Social Security

To protect against the situation of economic need caused by the  death of the person who triggers the benefit.

• Children and siblings over the age of 22 who are single, widowed, legally separated or divorced and who, without certifying the conditions necessary for being a pensioner, have cohabited with the deceased and at their expense for at least 2 years  prior to the date of death, lack means of subsistence, due to earning an income less than or equal to the national minimum wage, and have no family members with the obligation or ability to provide them with food and are not entitled to a public pension.

A deceased or missing person whose death originates the right to the benefit.

It is necessary to certify a contribution period, which varies based on the employment situation of the deceased and the cause of death:

• Affiliated or with assimilated affiliation status for 500 days within an uninterrupted period of 5 years before the death or 15 years during all their working life.
• Not affiliated: 15 years over the entire working life.
• Pensioners: No contribution period is required.

No previous contribution period is required when the death is caused by a work-related injury or occupational disease.

Temporary subsidy, the maximum amount of which is 12 monthly payments and two extra pays, calculated by applying 20% to the corresponding regulating base, which varies according to the working situation of the deceased on the date of death and the cause of death.

The subsidy is paid from the first day of the month following that of the application date.

The subsidy is paid monthly, with two extra payments in June and November.
The fixed minimum amounts are guaranteed for the family members' pension, with no increases for being widowed.

The subsidy is incompatible with a certain income level and with receiving any public pensions.

The maximum duration of the subsidy is 12 months.

• Application presentation: There are no deadlines.
• Application resolution: 90 days from the application presentation date. Currently, the average period of time is 13 days.

• Due to the maximum duration period ending.
• On death.
• After checking that the missing worker did not die in an accident.

Applying for Survivors' Benefits.

The documents listed on the application form.

At a Social Security Support and Information Centre and at offices of the Marine Social Institute, for sea workers.

The right to the subsidy  is granted by the National Social Security Institute or  by the Marine Social Institute in the case of sea workers. When the death is due to work-related injury, it may be granted by the Mutual Society for Work-Related Injuries and Occupational Diseases.

• The right to collect the subsidy does not expire.
• As regards work-related injury and occupational disease, the deceased is considered to have been duly affiliated at the time of death, even if the employer had not fulfilled its obligations.
  
• Special Schemes:
  • Special Agricultural Scheme
  • Special Scheme for Self-Employed Workers
  • Special Scheme for Domestic Employees
  • Special Scheme for Coal Mining
  • Special Scheme for Sea Workers.

Frequently Asked Questions