Spain Retirement Rules: When Pension Benefits Start and How They Are Calculated

Many people in Spain dream of enjoying a peaceful retirement after years of hard work, but achieving that goal depends on meeting specific rules and timelines. Reaching age 65 does not automatically make someone a retiree. For many workers, eligibility for retirement benefits does not come until they are at least 66. This depends on meeting the standard requirements for pension eligibility, including the length of time contributions were made to Social Security.

When will the pension be received this month?

There are periods when people have enough years of quotes to claim a pension, yet they do not reach the required number of contribution years to retire early—either voluntarily or due to terms of termination or dismissal.

These are the requirements for collecting the subsidy for persons over 52 years of age.

To access pension benefits, Spain has adjusted its rules since 2013. In general, individuals must be 67 or 65 years old with a minimum of 38 years and 6 months of contribution to Social Security. The age limits and contribution times are being applied gradually, and the specific criteria can be found in the table below (a downloadable version is available at the end).

Retirement table in Spain by premium years

– – –

Increase in pensions: this is what you will get for your pension in 2022

In summary, workers who have less than 33 years of contributions are not eligible to retire at 66. The minimum required for involuntary early retirement is two years less than the 35-year requirement for voluntary early retirement, which means a longer work history leads to an earlier access to benefits.

Tell me where you live in Alicante and I’ll tell you how much pension you get.

If an individual does not reach 33 years of contributions, they will not reach 37 years and the reference date for determining the normal age pension, which means those who reach 65 may retire, while others must wait until 66.

Those who have completed the required years will be able to begin receiving retirement benefits at the agreed age and contribution level. This section explains how location and years of work influence pension amounts and eligibility in Spain.

Did you have to serve in the military? These are the benefits you can have in your early retirement.

There are special considerations for individuals with military service or other qualifying periods that may affect early retirement eligibility and the amount of the pension. The specifics depend on the duration of service and how it is credited in the social security records.

Requirements for retirement in Spain

This section outlines the basic retirement requirements. They include:

1. To be affiliated with Social Security in one of the eligible regimes.
2. Meet the minimum age: the retirement age is not always 65. It rises to 67 by 2027. From January 1, 2013 to 2027, a transitional period has progressively raised the retirement age from 65 to 67. For example, by 2021, workers aged 66 could retire. The Retirement table by years of contribution provides the exact figures.
3. Observe the minimum contribution period: to be entitled to the pension, premiums must have been paid for at least 15 years or 5475 days. Additionally, at least 2 years of contributions must be in the last 15 years before applying.
4. The triggering event must be identified. Possible qualifying events include:
5. The day when the employment relationship ends with the registered worker in Social Security.
6. The day of filing the application in cases similar to registration.
7. In the absence of registration, the day the application is submitted.