Ombudsperson welcomes compliance with Recommendation 2/B/2025 — guarantees for citizens vis-à-vis Social Security collection

On 18 July, the Ministry of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security informed the Ombudsperson of its “full acceptance” of Recommendation No. 2/B/2025 of 7 May, which called for the correction of irregular practices by Social Security when demanding the repayment of unduly processed social benefits, as well as a review of the respective legal regime.

These are practices that have persisted for many years, which are deeply harmful to people’s rights and which were also highlighted in the Ombudsman’s 2024 Report delivered to the Assembly of the Republic on 17 July.

The Ombudsman’s Office considers the commitment to be very positive, in accordance with the action plan presented, to immediately adopt measures, particularly with regard to the compensation procedure, and to urgently review Decree-Law No. 133/88 of 20 April, with a view to bringing it into full compliance with the Code of Administrative Procedure, in order to achieve a system that is not only effective but, above all, fairer.

You can read the response from the Office of the Minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security here [in Portuguese only].