“In June, all pensioners and retirees with access to the solidarity supplement for older people [CSI] have a monthly increase of about 50 euros,” Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said on Thursday.
The first step towards fulfilling the promise to raise the CSI to 820 euros by the end of the legislature was approved this Thursday by the Council of Ministers. Montenegro does not give specific dates, but says the executive branch will “do everything” to “anticipate this.”
At the same time, the executive branch intends to facilitate access to this social benefit. Until now, the income of children was taken into account to qualify for this supplement. This rule was almost immediately canceled, which deserves criticism from the PS. The Socialists included this measure in their election program, which did not happen with AD.
The announcement was made in conjunction with the secretaries of Labor and Health as the government also moved toward 100% prescription drug reimbursement. “Thanks to this measure, we will provide free access to all necessary therapy to approximately 145 thousand pensioners,” Montenegro explained.
The head of government added that pharmacies have already been contacted so that from June 1, CSI beneficiaries can come to them to “present a prescription and receive medicines” right now for free.
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THE GOVERNMENT IS PLAYING “WAITING”
The parliamentary leader of the Socialist Party, Alexandra Leitan, accused the government of “playing the waiting game” and “approving by decree of measures” the socialist electoral program, calling the elimination of children’s income an exclusion factor.
PS CRITIC COMPETITIONS
PSD parliamentary leader Hugo Soares denied criticism from the PS. “It is difficult for the opposition to oppose the government’s measures,” he said. The Social Democrat said he was not aware that the PS was going to propose new rules for CSI.
