pension amount
The government announced a new round of adjustments to state pensions for 2023, aligning the increases with the reform plan that began in 2022. The decision, approved by the Council of Ministers on Tuesday, builds on the first phase of the reform and uses the annual cost of living index as the main driver for adjustments. This marks the second consecutive year with a pension increase tied to the reform’s formula to preserve purchasing power against inflation.
Head of Government Pedro Sánchez confirmed the measures during a year‑end press conference that reviewed 2022 results and outlined the 2023 economic package. The changes apply to contributory pensions and will be complemented by the same CPI‑based logic used in the reform to maintain real value for retirees.
Specifically, the 8.5% rise in contributory pensions for 2023 results from the average CPI for the period between December 2021 and November 2022. Passive class pensions will also rise by 8.5% through 2023. For those without premiums, an additional 15% uplift previously added in July will continue to apply to their benefits.
The reform’s pricing cushion, known as the price deviation mechanism, will no longer apply. Pensions in 2021 were the last to receive inflation‑linked adjustments under the old system; from 2022 onward, pensions are updated directly by CPI movements.
With the 8.5% projection for 2023, the minimum pension figures are expected to increase by roughly 18 to 113 euros per month depending on pension type and individual circumstances.
For retirees aged 65 with a dependent spouse, the minimum pension will stay at 966.19 euros per month in 14 payments (up from 890.50 euros). A single economic unit will see a minimum of 783 euros per month (up from 721.70 euros), while a non‑dependent spouse’s minimum will be 743.20 euros per month (up from 685.00 euros).
Among those under 65, the minimum pension with a dependent spouse rises to 905.80 euros per month for 2023 (from 834.90 euros), while the single economic unit stands at 732.60 euros (up from 675.20 euros) and the non‑dependent spouse at 692.40 euros (from 638.20 euros).
Maximum pension figures will climb to 3,858.80 euros per month in fourteen payments, up from 2,819.20 euros per month this year.
The minimum widow’s pension will also rise, by 46 to 71 euros monthly depending on criteria. For beneficiaries with family responsibilities, the minimum widow’s pension will be 905.80 euros per month rather than 834.90 euros. A widow aged over 65 or with a disability of 65% or more will receive 783 euros per month, an increase of 61.30 euros from the previous figure.
The widow’s pension for those aged 60 to 64 will be 732.60 euros per month next year (from 675.20 euros), while beneficiaries under 60 will receive 593.20 euros (up from 546.80 euros).
For cases with a dependent spouse, the minimum pension for severe disability rises to 1,449.30 euros per month from 1,335.80 euros, while those without a spouse will receive 1,174.60 euros when living as a single economic unit (up from 1,082.60 euros).
The minimum pension for those 65 and older with dependent spouses will be 966.20 euros per month in 2023. For dependents living as a single economic unit, the figure remains 783 euros per month (up from 721.70 euros). Those with a dependent spouse aged 60 to 64 will see a minimum of 892.40 euros, while the figure for disability or other conditions will vary by personal situation.
In the category of orphan pensions, the minimum monthly amount increases to 239.40 euros per beneficiary, with higher rates applying to those under 18 with greater severity of disability, reaching 470.90 euros per month in certain cases. The base pension for relatives will be 239.40 euros per month from the start of the year, up from 220.70 euros.