Social support service and Community Development
Reception and support for individuals and families to minimise or resolve situations of social vulnerability.
What is it?
The Support Service is a programme aimed at individuals, families and communities in situations of social vulnerability, with the aim of preventing, minimising and resolving the difficulties identified, whilst promoting their independence and social inclusion.
This support is provided by specialist teams who assess the needs, potential and resources of each individual or household, working with the beneficiaries to draw up an Intervention Plan tailored to the situation identified.
The Intervention Plan sets out objectives, actions and commitments to be undertaken by the various parties involved, promoting shared responsibility amongst individuals and communities in their process of change.
Among the forms of support that can be requested from these teams are referrals to SCML’s internal services, namely: Food Assistance, Home Care Service, Nurseries, Day Centres, provision of Assistive Devices, access to SCML Health Services, Residential Care Homes for the Elderly, Funeral Services, amongst other social support services appropriate to the identified needs.
At the same time, SCML promotes community development across its areas by making the most of local resources, working in partnership, encouraging citizen participation and fostering initiatives that contribute to more inclusive, cohesive and participatory communities.
Access to Social Assistance and Support can be arranged in person or by telephone to book an appointment. Urgent cases are dealt with daily by an on-call social worker or the designated social worker at the relevant service centres.
Where possible, decentralised services are also provided at community organisations, namely parish councils and other local institutions.
Support Services
The facilities of Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa are organised into four Units (UP), according to their geographical location.
* Call charged at the national landline rate
Alvalade, Avenidas Novas, Santa Maria Maior, São Vicente, Penha de França, Arroios e Areeiro
- Avenida Almirante Reis, 186
1000-054 Lisboa - +351 218 420 400 *
Alvalade, Avenidas Novas, Santa Maria Maior, São Vicente, Penha de França, Arroios e Areeiro
- Rua Nova da Trindade, 14
1200-303 Lisboa - +351 213 235 600 *
Alvalade, Avenidas Novas, Santa Maria Maior, São Vicente, Penha de França, Arroios e Areeiro
- Rua Marquês de Tomar, 106 A
1050-158 Lisboa - +351 217 961 254 *
Benfica, São Domingos de Benfica, Carnide, Lumiar e Santa Clara
- Rua do Lumiar, 14
1750-163 Lisboa - +351 217 543 300 *
Belém, Ajuda, Alcântara, Campo de Ourique, Campolide, Estrela, Santo António e Misericórdia
- Travessa do Olival a Santos, 1
1200-746 Lisboa - +351 213 943 800 *
Beato, Marvila, Parque das Nações e Olivais
- Largo de Santos-O-Novo, 27
1900-409 Lisboa - +351 217 128 410 *
Benfica, São Domingos de Benfica, Carnide, Lumiar e Santa Clara
- Rua do Lumiar, 14
1750-163 Lisboa - +351 217 543 300 *
Belém, Ajuda, Alcântara, Campo de Ourique, Campolide, Estrela, Santo António e Misericórdia
- Travessa do Olival a Santos, 1
1200-746 Lisboa - +351 213 943 800 *
Beato, Marvila, Parque das Nações e Olivais
- Largo de Santos-O-Novo, 27
1900-409 Lisboa - +351 217 128 410 *
Alvalade, Avenidas Novas, Santa Maria Maior, São Vicente, Penha de França, Arroios e Areeiro
- Avenida Almirante Reis, 186
1000-054 Lisboa - +351 218 420 400 *
Alvalade, Avenidas Novas, Santa Maria Maior, São Vicente, Penha de França, Arroios e Areeiro
- Rua Nova da Trindade, 14
1200-303 Lisboa - +351 213 235 600 *
Alvalade, Avenidas Novas, Santa Maria Maior, São Vicente, Penha de França, Arroios e Areeiro
- Rua Marquês de Tomar, 106 A
1050-158 Lisboa - +351 217 961 254 *
Types of support
Within the scope of its statutory aims, in keeping with Christian tradition and the works of mercy of its original Compromisso, Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa ensures funeral services for the most disadvantaged.
Eligibility conditions:
This support may be requested by:
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Family members of the deceased;
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The director of the establishment where the death occurred;
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Administrative or police authorities;
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The Institute of Forensic Medicine;
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Hospital centres or embassies.
Santa Casa provides temporary access to ready-made meals, with a view to helping to alleviate food insecurity amongst individuals and families living in the city of Lisbon.
Eligibility criteria:
Applications for food assistance must be made through the Social Services department in your area of residence.
The Demography, Skills and Inclusion Thematic Programme (PDQI) is a thematic programme under Portugal 2030 dedicated to supporting public policy measures designed to address the challenges relating to the population’s skills, employment and social inclusion.
Among the measures included in this programme, the Mais Pessoas Card stands out: an electronic food support card aimed at families and individuals in situations of vulnerability and financial hardship. This measure is administered by Social Security and funded by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), through the PESSOAS 2030 Programme, enabling the direct purchase of food from a network of participating outlets.
The Mais Pessoas Card aims to promote a more dignified response that is better tailored to beneficiaries’ needs, ensuring a better balance between the principles of a balanced diet and the recipients’ autonomy and freedom of choice.
Given that the roll-out of this measure is still ongoing, there are parishes in the city of Lisbon where the Mais Pessoas Card is not yet available. In such cases, food support continues to be provided through the distribution of food parcels.
SCML acts as the coordinating body for the programme’s implementation in the city of Lisbon, being responsible for identifying and supporting beneficiaries, organising and distributing food parcels, and developing capacity-building initiatives.
Monitoring of Social Measures
The Social Integration Income (RSI) is a social benefit formed part of the solidarity subsystem of the Portuguese social security system, linked to an integration programme under the terms of Law No. 13/2003 of 21 May.
It is intended for individuals and families in financial need, providing financial support to meet essential needs. The scheme is also based on an integration contract which sets out a series of measures designed to encourage families’ self-sufficiency through work and social integration.
Eligibility criteria:
Residents of the city of Lisbon must apply for the Social Integration Allowance at the offices of the Social Security Institute (Instituto de Segurança Social, I.P.), the body responsible for deciding on the award of this support. Responsibility for monitoring this scheme for residents of the city of Lisbon lies with Santa Casa, in accordance with the protocol signed between the two institutions.
The Informal Carer Status scheme is designed to recognise and support citizens who provide regular or permanent care to family members or other people in a proven situation of dependency, in accordance with the provisions of Law No. 100/19 of 6 September and subsequent amendments under Decree-Law No. 86/2024, in conjunction with local health services.
In the city of Lisbon, the SCML provides information, guidance and support to carers under this scheme.
It is aimed at individuals and families in financial need, providing financial support to meet essential needs. The scheme is also based on an integration contract which sets out a series of measures designed to encourage families’ independence through work and social integration.
Eligibility criteria:
To obtain Informal Carer Status, the carer must be over 18 years of age, be legally resident in Portugal, be in suitable physical and psychological condition, and provide regular or permanent care to the dependent person. The person being cared for must be in a state of dependency, require permanent care, not reside in an institution, and be receiving a dependency allowance or assistance from a third party. The status must be applied for at the offices of the Social Security Institute (I.P.).
