Three free dentist visits in pregnancy, changing maternity units with a waiver, the risks of interviewing on work time
Pregnant women seen at a health centre get three free dentist visits, which can be used up to 60 days after the birth
In a pregnancy chat, someone asked what the dentist referral given during pregnancy actually covers: just a check-up, or treatment too. The referral is the cheque-dentista, a voucher from the state oral health programme. A woman whose pregnancy is monitored at a state health centre is entitled to three vouchers for the whole pregnancy, covering a check-up, cleaning and treatment. They are issued by the family doctor, usually at the very first pregnancy appointment; private clinics do not give them. You can see your vouchers in your personal area on the national health service portal SNS 24. Clinics that accept the vouchers are listed on the website printed on the voucher itself, and people say these include even village dental practices.
In a pregnancy chat, someone asked what the dentist referral given during pregnancy actually covers: just a check-up, or treatment too. The referral is the cheque-dentista, a voucher from the state oral health programme. A woman whose pregnancy is monitored at a state health centre is entitled to three vouchers for the whole pregnancy, covering a check-up, cleaning and treatment. They are issued by the family doctor, usually at the very first pregnancy appointment; private clinics do not give them. You can see your vouchers in your personal area on the national health service portal SNS 24. Clinics that accept the vouchers are listed on the website printed on the voucher itself, and people say even village dental practices are among them.
“Yes, it's the state looking after pregnant women. They only give them out at the state health centres.”
beremennost_portugal30.10.2026
The vouchers are valid until 60 days after the birth — after that they can no longer be used.
Experiences vary. One mother had a check-up and an X-ray; she was advised to have the problem tooth treated after the birth, and the voucher for the first visit was handed back so she could use it later. Another had a check-up and a quick clean, was told everything was fine and she need not come back, and had the slip taken away.
Experiences vary. One mother had a check-up and an X-ray; she was advised to have the problem tooth treated after the birth, and the voucher for the first visit was handed back so she could use it later. Another had a check-up and a quick clean, was told everything was fine and she need not come back, and the clinic kept the slip.
“They gave me three free appointments. I went to one, they did a check-up and said everything was OK, but one tooth was bothering me and only a microscope specialist can look at it. They did an X-ray and the doctor showed it to the microscope specialist herself. There seems to be something to treat, but better after the pregnancy) Anyway, they gave me back the papers for the first appointment, as if it had never happened, so I could use it after the birth”
beremennost_portugal30.10.2026
“I was given a slip for 3 appointments. I only got round to it in the second trimester: there was a check-up and a quick clean. They said everything was perfect, no need to come back, and took the paper for the visits.”
beremennost_portugal30.10.2026
A third mother used a voucher at a clinic in Lisbon: her teeth were examined only with a mirror, four cavities were found and she was offered treatment after the birth. At a private clinic, where her teeth were examined with instruments, not a single cavity was found.
“At the check-up she ‘found’ four cavities at once and suggested treating them after the birth. (Even though for the last 15 years or so I've been going for annual check-ups and everything has always been perfect.) The check-up, by the way, was just with a mirror.”
beremennost_portugal30.10.2026
Women unhappy with a state maternity unit leave to give birth elsewhere: they sign a waiver and accept the risks
A pregnant woman from Setúbal plans to give birth at the private Hospital da Luz in Lisbon. She asked in the chat whether she could first go to the state hospital near her home to have her dilation checked and then, if there was time, move on to the private one. She has two fears: that at the state hospital labour will drag on for days, and that the private one will send her home or offer an induction.
She was told that you can leave by signing a waiver. One mother's friend arrived at Santa Maria hospital, did not like it, signed a waiver and gave birth at São Francisco Xavier. Another mother left São Francisco Xavier itself: she was admitted to a ward without her dilation being checked, and an hour and a half later she was told she was not dilated and was offered an induction. By her account, there was no medical reason for one; she signed a form accepting the risks, left and gave birth at the hospital in Cascais, where dilation was checked straight away on admission.
“As I understand it, some people signed a waiver. My friend arrived at Santa Maria, didn't like it, signed a waiver and gave birth at Xavier”
beremennost_portugal30.10.2026
“They did a CTG, it wouldn't attach, and they admitted me without checking dilation. Then in the ward, about an hour and a half later, they checked and said: oh, you're not dilated, let's induce. And I didn't want to be induced (and there was no reason to), plus at Xavier there were lots of other silly things, so we left (signing a paper saying we accepted the risks, but there were no risks — the CTG was perfect and I was at a normal 40 weeks + 3 days). In Cascais they checked dilation right away on admission”
beremennost_portugal30.10.2026
As for Hospital da Luz, one mother wrote that she arrived at 10 pm with her waters broken and 2 cm dilated, and gave birth almost 11 hours later — and the whole time nobody rushed her: the doctors agreed every step with her.
“I arrived at Luz Lisboa at 10 pm with my waters broken and 2 cm dilated, and gave birth at 8:51 fully dilated. Nobody rushed me, everything was agreed with me)”
beremennost_portugal30.10.2026
Employee caught interviewing from a work computer in work hours: Reddit expects punishment, not instant dismissal
On Reddit, an employee said his company had found out that he had several times attended interviews with other firms during working hours, joining them from his work computer. He asked whether this could get him dismissed with justa causa, that is, through his own fault and without compensation.
Most of those who replied think he is unlikely to be sacked straight away: dismissal for the employee's fault requires serious misconduct, such as theft, and disciplinary proceedings. But the proceedings themselves, lost bonuses and a soured relationship with his managers are quite likely. And if it happens again and he is caught, second proceedings would be a very different matter. People also point out that using a work computer for personal matters is a breach in itself, especially if the employee has signed rules on its use.
On Reddit, an employee said his company had found out that he had attended several interviews with other firms during working hours, joining them from his work computer. He asked whether this could get him dismissed with justa causa, that is, through his own fault and without compensation.
Most of those who replied think he is unlikely to be sacked straight away: dismissal for the employee's fault requires serious misconduct, such as theft, and has to go through disciplinary proceedings. But the proceedings themselves, lost bonuses and a soured relationship with his managers are quite likely. And if it happens again and he is caught, second proceedings would be a very different matter. People also point out that using a work computer for personal matters is a breach in itself, especially if the employee has signed the rules on its use.
“They probably won't sack you straight away, but disciplinary proceedings are very likely. Dismissal for the employee's fault has to be for something very serious (like theft). But if they open proceedings and you do the same thing again and get caught, second disciplinary proceedings are a different matter entirely.”
r/EmpregoPT29.10.2026
“So you used work equipment to go to interviews during working hours, when you should have been working? That's probably not enough for dismissal, but be ready to lose your bonuses and possibly face disciplinary proceedings.”
r/EmpregoPT29.10.2026
Leaving work without permission counts as unjustified absence. Under the Labour Code, five consecutive days of absence or ten in a year are grounds for dismissal through the employee's fault.
Others disagree: almost everyone looks for a new job this way, interviews always take place during working hours, and many people have no computer other than their work laptop. They advise him not to be intimidated and to ask the company exactly what he is accused of, and to take time for interviews out of accumulated overtime (banco de horas) or ask for time off in advance.
Others disagree: almost everyone looks for a new job this way, interviews always take place during working hours, and many people have no computer other than their work laptop. They advise him not to be intimidated, to ask the company exactly what he is accused of and, for interviews, to use accumulated overtime (banco de horas) or ask for time off in advance.
“Almost everyone I know does this — how else do you think people find a new job? Interviews are always during working hours, and many people who have a work computer don't even have their own.”
r/EmpregoPT29.10.2026
A shop gave store credit at the old price instead of a warranty replacement: Reddit suggests the complaints book and court
A buyer on Reddit said that in July last year he bought a graphics card for €400 from PCDIGA. In September it started making his computer restart by itself, and he handed it in under warranty. Three weeks later the shop closed the claim and, on its own initiative, issued him a credit note: €400 to spend in that shop, even though the same card now costs €690–740. The shop refused to replace it with the same model unless he paid €290 extra, although, according to the buyer, the manufacturer had promised to send a new one.
Those who replied agree that the shop cannot decide for the buyer: he can accept a refund, or he can demand the card itself back. If the shop does not return it, whether because it does not want to or because it has already destroyed it, he can go to the julgados de paz, the small claims court, where such disputes are settled quickly and cheaply. They advise starting with the complaints book (Livro de Reclamações), which can also be filled in online.
“You have the right either to accept a refund for the purchase or to get the item back and decline the warranty repair. It's not a one-sided decision, and PCDiga can't decide for you. If you refuse the credit or refund and they don't return the card — because they don't want to or because they've destroyed it — then it's the small claims court. In that case you're entitled to claim compensation.”
r/portugal29.10.2026
“Complaints book straight away, and then maybe court. This is ridiculous and goes far beyond their right to refund you. They can't just unilaterally destroy the item like that, especially when the manufacturer promises a replacement.”
r/portugal29.10.2026
Some advise contacting the manufacturer directly as soon as expensive equipment breaks, rather than waiting for the shop. One said that G.Skill sent him a new memory kit in less than a month, and he only paid to post the old one. In Portugal, new goods carry a three-year warranty, and the seller is responsible for it first.
Some advise contacting the manufacturer directly as soon as expensive equipment breaks, rather than waiting for the shop. One said that G.Skill sent him a new memory kit in less than a month, and he only paid to post the old one. In Portugal, new goods carry a three-year warranty, and the seller is primarily responsible for it.
“I said I didn't want to sort anything out with them. I wrote directly to G.Skill: a kit that wasn't even a year old had broken. In less than a month a new kit was at my home, and I only paid to post the old one.”
r/portugal29.10.2026
A median salary is no longer enough for a mortgage on a T1 in 110 municipalities, up from 16 in 2019
A Reddit user worked out in which municipalities a single buyer on the median salary could not get a mortgage on a 60 m² T1 flat (one bedroom and a living room). In 2019 there were 16 such municipalities — mostly in the Algarve, plus Lisbon, Cascais, Oeiras, Odivelas and Porto. Now there are 110: every municipality around Lisbon, 14 of the 17 around Porto, the whole Oeste region north of Lisbon and the Alentejo coast, Leiria, Coimbra, Aveiro, Braga, Évora and others.
A Reddit user worked out the municipalities in which a single buyer on the median salary could not get a mortgage on a 60 m² T1 flat (one bedroom and a living room). In 2019 there were 16 such municipalities — mostly in the Algarve, plus Lisbon, Cascais, Oeiras, Odivelas and Porto. Now there are 110: every municipality around Lisbon, 14 of the 17 around Porto, the whole Oeste region north of Lisbon and the Alentejo coast, Leiria, Coimbra, Aveiro, Braga, Évora and others.
A couple on two median salaries cannot afford a 90 m² T2 in 46 municipalities, compared with 5 in 2019: around Lisbon only Palmela is still within their reach, and around Porto they can no longer afford Porto itself, Vila Nova de Gaia or Matosinhos.
Commenters say the calculation is generous as it is: it leaves out food, electricity, water, transport and children, and for many people the median salary is almost the same as the minimum wage. Others note that living by the sea has become unaffordable almost everywhere, whereas Germany and Spain also have big cities inland.
Commenters say the calculation is generous as it is: it leaves out food, electricity, water, transport and children, and for many people the median salary is almost the same as the minimum wage. Others note that living by the sea has become unaffordable almost everywhere, whereas in Germany and Spain some of the biggest cities are inland.
“And that's assuming you don't eat, don't buy clothes, don't need water and electricity, transport, children and so on...”
r/portugal29.10.2026
“Anywhere near the sea — it's impossible to live there. We really are a tourism country. Whereas in countries like Germany or Spain, some of the biggest cities are inland.”
r/portugal29.10.2026
Some think the prices in the calculation are too low: an old flat for €200,000 that needs another €100,000 of renovation is not the same as a new one, and if only new-build prices were counted, they say, there would be no affordable places left on the map at all.
“It would be worth taking only new flats, though there would be far less data. Because a T2 for €200,000 that needs €100,000 of renovation is not the same as a new T2. With those criteria your map would turn red everywhere there's data.”
r/portugal29.10.2026
A couple is taking out a mortgage and one earns twice as much: Reddit suggests ownership shares by income, not 50/50
On Reddit, a man said that he and his girlfriend are looking for a flat and want to borrow its full price with the state guarantee for young people. They plan to split the flat and the loan equally, but he earns almost twice as much and would like to make large early repayments, which would lower the monthly payment for both of them without giving him anything in return.
One reply boiled it down to three options: split 50/50, take on all the early repayments yourself and accept whatever comes of it; register the flat in proportion to income from the start, say 30/70, and share early repayments and renovation costs in the same proportion; or buy the flat in your own name. Others explain that early repayments reduce the loan as a whole, which the two share, and that each person's contribution can only be accounted for through a separate agreement between them — which gets complicated if the couple splits up.
Many, though, think it is strange to divide things into ‘yours and mine’ when buying a flat together: they have a joint account that both salaries go into, and everything is paid from it. One commenter who once lost out in a break-up, however, praises the man for thinking about this in advance.
One reply boiled it down to three options: split 50/50, with him making all the early repayments and accepting whatever comes of it; register the flat in proportion to income from the start, say 30/70, and share early repayments and renovation costs in the same proportion; or buy the flat in his own name. Others explain that early repayments reduce the loan as a whole, which the two share, and that each person's contribution can only be accounted for through a separate agreement between them — which gets complicated if the couple splits up.
“As someone who completely recognises themselves in your situation: you have just three options. 1) Split 50/50, you take on the early repayments entirely and accept whatever comes of it. 2) If you earn twice as much, register the purchase 30/70 (or 33/67, whatever you think fit). Then draw up a plan for early repayments (and renovations and so on) where each of you puts in the same share. 3) Buy everything in your own name, the early repayments are all yours. If it all falls apart, everything is yours and nothing is hers.”
r/literaciafinanceira28.10.2026
“Your early repayments will go towards the whole loan. And since it's one loan, there's hardly any way to account for your extra contribution other than a separate agreement under which she undertakes to pay you, not the bank, the part that's been paid off for her. But in my view that's too complicated and messy in case things go wrong.”
r/literaciafinanceira28.10.2026
Many, though, think it is strange to divide things into ‘yours and mine’ when buying a flat together: they themselves have a joint account that both salaries go into, and everything is paid from it. But one commenter who once lost out in a break-up praises the man for thinking about this in advance.
“As someone whose relationship fell apart after years and who then lost out because they ‘took them at their word’, I'll say this: you're doing exactly the right thing thinking about it now and protecting yourself.”
r/literaciafinanceira28.10.2026
