This research aims to understand and analyse the characteristics and current trends of the social protection network for the elderly in Portugal, the knowledge and perceptions of the elderly regarding the social benefits provided by this basic safety net in Portugal, namely the Solidarity Supplement for the Elderly (CSI), and the experience of these citizens in their relationship with social services, in the context of access to rights and social support in situations of poverty and social vulnerability. The research itinerary starts with an analysis of the issue of poverty among the elderly population, based on the official information available, but also mobilising the analytical perspectives of gender, life course, as well as the self-perception of the elderly about poverty, highlighting the multidimensionality of the factors that generate poverty among elderly in Portugal and its persistent nature and intergenerational nature. By analysing the itinerary, characteristics, and trends of the social protection network for the elderly in Portugal and by carrying out 50 interviews with elderly beneficiaries of the CSI and with professionals from social support services and local social actors in the district of Viseu, the study is seen as a social observatory of the virtualities, limits and impact of this measure to combat poverty among elderly in Portugal. The results show that the CSI is an important non-contributory social protection measure, especially for the elderly with no contributory career or limited history of social contributions, but is still a low-value, not very comprehensive and not very inclusive social minimum, which has made it possible to alleviate the situation of poverty and deprivation among elderly, but whose reference threshold has remained continuously below the monetary poverty threshold, leaving its beneficiaries in social deficit concerning an adequate income standard and human needs satisfaction. The results also show that access to this social protection measure cannot be taken for granted, either due to the lack of information or the complexity of the allocation process, eligibility criteria, including the weighting of descendants' resources, factors that have contributed to late access to this social benefit and significant non-take-up rates, an aspect that is also verified, without prejudice to its positive valuation by beneficiaries, concerning complementary health benefits.
Date of Award | 15 Apr 2024 |
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Original language | Portuguese |
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Awarding Institution | - Universidade Católica Portuguesa
- University of Coimbra
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Supervisor | Francisco Branco (Supervisor) |
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- Elderly
- Poverty and material deprivation
- Social protection network for the elderly
- Solidarity supplement for the elderly
- Portugal
- Doutoramento em Serviço Social (programa interuniversitário)
Disposições, conhecimento e experiência dos cidadãos face à rede básica de proteção aos idosos em Portugal: o caso do complemento solidário para idosos
Carvalho, A. C. R. (Student). 15 Apr 2024
Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis