Social Security: National Provisions

• Introduction

EU Factsheets: Housing

• Accommodation

EU Factsheets: Healthcare

• Health Systems
• National Provisions
• Sickness Insurance
• Family Benefits
• Unemployment Insurance

EU Factsheets: Working

• Working in Spain
• Finding a Job
• Job Application
• Kinds of Employment
• Job Contracts
• Self-Employed Workers
• Remuneration
• Working Time
• Annual Leave
• Sickness & Maternity
• End of Employment

EU Factsheets: Money

• Cost of Living
• Incomes & Taxation
• Pensions

EU Factsheets: Transport

• Transportation

EU Factsheets: Moving

• The System
• Moving to Spain
• Moving Goods & Capital
• Moving Cars
• Finding Accommodation
• Finding a School
• Checklist

EU Factsheets: Family

• Educational System
• Family Life

EU Factsheets: Lifestyle

• Cultural & Social Life
• Shops & Shopping

The state guarantees the people covered by the Social Security system appropriate protection in the following situations that can arise during a lifetime:

• Job loss
• Sickness or accident
• Maternity and family responsibilities
• Retirement
• Invalidity
• Death

There are two levels:

Contributory Scheme

For people who live or legally reside in Spain, who are employed or self-employed (‘autónomos’) within Spain.

Non-contributory Scheme

This includes all Spaniards resident within Spain; Latin Americans, Portuguese, Brazilians, Nationals of Andorra and the Philippines and nationals of other countries covered by treaties, bilateral agreements or conventions (US or EEA citizens resident in Spain).

Anyone who is about to take up work must have a social security number. The Social Security General Treasury will allocate Social Security Numbers to all citizens to identify them in their relationships with the Treasury. A number will also be allocated to the beneficiaries of pensions and other System benefits.

Who should apply

Employers are obliged to apply for membership of the Social Security System for their workers. When the employer does not comply with the obligation, the worker may apply directly for membership of the system. Self-employed workers (‘autónomos’) or similar are obliged to apply for membership.

Contributions

All workers must contribute to the Social Security System. The company will detract the contribution percentage payable from the worker’s gross wage and the deduction will be shown in the payslip. All workers are entitled to request their ‘Vida Laboral’ [employment record] to check contributions paid to Social Security.

Text last edited on: 08/2010