In Spain, families can access a variety of state and regional supports, with some programs tailored specifically for single-parent households such as single mothers. Here is the help a single mom may request.
Social security support for families
The National Institute of Social Security (INSS) provides certain monetary benefits and bonuses aimed at helping families balance work and family life. Among these are measures designed to guarantee a minimum income for those who are vulnerable. While family responsibility isn’t strictly required to claim the Minimum Living Income, the amount of economic assistance for families with children increases with the size of the household. The following overview explains how to apply for this minimum living provision.
Accessing the Minimum Vital Income and related questions
This provision serves as a supplement for those who receive a Minimum Vital Income and have dependent minors, without extra paperwork. It can also be requested in other scenarios when the IMV is not received. One key requirement is a low income, but the IMV threshold is higher than the limits for other benefits and some supplements may not be compatible with other benefits or additional incomes.
The alimony amount varies by the age of the child. In brief, the assistance scales as follows:
Less than three years: 100 euros.
Three to six years: 70 euros.
Six to eighteen years: 50 euros.
The article below explains how to claim the alimony supplement.
How to apply for the new 100 Euro per child benefit from Social Security
If staying in the workplace during pregnancy could pose health risks to the employee, the employer should seek a different role for the staff member. If a suitable position cannot be found, the employment relationship may be suspended and the pregnancy risk benefit is paid monthly, amounting to 100% of the regulatory base. In plain terms, the worker would continue to receive her base salary.
A single mother who becomes a widow, or experiences temporary widowhood, can file for widow or temporary widow benefits. If a single mother needs child care to reconcile work and family life, there is a 45% discount on Social Security contributions for eligible situations. Extended families may also qualify. Eligibility requires self-employment or being employed outside the home, or an inability to work.
Financial help for families in 2022
SEPE administers unemployment benefits and also offers several family-oriented supports for single mothers. One program is a monthly subsidy of 463 euros for unemployed individuals with family responsibilities and little or no income, particularly when unemployment benefits have ended or minimum contribution rules apply.
The “unemployment allowance” and the “subsidy for insufficient contribution” provide 463 euros per month, with duration tied to the total contribution history and whether the unemployed person has dependents. If family responsibilities exist and contributions are 3, 4, or 5 months, the subsidy covers those months based on the last six years of contributions. If contributions run from 6 to 12 months, the subsidy lasts up to 21 months.
There is also an Extraordinary Unemployment Subsidy of 463 euros per month for six months, along with other benefits for those who qualify. The following article explains the Unemployment Subsidy in detail. (Citation: SEPE guidance)
Unemployment subsidy for those with less than one year of work
Tax relief for working mothers
Working mothers who meet certain conditions can access maternity relief, known as working-mother support. This relief can be taken in several ways and is not limited to the mother alone. It includes a Personal Income Tax (IRPF) deduction and up to 1,200 euros per year for each child born or adopted in Spain. For adoptive or foster situations, deductions can be claimed within three years of the minor’s registration with the civil registry, regardless of the child’s age at that time.
The maternity deduction can be claimed in advance on the annual tax return or via monthly payments of 100 euros, continuing until the child turns three.
These programs illustrate how family-focused social protections operate in a European context. They provide a framework for understanding similar supports available in Canada and the United States, where entitlement rules and benefit amounts differ but the underlying aim remains the same: to support parents who work while raising children. (Citation: national and regional social security authorities)