The HE Allowance for citizens aged 52 and over stands as a key component of the social protection system. It delivers financial support to older workers who are unemployed and encounter more difficulty re-entering the job market due to age. The goal is not only immediate economic relief but also to maintain Social Security contributions, helping secure future retirement income for beneficiaries.
Benefit amount and duration for those over 52 years of age
The subsidy is set at 80 percent of the current Multiple Impact Public Revenue Indicator, IPREM. At present, the IPREM value is 600 euros per month, pending approval of the General State Budget to which IPREM is linked; as a result, eligible individuals receive 480 euros per month.
Unlike many other benefits, this subsidy does not have a fixed end date and continues while the recipient meets eligibility requirements up to the retirement age.
Social Security contribution
A central aspect of this subsidy is that SEPE contributes to Social Security on behalf of the beneficiary, ensuring continued accrual of retirement benefits while the subsidy is received. This framework guarantees access to a contributory pension when retirement is reached. The stated basis used for calculation is 125%.
Subsidy requirements for people over 52
Access to the subsidy is governed by several conditions to ensure that help goes to those most in need and who are at a particularly vulnerable stage in their working lives. According to information from the State Public Employment Service (SEPE), the eligibility criteria include:
- Age: The applicant must be 52 years of age or older at the time of application.
- Job seeker registration: The applicant must have been registered as a job seeker for at least one month prior to application and must not have rejected suitable job offers or declined participation in promotional, training, or retraining activities offered by employment services.
- Compliance with operating agreement: This is part of the subsidy application.
- Unemployment contributions: The applicant must have paid retirement contributions for at least 15 years during their working life, with at least two of those years in the last 15 years, and must have paid unemployment premiums for at least 6 years.
- Contributory retirement adequacy: The applicant must demonstrate a sufficient period of premium payments to qualify for a contributory pension, except for unemployment benefits for those over 52.
- Income floor: The applicant must have own income not exceeding 75 percent of the Minimum Interprofessional Salary, excluding prorated portions of two outstanding payments.
- Exhaustion of benefits: The recipient has exhausted unemployment benefits at the contribution level or meets the remaining conditions yet remains ineligible.
The HE Allowance for citizens aged 52 and over plays a fundamental role in social protection for this group. It provides not only economic support but also a bridge to retirement by ensuring continued contributions to Social Security, thereby supporting future financial stability and reducing the risk of social exclusion.