According to the Ministry of Participation, Social Security and Migrations, the pension section on the ministry site explains benefits that do not require premiums. These are economic supports offered to residents who meet certain conditions. The focus is on individuals who have not contributed or who lack sufficient resources to live on legally established terms, even if they have previously earned the required contribution level. This category is meant to help secure basic financial stability for those in need.
Non contributory retirement benefits are designed for people facing specific hardships. They aim to reduce economic vulnerability when there is a clear need, such as a disability or insufficient years of contributions to Social Security. These pensions are structured to assist those who have not met the minimum contribution threshold.
Non contributory retirement benefits are organized into two branches based on the targeted group:
Non contributory disability pension
The disability pension without premiums seeks to ensure that disabled and financially needy citizens receive financial support, free medical and pharmaceutical assistance, and access to related social services. This applies even if they have not contributed or have not accumulated enough contributions to qualify for a contributory pension. Access to this pension is guided by specific eligibility criteria.
To qualify for the non contributory disability pension the following conditions must be met:
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Be a Spanish citizen or legal resident of Spain
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Be at least eighteen years old and under sixty-five
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Have annual income below EUR 6,784.54 in 2023. If living with a partner or other close relatives, the household income limits apply to the entire cohabiting unit. The thresholds vary with the number of people in the household, ranging from 11,533.72 for two residents up to 52,580.20 for four residents, with adjustments when the household includes parents or children.
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Demonstrate a disability level of 65 percent or higher
The right to a non contributory disability pension does not restrict the ability to engage in work activities, whether profit-making or not, as long as the employment respects the pension rules.
Non contributory pension
The non contributory retirement pension is designed to provide a safeguard for all qualifying citizens aged sixty-five or older who need economic support and access to free medical and pharmaceutical aid along with complementary social services, regardless of eligibility for a contributory pension.
To access this non contributory pension, the following requirements apply:
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Be a Spanish citizen or legal resident of Spain
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Be sixty-five years of age or older
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Have annual income below EUR 6,784.54 in 2023. If living with family members, the cohabiting unit must stay under the applicable income thresholds for the household size, ranging from 11,533.72 to 52,580.20 euros depending on the number of residents.
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Reside in Spain and meet the required residence period, typically ten years between the age of sixteen and the date of application, with at least two years immediately before applying.
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Increase in non contributory pensions in 2024
In 2024 non contributory retirement benefits were revalued by 6.76 percent, resulting in an annual amount of 7,243.17 euros paid in twelve monthly installments. The average monthly payment becomes 603.59 euros, about 59 euros more per month than the previous year.