Spain continues its social reform momentum, and talk now centers on a new round of adjustments to the Minimum Interprofessional Salary. The Ministry of Social Security is negotiating to expand the eligibility rules so more citizens can access this payment. The department led by Elma Saiz is coordinating with the Ministry of Labor to ensure that unemployed people can become beneficiaries of the Minimum Vital Income (IMV).
The Minimum Vital Income is a social security benefit designed to prevent poverty and social exclusion. Its goal is to guarantee a baseline level of income for individuals who live alone or as part of a household and do not have enough resources to cover essential needs. To qualify, applicants must meet several requirements:
- Be at least 23 years old, or 18 if there are dependents in the home.
- Legally reside in Spain for a minimum of one year.
- Lack sufficient income or assets to cover basic living costs of the household.
- Not hold net assets that exceed established limits.
Today, the IMV reaches more than 2 million people in Spain, according to data from the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration. The figure includes about 753,000 direct beneficiaries and 1,246,301 additional recipients such as children or spouses who benefit indirectly. The numbers have grown over time, and with the new reform, the aim is to broaden the program even further to include a large group of unemployed individuals.
Long-term unemployed individuals are expected to be among the next beneficiaries. The Social Security Administration maintains regular talks with the Public Employment Service to extend IMV coverage to those who have been out of work for extended periods. The ministries of Labor and Social Security want to reach an agreement that would help more people access this safety net.
Several Social Security sources emphasize the need to act quickly for those who exhaust unemployment subsidies. The aim is to strengthen collaboration between the Public Employment Service (SEPE) and the INSS to streamline the process of recognizing the Minimum Vital Income for claimants who have exhausted other assistance programs such as unemployment subsidies or insertion programs.
Those seeking IMV must meet several obligations, including:
- Guaranteed income: the amount varies with the number of household members. For a single person, the annual guaranteed income is set at 5,609.40 euros.
- Assets: the net worth of the household must stay within the established limits, adjusted to family size and composition.
- Employment: beneficiaries must be registered as job seekers and participate in labor insertion itineraries.
In defense of the proposal, the Minister of Labor has stressed that IMV marks a major advance for vulnerable groups. The program is seen as a key tool to combat poverty and reduce inequality in the country. These remarks illustrate a shared political stance across the administrations involved in the reform process.