Starting this month, 755 Azorean families will no longer benefit from the Social Integration Income (RSI) and the benefits granted to 4586 families will reduced as a result of changes introduced by the Government in the RSI rules.

The information was provided today during a press conference organised by the Regional Secretary for Labour and Social Solidarity on Terceira with the purpose of clarifying the new rules for the RSI that have entered into force since July 1.

For Ana Paula Marques, this situation will "threaten families" and contribute to an increase in social inequalities.

"Social benefits give more dignity to people and will continue to help the households that need them," the Regional Secretary said, adding that "RSI is one of the benefits that contribute the most to tackle poverty."
 
The government official regretted that these changes will particularly affect children, youngsters and pensioners, who are the main RSI beneficiaries in the Azores.

"Taking from the poor to give to others who are equally poor is a terrible social injustice. This typical of an ultra-liberal Government that has no notion of what poverty is in fact," Ana Paula Marques criticised, assuring that the Azorean Government will continue to "support the most vulnerable families as much as possible."

In this context, she recalled the creation of the Social Compensation Fund, which has a budget of 11 million Euros and a current implementation rate of 53%. This measure created by the Government has allowed "to support families in difficult situations," stated the government official.

As she added, "we have been implementing measures to support these families in the Azores; however the Portuguese Government is responsible for the allocation of social benefits."

At the occasion, the President of the Azores Institute for Social Development, Paula Ramos, explained that due to the new amendments to the RSI and the benefit calculation, the amount of benefit to be allocated has changed in accordance with the new equivalence levels.
 
Under Decree Law no.133/2012 of June 27, the percentages will be 100%, 50% and 30% of the RSI while in the previous scheme the percentages were 100% (applicant), 70% (each adult) and 50% (each minor) of the RSI.

In the terms of the new legislation, the social integration income will cease to be unattachable and will be subject to the partial seizure scheme applicable to other social security benefits.
 
The annual renewal will also cease to be automatic and will be subject to the submission of a renewal request by the respective holders.

Under the new Decree, people unfit to work, people aged 65 years or older and minors under 16 years or older attending compulsory school are exempted from the general rules for the allocation of RSI as well as people providing essential support to members of their household.