Spain’s comprehensive social security benefits cover health, sickness, maternity, work injures, housing, unemployment, retirement and death.
Most os Spain’ social security spending goes on benefits for the elderly, disabled, widowed and for housing, all dealt with by the Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad Social (INSS).
Unemployment benefit is distributed by de Instituto Nacional de Empleo (INEM) and the remaining 30 percent or so revenue is spent by the Instituto de la Salud (INSALUD) on health services and by de Instituto de Servicios Sociales (INSERSO) on social services.
For more information, contact the Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad social, www.seg-social.es.
Who contributes?
Any foreign employee working for a Spanish company or anyone who is self-employed should contribute to Spanish social security.
You do not need to pay social security contributions in your home country if your are an employee in Spain, though agreements beween Spain and 40 contries including Australia, Canada and the US mean that expats can remain members of their country’s social security system for a certain period.
EU nationals who are either self-employed or posted to Spain by their company can continue to pay social security in their home country for one year. After working in Spain for two years, EU nationals must pay contributions to the Spanish social security system.
Pensioners in Spain who receive a state pension from another EU country are automatically entitled to health benefits in Spain, providing your have an E121 form with you from your country’s social security system.
Bristish expats coan recieve further information from the Department of Social Security, www.dwp.gov.uk telf 0044 191 218 7777.
How do you contribute?
Your employer will usually deal with the paperwork. If not, or if you are selfemployed or retired with an EU state pension, you need to registrer at your local social security office.
Pensioners should take copies of their E121 form, passport, birth certificate, marrieage certificate if applicable and proof or residence (rental contract of deed of sale- escritura).
Once you recieve your registration card (tarjeta sanitaria) a few weeks’ later, your spouse and dependants are also covered.
