In statements to journalists in Parliament, the coordinator of the Left Bloc (BE), Mariana Mortágua, said that the measures approved today in the Council of Ministers on the Solidarity Supplement for the Elderly are "good measures", which the party "has long defended".

Mariana Mortágua stressed that removing the income of children from the condition of resource, increasing the value of the SSI and the co-payment of medications for the beneficiaries of the supplement were all measures that were in the BE's electoral program and expressed her conviction that they would be approved in parliament.

"The Government wanted to anticipate and approve these proposals in the Council of Ministers and we must emphasize their importance: they are important measures in combating poverty among the elderly and thus end a cruel rule against which the BE has always fought, that the income of children should count towards support for the elderly," she argued.

In turn, the PCP deputy Alfredo Maia said he hoped that these measures would not be "yet another confusing maneuver by the Government" and argued that what is fundamental is the increase in pensions and benefits by 7.5% and at least 70 euros.

Regarding the specific measures approved today in the Council of Ministers, the deputy argued that the "Government is less than halfway towards the proposals that the PCP has on this matter.

Alfredo Maia stated that the PCP has presented "proposals to guarantee free medication for people over 65, for chronic patients and for people in a situation of insufficient resources", while the executive only approved today the increase in the co-payment of medication for SSI beneficiaries.

On the other hand, regarding the increase in the SSI reference value by 50 euros, Alfredo Maia stressed that the Government continues to guarantee "payment in only 12 months", while his party proposes that the SSI be paid in 14 months, doubling the value in July and August.

Finally, despite stressing that the exclusion of children's income in the calculation for access to SSI is positive, Alfredo Maia argued that it is also necessary to "make spouses autonomous in this calculation".

The Prime Minister announced today that the Government will increase, as of June, the reference value of the Solidarity Supplement for the Elderly (SSI) by 50 euros and eliminate the income of children as an exclusion factor criterion. As of June, the reference value of this benefit will increase from 550 to 600 euros and only the values of pensioners and retirees who apply for it will be counted.

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