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You are here: Home Housing Where to Live Guide to the Spanish social security system

21/10/2003Guide to the Spanish social security system

As an expat, you are likely to be included in the Spanish social security system, potentially making you eligible to receive unemployment, maternity and retirement benefits. Here's a guide.

General information
Main benefits
Unemployment benefits
Maternity leave
Retirement benefits

General information

The Spanish social security system covers all Spanish nationals who reside and perform their labour activities in Spain, as well as foreigners with residence permits in Spain. Spanish nationals, who do not reside in Spain, are also covered under certain circumstances. Protection also covers the family of the insured person.

The Spanish social security system has two applicable schemes:

  • General scheme, or scheme for the dependent worker: This scheme imposes a set percentage of income as a contribution to be paid jointly by the employer and the employee.
  • Scheme for the self-employed: The employee, who works on his own account, is responsible for the total amount of the contribution. He can choose between a maximum and a minimum percentage of contribution. The scheme provides no unemployment benefits.

Employer and employee contributions constitute the main social security financing. However, the employer pays the greater share, and he or she will usually complete all formalities to ensure that workers are covered by the social security system.  

Personnel are classified into labour categories for the purpose of determining their social security contributions, and the government annually establishes the maximum and minimum contribution rate. The minimum salary on which social security contributions must be paid is around EUR 421 a month.

The contributions that dependent workers and employers pay jointly are higher than self-employed contributions, as employees are entitled to unemployment benefits if they lose their jobs. The mandatory unemployment contribution is paid as a percentage of the salary.
 
Pursuant to social security agreements between Spain and some other countries, including all the European Union countries and the United States, expats may remain members of the social security system of their country of origin for a limited period.

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