Del paro a la jubilación: casi medio millón de personas cobran el subsidio para mayores de 52 años

Nearly half a million people in Spain are now receiving a pension for those over 52 years old, following a 2019 reform that lowered the age requirement from 55 to 52. This increase of 75% in beneficiaries has raised concerns about the system's ability to help the unemployed return to the labor market. Banco de España Governor Jos� Luis Escriv� highlighted the discouraging effect of receiving the pension for older individuals, which stands at 480 euros per month and can continue until reaching retirement age.

Official statistics from the Public Employment Service (SEPE) show a significant rise in the number of recipients, particularly in recent years after the government-reformed the rules in 2019. The reform reduced the age limit for eligibility, which increased the number of beneficiaries from 265,473 in 2018 to 458,890 in 2025, a 73% rise.

In June 2026, the monthly average was 466,077, a 75% increase from pre-reform levels. While the reform lowered the age requirement, it also extended the duration of the subsidy, allowing recipients to receive payments until reaching normal retirement age. These changes have resulted in a larger pool of long-term unemployed individuals, with nearly 45% of Spain's long-term unemployed (those jobless for over a year) being over 50, and 54% for those unemployed for more than two years.

The economic cost of the subsidies for those over 52 has reached over 7.547 million euros between 2019 and 2025, with an additional 15.877 million euros projected annually until 2030. This demographic phenomenon, combined with the intensive and prolonged use of the pension for those over 52, has made it account for more than half of all unemployment benefit recipients.

Experts from Fedea emphasize that the new access and payment conditions have transformed the subsidy into a hybrid form, bridging a modest income support and a pre-emptive pension that significantly impacts future benefits.