Social Security Benefits and Unemployment Protection Explained

Social Security: Protecting Workers and Dependents

Social Security is a public agency that guarantees workers and their dependents are adequately protected when in any of the covered positions. It consists of a series of schemes, with each worker integrated into their respective share:

• Contributory: For workers and their families.
• Non-contributory: For people who have not worked or have not contributed enough.

Social Security guarantees workers protection against a variety of contingencies, ensuring their right to benefits.

Temporary Disability

This refers to the situation of workers who are temporarily unable to work due to:

• Illness or accident
• Occupational disease or accident

Workplace Accident Definitions

• Accident in itinere: Occurs on the way to work or vice versa, using a suitable mode of transportation.
• Accident at work: Any bodily injury that the worker suffers while performing work. This includes injuries sustained during the commute and diseases aggravated by work. To be classified as an occupational disease, it must appear in Royal Decree 1299/06.

Unemployment Benefits

An allowance granted when people lose their jobs or have their working hours involuntarily reduced by at least one-third. The deadline to apply for unemployment is 15 days from the date of termination.

If you secure a new job while receiving benefits, two situations may occur:

• New work lasts less than 1 year: The benefit is suspended; once the job ends, you resume collecting the remaining balance.
• New work lasts over 1 year: A new benefit period is generated, or the employee must choose between the two payment options.

Non-Contributory Unemployment Allowance

This allowance is granted to individuals registered as job seekers for at least one month who have not rejected a suitable employment offer, have incomes below 80% of the IPREM, and meet one of the following criteria:

• Individuals who have exhausted contributory unemployment benefits and have family responsibilities.
• Individuals over 45 who have exhausted at least 12 months of unemployment benefits and have no family responsibilities.
• Workers who do not receive contributory unemployment because they have not contributed enough:
  • If you have family responsibilities and have contributed for 3 months, you receive 3 months of benefits; 4 months of contributions yield 4 months of benefits, and so on, up to 21 months.
  • If the worker has no dependents, 6 months of contributions are required to collect 6 months of benefits.
• Individuals over 52 who have contributed for at least 6 years to unemployment throughout their life and fulfill all requirements for retirement, excluding age.