Cláudia Joaquim was born in Torres Vedras in 1975.
She graduated in Economics at ISEG- Lisbon School of Economics & Management, has a post graduation in Accounting, Public Finance and Budget Management, by IDEFE / ISEG, and a Master in Public Policy from ISCTE-IUL.
From 2001 onwards Cláudia Joaquim worked as a senior technician at the Institute of Social Security, I.P.
Between 2010 and 2012 she assumed the responsibilities of sub-director of the Strategy and Planning Office (GEP) of the Ministry of Solidarity and Social Security, after having worked as advisor to the Secretary of State for Social Security between 2005 and 2010.
Between 2014 and 2015 she worked at the Portuguese Parliament as an advisor to the parliamentary group of the Socialist Party in the Committee on Budget, Finance and Public Administration (COFAP).
Between 2015 and 2019 she was Secretary of State for Social Security.
Between 2019 and 2020 she was Member of the Board Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa.
Cláudia Joaquim is co-author of the text "The program of economic and financial assistance and pensions", published in 2014, within the framework of the Public Policy Forum of ISCTE. She also participated in the research document published by the Observatory on Crises and Alternatives, of the Center for Social Studies, on problems and solutions for Social Security.
She presented her master's thesis in 2015 "The third sector and social protection: what model for Portugal?", where she argues that measures of social action do not «compete» with social protection benefits (social solidarity or family benefits) but are rather «complementary» to the latter.
Cláudia Joaquim is also a municipal representative at the Municipal Assembly of Sobral de Monte Agraço since 2013.