ABSTRACT

As can be seen from Figure 1, at central-macro level, the social security system in Portugal is administered by the state. The legal framework on the social security system-Act no. 4/ 2007-states in Article 2 that ‘all citizens are entitled to social security’. The basic principles underpinning the Portuguese social security system are: universality, equality, solidarity, equity, positive differentiation, subsidiarity, social inclusion, intergenerational cohesion, public accountability, complementarity, unicity, decentralisation, participation, effectiveness, protection of acquired rights, legal protection and, finally, the principle of information.