), created under the Social Emergency Programme to provide specific responses to the challenges faced by children and young people living in residential care within Portugal’s public and solidarity‑sector network of institutions, is jointly monitored by the General Directorate of School Administration (DGAE) and the Social Security Institute (ISS, I.P.). This monitoring includes:

• Diagnosing the needs of teachers and staff involved in social responses (e.g. LIJ, CAT, CA) through the ISS’s central and district services, in collaboration with Private Social Solidarity Institutions (IPSS).

• Annual reporting by both ISS and DGAE on the implementation of the protocol, including satisfaction levels of children, youth, educators, and staff, and the effectiveness of placements.

• Integrated Mental Health Care Pilot Projects.

• Pilot programmes under the Integrated Continued Mental Health Care (CCISM) initiative are being implemented within the National Network for Integrated Continued Care (RNCCI). 

These are coordinated by a Working Group composed of representatives from:

• Social Security (ISS and DGSS);

• Health sector (ACSS and the National Mental Health Programme).

The group monitors referral processes, integration of mental health professionals into RNCCI teams, unit characterisation, and compliance with quality indicators. Reports also highlight challenges and stakeholder feedback.

Programme Evaluation and European Funding

All programmes, especially those receiving European funding, are subject to regular evaluations based on performance indicators. These include:

• Effectiveness and efficiency metrics.

• Youth Guarantee indicators, monitored by the Institute for Employment and Vocational Training (IEFP, I.P.).

• National Evaluation Mechanisms. At the national level, public institutions are evaluated through:

• The Assessment and Accountability Framework (QUAR), which is legally mandated and includes strategic and operational objectives, performance indicators, and resource allocation.

• The Common Assessment Framework (CAF), a voluntary European model adapted for public sector self-assessment, promoted in Portugal by the Directorate-General for Administration and Public Employment (DGAEP).

These tools ensure transparency, continuous improvement, and alignment with European standards in public service delivery.