Discover the rights and duties of the informal carer
Every day, thousands of people devote their time and energy to caring for someone with mobility difficulties, chronic illnesses or physical limitations. However, this care goes far beyond a simple task: it is an emotional and physical commitment that demands courage, patience and dedication. Find out more about this role, which is fundamental but often invisible.
Read on to find out how it works, how to apply and what other useful features you can find on the SNS 24 Portal and the SNS 24 App.
What is the Informal Carer Status?
Created precisely to recognise the importance of this role, the Informal Carer Status (Estatuto de Cuidador Informal) guarantees the rights and support of carers who provide daily help to dependent people, whether due to age, illness or disability. It offers a range of benefits and also sets out duties that make the task fairer and more balanced.
What are the rights of the informal carer?
Informal carers duly recognised by Segurança Social (Social Security) have access to a range of rights aimed at ensuring their wellbeing and their ability to care:
- Support and training. They can receive specific training and support from health professionals, from the progression of the cared-for person’s illness to best practice for providing assistance
- Psychological support. This right extends even after the death of the cared-for person, ensuring emotional support at a sensitive time
- Periods of rest. To prevent burnout, carers are entitled to annual breaks, which can be adjusted to their needs
- Working-student status. If they are attending an educational institution, they have access to the benefits of this scheme
- Support allowance. A financial benefit intended for main carers, subject to certain income conditions (explained further on)
- Specific intervention plan (Plano de Intervenção Específico, PIE). This document is drawn up together with health professionals and Social Security and details the needs of the carer and the dependent person
- Remote working and flexible hours. Non-main carers can request remote working, provided it is compatible with their duties.
What are the duties of the informal carer?
Being an informal carer is not only a right; it also entails responsibilities:
- Ensuring the wellbeing of the cared-for person. This includes daily support, administering medication, promoting autonomy and maintaining a safe, comfortable environment
- Providing ongoing care. The carer must ensure that the cared-for person receives the necessary care in terms of health, nutrition and hygiene
- Collaboration with professionals. The carer must inform the services of any relevant change and take part in the planned training
- Compliance with legal obligations. This includes informing Segurança Social of changes such as the end of cohabitation, the death of the cared-for person or the withdrawal from the status
- Supporting socialisation. The carer is also responsible for encouraging the cared-for person to remain socially active, where possible
- Continuous support. The cared-for person must be supported on an ongoing basis, regardless of whether they are at home or attending some type of institution.
Who can be considered an informal carer?
An informal carer can be:
- A family member: a spouse, sibling, child or other relative up to the 4th degree in the direct or collateral line
- A non-family member: the change introduced by the law in 2024 is the possibility for non-family carers, such as friends or neighbours, to obtain this status, provided they share the same tax address as the cared-for person.
What are the requirements and conditions to be an informal carer?
To be recognised as an informal carer, the applicant must:
- Be of legal age
- Reside legally in Portugal
- Be in good enough health to be able to care for the dependent person
- Be a family member of the cared-for person or, in the case of non-family carers, share the same tax address as the cared-for person.
In addition, to be a main carer, the person must live with the cared-for person and provide care on a permanent basis.
Formal and informal carer: what is the difference?
The main difference between a formal and an informal carer lies in their relationship with the cared-for person. The formal carer is a professional who works in health institutions or care services, and is paid for it. The informal carer, on the other hand, is a family member or a friend who cares for someone without payment, on a voluntary basis.
And the main and non-main informal carer?
The distinction between the main and non-main informal carer has to do with the intensity and permanence of the care provided. The main carer lives with the dependent person and is dedicated to caring for them continuously, without being paid for it. The non-main carer, in turn, provides care more occasionally and may have another paid occupation.
How do you apply for the Informal Carer Status?
To apply for the status, the carer must go to Segurança Social, online or in person. The process is straightforward, but it requires the cared-for person to give their consent and provide a medical declaration confirming their situation of dependency.
How do you apply for the support allowance for the main informal carer?
The allowance is applied for at the moment the carer formalises the request for recognition of the status. The support allowance for the informal carer is granted to those who meet the requirements, such as being the main carer and not receiving any payment for the care provided.
How much is the informal carer’s allowance and how is it calculated?
The monthly allowance for main informal carers depends on the household’s means. In 2025, the conditions are considered to be met if the household’s reference income is below 1.3 times the IAS (Social Support Index), that is, 679.25 euros.
The amount of the allowance is calculated as the difference between the household’s income and the value of the IAS, which this year is 522.5 euros. For example, if the monthly income is 300 euros, the allowance will be 222.5 euros (522.5€ – 300€).
The allowance can be increased if the main informal carer is enrolled in the Voluntary Social Insurance. See the Practical Guide – Informal Carer Status.
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