Understanding Social Security Benefits: Disability, Retirement, Death, and Unemployment

Permanent Disability

Permanent disability refers to a situation in which a worker, after undergoing the prescribed treatment, experiences serious anatomical or functional reductions. These reductions are objectively determinable, definitive, and expected to reduce or nullify their ability to work.

Grades of Permanent Disability

• Partial Disability: Does not decrease below 33% in the employee's normal performance for their usual job and they can perform the essential functions of the same.
• Total Disability: Inability to perform all basic tasks of the usual occupation, but the individual may engage in a different one.
• Absolute Disability: Disables the employee from performing any profession.
• Major Disability: The resulting losses from anatomical and functional problems require another person to assist with essential acts of life.

Retirement

Retirement benefits will be unique for applicants and will consist of an annuity. This annuity will be recognized upon the terms, amount, and manner established by regulation when the individual reaches the prescribed age and terminates employment.

Death and Survival Benefits

• Funeral Grant: A lump sum to help meet funeral expenses.
• Widowhood: A permanent or temporary annuity to which a spouse or partner surviving the death of the deceased is entitled.
• Orphans: Children of the deceased are beneficiaries, regardless of affiliation. The surviving spouse is also a beneficiary if the marriage took place at least two years prior to the death, they lived at the deceased's expense, and are not entitled to another pension.
• Provision and Allowance for Family Members: A permanent or temporary annuity aimed at families who lived at the expense of the deceased, are not entitled to another public pension, and have no other means of subsistence.

Unemployment Protection

Legal unemployment is considered as follows:

• Termination or suspension of employment authorized.
• Authorized temporary reduction of work hours.
• Return of a Spanish citizen after completing a job abroad.
• Release from prison after serving time.
• Involuntary termination of office for members of local government.

Contributory Unemployment Benefit

Individuals who are able and willing to work but lose their jobs due to the termination of their activities, with the corresponding loss of salary, or see their working hours reduced by at least one-third, with the proportional reduction in salary, may qualify.

To qualify for this benefit, the following are required:

• Being in a state of legal unemployment and not having reached retirement age.
• Actively seeking employment, accepting appropriate placement, and signing an activity agreement.
• Having contributed for at least 360 days in the previous six years.

Unemployment Allowance

This is a provision for unemployed job applicants who:

• Do not reject an offer of suitable employment or refuse to participate in training, unless there is good cause.
• Have no monthly income higher than 75% of the minimum wage, excluding bonuses.