Permanent incapacity in Spain, the grades and what each pays

Key rules

• Partial: Partial incapacity pays a one-off lump sum, not a monthly pension.
• Total: Total incapacity pays a pension that can rise from 55% to 75% if you are 55 or over and struggle to find work.
• Absoluta: Absolute incapacity pays 100% of your base reguladora.
• Gran invalidez: Gran invalidez adds a carer supplement to the 100% pension.

The four grades at a glance

Spain has four grades of permanent incapacity. The grade decides what you receive. Each benefit is a share of your base reguladora, which is the average earnings figure Social Security uses to calculate the benefit. Each grade also has its own conditions.

Partial incapacity

Partial incapacity means your illness or accident reduces your normal performance in your usual profession by at least 33%. You can still do its main tasks.

It pays a single lump sum of 24 monthly payments of your base reguladora. There is no monthly pension. You must meet the contribution requirements for the cause, illness or accident.

Total incapacity

Total incapacity means you cannot do your usual profession but could do a different job.

The pension is 55% of your base reguladora. If you are 55 or over and have difficulty finding work, typically because you are not working, you can receive an extra 20%, which makes 75%. The choice between the two rates is in the decision block below.

In some cases, if you are under 60 and meet the conditions, you can ask for a lump sum instead of the pension. Ask the INSS, the national Social Security institute, whether you qualify before you decide, because you give up the monthly pension.

Absolute incapacity

Absolute incapacity means you cannot work in any profession or trade. The pension is 100% of your base reguladora.

Gran invalidez

Gran invalidez is absolute incapacity where you also need someone else's help with basic daily activities such as dressing or eating.

You receive 100% of your base reguladora plus a supplement to pay for a carer. The supplement is 45% of the minimum contributory base in force plus 30% of your last contribution base. It cannot be less than 45% of your pension. Ask the INSS to calculate your exact supplement.

Minimum and maximum amounts

Each year the State Budget, or its extension, sets minimum pensions. They vary by grade, by whether you have a dependent spouse, and by age. A yearly cap applies to all pensions, and pensions rise with the CPI revaluation. Check the current figures with the Seguridad Social.

Before you claim

Your grade is decided by the INSS after a medical assessment. Ask for it in writing, and keep every medical report. Working while you receive a pension and other disability benefits are covered in the quick answers below.

Choosing between options

Which rate does your total permanent incapacity pension pay?

• 55% of your base reguladora: This is the standard rate for total permanent incapacity. It applies if you are under 55, or if you are 55 or over and have no particular difficulty finding work.

• 75% of your base reguladora: Applies if you are 55 or over and have difficulty finding work, typically because you are not working. The extra 20% is added to the standard 55%.

• A lump sum instead of the pension: Possible in some cases if you are under 60 and meet the conditions. Ask the INSS whether you qualify before choosing it.

Your age and whether you can find work decide the rate: 55% as the standard, 75% from age 55 if you have difficulty finding work.

Check the 20% increase and the lump-sum option with the INSS, Spain's social security institute, before relying on them.

Quick answers on incapacity and disability pensions

Can I work while I receive a permanent incapacity pension?

Yes, you can work with some grades, but what you may do depends on your grade. Partial incapacity is paid as a lump sum and is compatible with work, even in the same job. Total incapacity is compatible with work in another profession, while absolute incapacity and gran invalidez allow only work that fits your remaining capacity. Tell the INSS before you start, because it can review your grade.

Do I need a disability certificate to claim a pension?

You need the certificate only for the non-contributory disability pension, not for the contributory incapacity pension. The contributory pension is assessed by the INSS itself. The certificate comes from your region's social services body (centro base) after a medical and social assessment.

Can I work and keep a non-contributory disability pension?

Yes, you can work with a non-contributory disability pension, within an income limit. In the first 4 years you can combine pension and earnings while the total stays under 1.5 times the IPREM, a yearly benchmark amount. Above that the pension is reduced, and you lose it if your income passes the annual limit.

Is Dependencia the same as an incapacity pension?

No, Dependencia is a separate system that covers care needs, while an incapacity pension replaces lost work income. Dependencia has three grades, is assessed by your region and gives services or care benefits. The two can in general be combined, though some regions adjust the amounts.