According to Diário da República, the new public transport social pass “Circula PT” will extend “discounts of 50% and 25% to the entire national territory and to low-income passengers, who face long term unemployment or who have a disability equal to or greater than 60%”, cites ECO.

Currently, the Social Pass+ is only available in the Lisbon and Porto Metropolitan Areas, where a 50% discount is granted on the cost of the intermodal transport ticket to beneficiaries of the solidarity supplement for the elderly (CSI) and the social integration income (RSI). Pensioners whose monthly total benefit is equal to or less than 1.2 times the value of the Social Support Index (IAS) also currently benefit from a 25% reduction in the ticket price, which will correspond to 627 euros in 2025.

Recipients of unemployment benefits and social unemployment benefits, whose benefits do not exceed the amount of 627 euros, and citizens who are part of households with an equivalent average monthly income that is equal to or lower than that level, are also entitled to a 25% discount on the pass.

With Circula PT, these benefits will now apply to the entire country and will cover people with a disability equal to or greater than 60%, who will have a 50% reduction on the price of the pass, and long-term unemployed people, who will have a 25% discount, provided that the average monthly income of the household is equal to or less than 1.2 times the IAS, which corresponds to 627 euros, next year.

"The price on which the discount related to Circula PT will apply, corresponds to the price of the current tickets, considering the discounts already promoted by the operators or by the Transport Authorities, namely through the Incentive Programme for Collective Public Passenger Transport (Incentiva+TP)", reads Diário da República.

It clarifies that, "in cases where there are intermodal titles, Circula PT applies only to these titles and not to any monomodal titles". And, when the current tariff already provides discounts aimed at the elderly or passengers over 65 years old, these will be the titles that must be in force for beneficiaries who meet these requirements. The ordinance also points out that "Circula PT does not apply to the Green Rail Pass", which for 20 euros allows travel on all trains except the Alfa Pendular.

As for the financial compensation to public transport companies, it will be the Metropolitan Areas (AM) of Lisbon and Porto and the Intermunicipal Communities (CIM) that will have to make the respective calculation. "The AM and CIM will need to send the amount of financial compensation calculated for each of the entities issuing the transport tickets, until the last day of each month, to the IMT - Institute of Mobility and Transport”, determines the ordinance.

Then, "the IMT, within a maximum period of 20 days, aggregates the information, communicating the amounts eligible for financing to the DGTF - Directorate-General for Treasury and Finance, which transfers them to the AM, CIM and CP, within a maximum period of 30 days".