Spanish Social Security Benefits: Eligibility & Coverage

Spanish Social Security: Schemes and Benefits

Schemes

• General Scheme: Employees in industry and services, including artists, athletes, bullfighters, rail workers, commercial service providers, and local administration officials.
• Special Scheme: Self-employed individuals, domestic workers, agricultural workers, maritime workers, miners, students, government officials, and civilian and military personnel.

Membership and Social Security Number

Application for Membership/Social Security Number: This number is required to access social security benefits and track your work activity.

Affiliation: While working, you are required to join one of the two schemes and contribute before starting work.

Temporary Disability

• Causes: Common illness, non-occupational accidents, or occupational diseases.
• Minimum Contribution Period:
  • Common illness: 180 days of contributions within the previous 5 years.
  • Occupational disease: No minimum contribution period is required.
• Benefits:
  • Common illness:
    • Days 1-3: No benefit.
    • Days 4-15: 60% of the Regulatory Base (BR) paid by the employer.
    • Days 16-20: 60% of the BR paid by the National Social Security Institute (INSS).
    • Day 21 onwards: 75% of the BR paid by the INSS.
  • Occupational disease or work accident: 75% of the BR from the day following the start of the leave.
• Duration: Maximum of 12 months, extendable by 6 months if the employee can be medically discharged. For occupational diseases, the duration is 6 months.

Permanent Disability

• Partial Permanent Disability: A reduction of at least 33% in work capacity, but does not prevent the performance of fundamental tasks.
• Total Permanent Disability: Prevents the performance of fundamental tasks in the current profession but allows for work in other fields.
• Absolute Permanent Disability: Prevents the performance of any profession.
• Severe Disability: Requires assistance for daily activities.

Benefits

• Partial Disability: 24 months of the BR.
• Total Disability: 55% of the BR.
• Absolute Disability: 100% of the BR.
• Severe Disability: 150% of the BR.

Maternity

• Minimum Contribution Period: 180 days within the 5 years preceding the birth.
• Economic Benefits: Subsidy of 100% of the BR. A special allowance is available for each child from the second child onwards, for 6 weeks of compulsory leave.
• Duration: 16 weeks of leave, or an additional two weeks for each child in cases of multiple births.

Retirement

• Early Retirement: Some workers who meet specific requirements can retire at age 60, with a reduction in the pension amount for each year taken in advance.
• Partial Retirement: Allows individuals to receive a retirement pension while continuing to work part-time.
• Retirement after 65: Individuals can continue working if their health permits.
• Minimum Contribution Period: 15 years, with at least 2 years within the 15 years immediately preceding retirement.
• Economic Benefits:
  • 65 years old with 35 years of contributions: 100% of the BR.
  • 65 years old with 15 years of contributions: 50% of the BR.

Unemployment Benefits

• Eligibility: Individuals who are able and willing to work but have lost their jobs completely or partially.
• Contribution Requirement: 360 days of contributions within the previous 6 years.
• Duration: From 4 months to 2 years.