The Resolution of the Government Council approving and regulating the COVID-19 Support Supplement, aimed at supporting the decrease of income occurring a result of the pandemic effects, was published today in the Official Journal. 

The document sets out the criteria and rules for the granting of the COVID-19 Support Supplement, similarly to what was done for other support supplements created to help people and families who lost income due to the pandemic outbreak.

Households whose "per capita" income is less than 50% of the Social Support Index can benefit from the COVID-19 Support Supplement due to having lost income as a result of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Supplement covers situations that cannot eligible for other support supplements and cannot be combined with other support allocated for the same purpose. 

This measure aims to ensure the satisfaction of households' basic needs, according to an assessment carried out by the Institute for Social Security of the Azores (ISSA). 

The amount of support depends on the actual needs of the household, assessed by ISSA, and has as minimum limit 50% of the Social Support Index and six times the Social Support Index as maximum limit.

The COVID-19 Support Supplement is funded through Regional Social Action Fund appropriations.

The support granted through a contract-programme signed with the beneficiary, which sets out the goals, the type and amount of support, the rights and obligations of the parties involved, the monitoring and follow-up measures, and the penalties to applied in case of non-compliance. 

The allocation of the COVID-19 Support Supplement is monitored and evaluated on a monthly basis.