RP 5054 Grandchild Care Allowance Application (Portugal)

What is RP 5054 grandchild care allowance?

RP 5054 is Social Security's application for the Grandchild Care Allowance, part of Portugal's social protection in parenting. A working grandparent can claim it in two situations. The first is after the birth of a grandchild whose mother or father is a minor under 16. The second is for the days they miss work to give a grandchild urgent and essential care during sickness or after an accident. FileIt fills in the official English edition of the form.

The application must be made within 6 months of the first day of absence from work, through Segurança Social Direta or on paper at a Social Security customer service. For sickness or accident, the form notes that no application is needed when an SNS Certificate of Temporary Incapacity for Work proves the situation. The form asks about the other grandparent and the grandchild's parents: whether they work, whether they can provide the care, and whether they claimed the same allowance.

FileIt shows only the table that matches your reason (birth, or sickness and accident), writes your NISS, phone and dates into the form's individual cells, and checks the form's rules, such as the 6-month limit and the minor parent's age. It prints any name correctly, including names with Polish or Romanian letters. Details can be pre-filled from the People records in your FileIt vault, and the finished PDF is saved in your folder. You submit it yourself: FileIt never sends anything to Social Security.

Who fills it: The grandparent who missed work to care for the grandchild
Reasons: Birth of a grandchild whose parent is under 16, or the grandchild's sickness or accident
Given to: Social Security: Segurança Social Direta, or on paper at a customer service desk
Deadline: Within 6 months of the first day of absence from work
Signatures: The applicant, or someone on their behalf if they can't sign
Edition: RP 5054/2025 (English edition)

Who needs to fill out RP 5054 grandchild care allowance?

Grandparents, and people treated as grandparents, who are insured with Portuguese Social Security and missed work after the birth of a grandchild whose mother or father is under 16.
Grandparents who missed work to give a sick or injured grandchild urgent and essential care.
Foreign residents working in Portugal, who can use the official English edition.

When to use RP 5054 grandchild care allowance

After a birth, when the grandchild's mother or father is a minor aged under 16. The form asks whether the grandchild lives in your household and whether the leave is shared with the other grandparent.
After you have missed work to care for a sick or injured grandchild, and no SNS Certificate of Temporary Incapacity covers it.
No later than 6 months after the first day of absence. One application lists up to four periods of absence.

What you need before you start

Your NISS (11 digits), birth date and contact details, and the grandchild's name, birth date and NISS.
For a birth: the minor parent's name, NISS and birth date, and a medical certificate attesting the childbirth or the grandchild's civil identification document.
For sickness or accident: a medical certificate stating the period of absence needed to give the grandchild urgent and essential care.
The other grandparent's details and social protection scheme, and whether the grandchild's parents work, can provide the care, or have claimed the same allowance.
Your spouse's or partner's details and, for a shared leave after a birth, their period(s) of absence from work.
The name and periods of any other mandatory social protection scheme, national or foreign, that covered you in the 6 months before the absence.
Form RV 1009 or RV 1017, if you aren't yet registered with Social Security.

What’s on RP 5054 grandchild care allowance

The 2025 edition has 4 pages. FileIt asks for it in 8 parts, and it is signed by Applicant (requerente):

Why you are applyingApplicant (requerente)
1 Personal details of the applicant (person providing care)Applicant (requerente)
2 Personal details of the grandchild / person treated as suchApplicant (requerente)
3 Allowance due to the birth of a grandchildApplicant (requerente)
4 Allowance due to sickness or accident of a grandchildApplicant (requerente)
5 Personal details of your spouse or partnerApplicant (requerente)
6 Periods of absence from work and other detailsApplicant (requerente)
7 StatementsApplicant (requerente)

How to fill out RP 5054 grandchild care allowance, step by step

1 Reason

At the top, tick 'Due to birth' or 'Due to sickness or accident'. FileIt then shows only table 3 or table 4.

2 1 and 2 The applicant and the grandchild

Give your name, NISS, birth date, phone and email, and whether you are the grandfather or grandmother (or a person treated as such). Then give the grandchild's name, NISS and birth date.

3 3 Birth of a grandchild

Give the name, NISS and birth date of the minor under 16 who is the grandchild's parent. Say whether the grandchild lives in your household and whether the leave is shared by both grandparents. If it is shared, give the other grandparent's period of absence in table 5. If it is not, say whether the other grandparent works, is unable to provide the care, or claimed the same allowance.

4 4 Sickness or accident

Say whether the other grandparent also missed work. If so, give their name, NISS and scheme. Then say whether the grandchild's parents work, are unable to provide the care, or claimed the same allowance, and give the details of the parent who is unable to provide the care.

5 5 Spouse or partner

Give their name, NISS and birth date, whether they work and under which scheme, and their period(s) of absence from work.

6 6 and 7 Periods and statements

Give up to four periods of absence and any other mandatory social protection scheme with its periods. You undertake to report anything that ends the allowance within 5 working days, and declare the information complete and true. Date and sign. The box on page 4 is for Social Security staff.

Common mistakes to avoid

Applying later than 6 months after the first day of absence.
Using the birth option when the grandchild's parent is 16 or older. This option is for a grandchild whose mother or father is a minor under 16.
Ticking a shared leave without giving the other grandparent's period of absence in table 5.
Leaving out the medical certificate for the birth, or for the sickness or accident.
Not checking your IBAN with Social Security. The allowance is paid to the IBAN registered there.

After you fill it out

Sign the application and submit it with the certificates in Segurança Social Direta or at a Social Security customer service. FileIt does not send it anywhere.

Keep the completed PDF and certificates in your FileIt vault, and tell Social Security within 5 working days of anything that ends the allowance.

Fill out RP 5054 grandchild care allowance 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 — 55 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 5054 grandchild care allowance now — it’s free

RP 5054 grandchild care allowance: frequently asked questions

Can I fill in RP 5054 online with FileIt?

Yes. FileIt guides you through every question and prints your answers into Social Security's official English RP 5054, with your NISS, phone and dates in the right cells. It is free on every FileIt account. FileIt does not submit it for you.

Who can claim the Grandchild Care Allowance?

A grandparent, or a person treated as one, who misses work either after the birth of a grandchild whose mother or father is under 16, or to give a grandchild urgent and essential care during sickness or after an accident.

What is the deadline?

Within 6 months of the first day of absence from work.

Can both grandparents share the leave after a birth?

The form asks whether the leave is shared by both grandparents. If it is, you give the other grandparent's period of absence from work in table 5.

How is the allowance paid?

By bank transfer to the IBAN registered with Social Security. You can register or change it in Segurança Social Direta, or at a customer service desk with form MG 14.

Is there a Portuguese version?

Yes. Social Security publishes RP 5054 in Portuguese as well. FileIt fills in the official English edition, which asks the same questions.

Official sources

Blank form (PDF), published by Instituto da Segurança Social, I.P. (Segurança Social, ISS): https://www.seg-social.pt/storage1/files/RP-5054-EN-76kaYph6W1-82sfWkc52yg.pdf
Official instructions and guidance: https://www.seg-social.pt/subsidio-para-assistencia-a-neto
Edition shown on this page: RP 5054/2025 (English edition) (checked 2026-09-28).

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 2026-09-28.