RP 5053 Care Allowance, Child with a Disability (Portugal)

What is RP 5053 care allowance for a child with a disability, chronic illness or cancer?

RP 5053 (Requerimento de Subsídio para Assistência a Filho/Equiparado com Deficiência, Doença Crónica ou Doença Oncológica) is how a working parent in Portugal claims the allowance for the days off work spent caring for a child with a disability, a chronic illness or cancer. It is part of social protection in parenthood, and it also covers adoption, civil sponsorship (apadrinhamento civil) and foster families.

The three-page form asks for your details, the child's, and your spouse's or partner's if you have one: whether they work, whether they claimed the same allowance, and whether they are unable to provide the care. You then list up to four periods off work and any other mandatory social protection scheme that covered you in the six months before.

FileIt explains each question in English, fills in your name, date of birth and email from your vault, checks that each period ends after it starts and that you are within the six-month deadline, and prints everything onto Social Security's own Portuguese RP 5053/2026. Names with accents or other non-English letters print correctly. The finished PDF is saved in your vault.

Who fills it: A parent or person treated as one who stops work to care for the child
Given to: Segurança Social (online, at a customer service desk, or by post)
Deadline: Within 6 months of the first day off work
Signatures: The applicant signs table 5, or someone signs on their behalf
Edition: RP 5053/2026 (Portuguese)
Pages: 3 (page 3 is information and office use)

Who needs to fill out RP 5053 care allowance for a child with a disability, chronic illness or cancer?

Working parents who take time off to care for a child with a disability, a chronic illness or an oncological illness.
Adoptive parents, civil sponsors and foster families caring for such a child.
Guardians and people entrusted with the child by a court or administrative decision.
Applicants who were covered by another mandatory scheme, in Portugal or abroad, in the six months before the time off.

When to use RP 5053 care allowance for a child with a disability, chronic illness or cancer

After you've been off work, or while you are, to care for the child, and within six months of the first day off.
Again for new periods of time off; each application lists up to four periods.
For a child who is sick or injured but has no disability, chronic illness or cancer, Social Security uses RP 5052 instead.

What you need before you start

Your NISS, date of birth and contact details.
The child's name, NISS and date of birth, and any disability benefit they get and who pays it.
Your spouse's or partner's name, NISS and work details, if you have one.
The dates of each period off work.
The medical statement GIT 81 confirming the need for care, unless the form says it isn't needed.
Form RV 1009 or RV 1017 if you aren't registered with Social Security.

What’s on RP 5053 care allowance for a child with a disability, chronic illness or cancer

The 2026 edition has 3 pages. FileIt asks for it in 5 parts, and it is signed by Applicant (requerente):

1 Your details — the person providing the care (Dados do requerente)Applicant (requerente)
2 The child or person treated as such (Dados do filho/equiparado)Applicant (requerente)
3 Your spouse or partner (Dados do cônjuge do requerente/equiparado)Applicant (requerente)
4 Periods off work and other details (Períodos de impedimento para o trabalho)Applicant (requerente)
5 Statements (Declarações)Applicant (requerente)

How to fill out RP 5053 care allowance for a child with a disability, chronic illness or cancer, step by step

1 1. Your details (Dados do requerente)

Your full name, NISS, date of birth, phone and email, and your situation in relation to the child: parent or person treated as one, guardian, someone entrusted with the child by a judicial or administrative decision, or other. FileIt prints dates in the form's year-month-day cells.

2 2. The child (Dados do filho/equiparado)

The child's name, NISS and date of birth, whether they receive a disability benefit such as the Family Benefit with the Disability Bonus or the Social Inclusion Benefit (and which institution pays it), and whether they live in your household.

3 3. Your spouse or partner

Switch this part on if you have a spouse or partner. Say whether they work and under which scheme, whether they claimed the same allowance for the same reason (and when), and whether they are unable to provide the care.

4 4. Periods off work

Give up to four periods off work. If you are, or were in the six months before, covered by another mandatory scheme, national or foreign, name it and give its periods.

5 5. Statements and signature

You confirm you know you must tell Social Security within 5 working days of anything that ends the allowance, and that your information is complete and true. Date the form; sign it in the signature box, or have someone sign on your behalf if you can't.

Common mistakes to avoid

Applying more than six months after the first day off work.
Using RP 5053 for a short-term illness or accident; that is RP 5052.
Leaving a period with only a start or only an end date.
Forgetting the GIT 81 medical statement when it is required.
Leaving out your spouse's or partner's details when you have one.

After you fill it out

Sign the form and send it, with the documents table 6 lists, through the Segurança Social portal, at a Social Security customer service desk, or by post. FileIt doesn't send anything for you.

The allowance is paid to the IBAN Social Security has on file. If you haven't registered one, do it on the portal or with form MG 14.

Keep the filled PDF in your FileIt vault together with the medical statement, so the periods you have claimed are easy to check later.

Fill out RP 5053 care allowance for a child with a disability, chronic illness or cancer online with FileIt

Pick the person. Choose someone from People and FileIt fills in their name, date of birth, address and other details it already knows.
Answer plain-language questions. One part of the form at a time, with the official help text beside each question — 40 fields in all. Your answers save as you go.
Check the live preview. Watch your answers land on the real Instituto da Segurança Social, I.P. (Segurança Social, ISS) form, and let FileIt do any worksheet arithmetic.
Generate the official PDF. FileIt prints your answers into the agency’s own PDF and files it in that person’s folder in your vault. Sign it, or send it for e-signature.

FileIt fills the form — it never files or submits anything for you. Deliver the finished form to whoever asked for it, the way the form’s instructions say.

Start RP 5053 care allowance for a child with a disability, chronic illness or cancer now — it’s free

RP 5053 care allowance for a child with a disability, chronic illness or cancer: frequently asked questions

What is the difference between RP 5052 and RP 5053?

RP 5052 is the allowance for urgent care of a sick or injured child. RP 5053 is for caring for a child with a disability, a chronic illness or cancer.

Is there an English version of RP 5053?

Social Security publishes RP 5053 in Portuguese. FileIt explains every question in English and prints your answers onto the Portuguese form.

How long do I have to apply?

The form says within 6 months of the first day off work.

Does it cover adoption and foster care?

Yes. The form says it applies to adoption, civil sponsorship and foster families.

Can I apply online instead?

Yes. The form says you can apply through the Segurança Social portal if your case is handled by ISS or the autonomous regions' bodies. The paper form can be handed in or posted.

Can FileIt fill in RP 5053?

Yes. FileIt prints your answers onto the official RP 5053/2026 PDF and keeps it in your vault. You sign it and send it to Social Security yourself.

Official sources

Blank form (PDF), published by Instituto da Segurança Social, I.P. (Segurança Social, ISS): https://www.seg-social.pt/storage1/files/RP-5053-X9ZL3ySSQj-JyKv-IYbpqA.pdf
Official instructions and guidance: https://www.seg-social.pt/
Edition shown on this page: RP 5053/2026 (checked 2026-10-19).

FileIt is not affiliated with or endorsed by Instituto da Segurança Social, I.P. (Segurança Social, ISS) or any government. This page explains the form in general terms and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always read the official instructions, and check that you are using the edition the recipient accepts. Page last reviewed 2026-10-19.