According to official guidelines from the Ministry of Participation, Social Security and Migrations, the pension system includes a section that explains benefits that do not require a premium. These are defined as economic supports granted to residents. The protected state applies to individuals who have not contributed at all or who lack enough resources to support themselves under legally set terms, even if they have long contribution histories that meet certain thresholds. This outline clarifies the difference between non-contributory benefits and those tied to a contribution record.
Non-contributory retirement benefits address people in need of financial support, especially when disability is present or when there has been no contribution to Social Security for the required minimum years. These protections are designed to assist those facing economic hardship, regardless of past contribution activity.
Non-contributory retirement is divided into two branches, each aimed at different groups in need.
Non-contributory disability pension
The non-contributory disability pension ensures that all disabled and economically vulnerable citizens receive financial support, free medical and pharmaceutical aid, and access to additional social services, even if they have not contributed to a pension or have not met the minimum contribution years.
To access this pension, the following requirements must be met:
- Be a Spanish citizen or a lawful resident of Spain.
- Be eighteen years of age or older and under sixty-five.
- Have annual income below EUR 6,784.54 in 2023. If living with family members, the household income cap rises to EUR 11,533.72 per year. For households with two occupants, the limit is EUR 16,282.90; for three occupants, EUR 21,032.08; and for four occupants, EUR 21,032.08. If a parent or child shares the household, the maximum annual income for two people rises to EUR 28,834.30; for three people to EUR 40,707.25; and for four people to EUR 52,580.20.
- Demonstrate a disability degree of 65% or higher.
Entitlement to the non-contributory disability pension does not restrict the ability to engage in work activities, whether profitable or not, as long as the work does not interfere with the disability status.
Non-contributory pension
The non-contributory pension aims to provide economic support, free medical and pharmaceutical aid, and complementary social services to all citizens aged 65 or older who are in need, even if they have not accrued sufficient contribution history.
Access to this pension requires meeting the following criteria:
- Be a Spanish citizen or a lawful resident of Spain.
- Be at least sixty-five years old.
- Have annual income below EUR 6,784.54 in 2023. If living with family members, the household income threshold rises to EUR 11,533.72 per year. For two people, the limit is EUR 16,282.90; for three people, EUR 21,032.08; and for four people, EUR 52,580.20.
- Reside in Spain and have done so for at least ten years between age sixteen and the date of application, with two of those years being consecutive immediately before applying.
In 2024, non-contributory retirement benefits were reevaluated, establishing an annual amount of EUR 7,243.17 to be paid in 12 monthly installments. The average monthly payment is EUR 603.59, representing an increase of about EUR 59 per month.