Las parejas con hijos tendrán derecho a la pensión de viudedad si acreditan dos años de convivencia

In Spain, couples with children are set to qualify for a widow's pension if they can prove two years of uninterrupted cohabitation, regardless of whether they are legally married or in a de facto relationship. This is one of several measures included in the draft decree law that is expected to be approved by the Council of Ministers on Tuesday, as previously outlined by EL PAÍS on Monday.

The text now equates cohabiters without legal ties to married couples or de facto partners, both of whom previously had the option to apply for the benefit. This measure reestablishes a provision the Executive previously proposed to unions and chambers of commerce during negotiations to reform temporary incapacity, which was detailed in a text in July.

Now, the Social Security proposal is set to be discussed at a Cabinet meeting as part of a norm that will enter into force after approval. For this to remain effective, however, it must be validated by the Legislative body within a month. The government finds this process easier now, with no need for the favorable vote of the Junts party, following the dissolution of the Cortes, as it will not have to pass through the Permanent Assembly's scrutiny.