The Social Security System is a set of schemes through which the state guarantees the people included in their scope of application, due to carrying out a professional activity or meeting the requirements for the non-contributory level, as well as their dependent family members or assimilated family members, suitable protection for the contingencies and situations defined by the law.

Regardless of gender, marital status or profession and for the purposes of the benefits in the contributory modality, all Spanish people who reside in Spain, and foreigners who reside or are legally in Spain, are included in the Social Security field of application, as long as, in both cases, they carry out their activity in the national territory and are included in one of the following sections:

• Workers Employed by another Person
• Self-employed workers.
• Working partners in associated work co-operatives.
• Students.
• Civil Servants or Military Personnel.

The Social Security System is made up of the General Regime and Special Regimes

Within the General Regime of the Social Security, there are also  Special Collective Systems  with peculiarities in matters of affiliation and contribution:

The Special System of fruit, vegetables and the vegetable preserve industry
Special System for Resin Industry
Special System for extraordinary hostelry services
Special System for handling and packaging fresh tomato, carried out by harvester/exporters
Special System of intermittent permanent employees in cinema, dance halls, night-clubs and discotheques
Special System of intermittent permanent employees in market research and public opinion
Special Agricultural System
Special System for Domestic Employees

The Social Security System also includes the following Special Regimes.

Currently they are: