Why your contribution rate creeps up each year (the MEI levy)

Terms used

• MEI — The MEI is a social security levy, shared by employer and employee, that rises a little each year until 2029 to help fund pensions.
• Nómina — The nómina is your monthly payslip, showing your gross pay, deductions and net pay.
• Contingencias comunes — Contingencias comunes is the social security contribution covering ordinary illness, maternity and retirement.
• Desempleo — Desempleo is the social security contribution that funds unemployment benefit.
• Formación profesional — Formación profesional is a small social security contribution that funds job training.

Key rules

• Your MEI share: Your MEI share is 0.15% of your contribution base in 2026, up from 0.13% in 2025.
• Yearly step: The total MEI rises 0.10 percentage points a year until it reaches 1.20% in 2029.
• Employer share: Your employer pays about five sixths of the MEI; you pay the rest.
• No pay rise needed: Your net pay can fall each year even if your gross salary stays the same.

The short answer

Your take-home pay can fall slightly each year with no change to your salary. The reason is the MEI, a levy that goes up in small steps every year until 2029. Both you and your employer pay it, and your share is deducted from your pay.

What the MEI is

The MEI is an extra social security contribution. It was created to help pay for pensions as more people retire. It started in 2023 and rises by 0.10 percentage points of the total each year. Your employer pays most of it, about five sixths of the total. You pay the rest.

How the rate has moved

Your share is 0.15% in 2026. On a gross salary of 30,000 € a year, that is 45 € a year, which is 3.75 € a month. The step from one year to the next is small, but it is a real cut to your net pay.

When it stops going up

The rate reaches 1.20% in 2029 and then stays at that level until 2050. After 2029 the MEI should stop pushing your deductions up. A future reform could change the later years.

Where you see it

Look at your monthly payslip (nómina). The MEI has its own line among the social security deductions. Each January, compare it with the previous December. The documents listed below show what to check.

Other deductions also reset each year

The MEI is only one part of your social security deductions. The other rates are set again each year. In 2025 they were:

• 4.70% for ordinary sickness, maternity and retirement cover (contingencias comunes)
• 1.55% for unemployment cover (desempleo) on an indefinite contract, or 1.60% on a fixed-term contract
• 0.10% for training (formación profesional)

Check your January payslip for the current figures. The MEI step is the only one that follows a fixed schedule.

Documents you need

• Your payslip (nómina), issued by your employer each month. It shows the MEI line and your other social security deductions, so you can see your rate rise year to year.

• Your employment contract, from your employer. It shows whether you are on an indefinite or fixed-term contract, which sets your unemployment share (1.55% or 1.60% in 2025).

Frequently asked questions

How much does the MEI take from my pay in 2026?

In 2026 the MEI takes 0.15% of your contributory salary from your pay. Your employer pays a further 0.75%, so the total is 0.90%. In 2025 your share was 0.13%.

When will the MEI stop going up?

The MEI stops rising in 2029, when the total reaches 1.20%. Your share is then 0.20% and your employer pays 1.00%.

Is the MEI the only part of my deductions that changes each year?

No, the MEI is the only line with a fixed yearly step, but all rates are reset each year. In 2025 the other employee shares were 4.70% for contingencias comunes (general sickness and pension cover) and 0.10% for formación profesional (training).