Which social security regime (régimen) applies to your job

Terms used

• Régimen General — The Régimen General is the main Social Security regime, covering most employees who work for an employer.
• RETA — RETA is the Social Security regime for self-employed workers (autónomos).
• Alta — The alta is your registration with Social Security when you start a job.
• Vida laboral — The vida laboral is a Social Security report listing your regime and the periods you were registered.
• Sistema Especial para Empleados de Hogar — The Sistema Especial para Empleados de Hogar is the special Social Security system for household employees.
• Sistema Especial Agrario — The Sistema Especial Agrario is the special Social Security system for agricultural employees.

Key rules

• Most employees: If you work for an employer, you are usually in the Régimen General.
• Special systems: Household and agricultural jobs have their own systems with different unemployment and contribution rules.
• Household unemployment: Your household employer must contribute for your unemployment cover.
• Yearly changes: Bases and rates change every year, so use the current figures.

The short answer

If you work for an employer, you are almost certainly in the Régimen General. Some jobs sit in a special system instead. These have their own contribution and unemployment rules. The most common are household work and agricultural work.

How to find out which regime you are in

Your own paperwork shows it. The documents and checklist below list what to look at. In short:

• Your payslip shows your contribution group and your regime.
• Your contract shows the type of job you do.
• Your alta confirmation shows you were registered.
• Your vida laboral report from Social Security lists your regime and each period you were registered.

If the payslip and the vida laboral report disagree, ask your employer first. Then ask Social Security.

Who is not in the general regime

• Self-employed people are in RETA, the autónomos scheme. It has its own page of rules.
• Sea workers and coal miners have separate schemes.
• Household employees are in the Sistema Especial para Empleados de Hogar.
• Agricultural employees are in the Sistema Especial Agrario.

Other special systems exist for some seasonal and discontinuous work, for example in fruit, vegetables and conserves, or in seasonal hospitality. Artists and bullfighters are covered in other schemes. If your job is one of these, ask your employer which system applies to you.

What changes in a special system

Household work. Your contributions are based on tranches of your monthly pay. Your employer must register you and pay the contributions. Household employees can now be covered for unemployment, and the employer must contribute for it. Check that this is happening for you.

Agricultural work. Contributions are calculated on a monthly base with set rates. Temporary workers can have additional or reduced amounts. Ask your employer which base and rates apply to your contract.

Bases and rates are set each year, so ask for the current figures rather than relying on last year's payslip.

Documents you need

• Your employment contract, issued by your employer, which shows the type of job you do.

• A recent payslip, issued by your employer, which shows your contribution group and your regime.

• The confirmation of your alta (registration), which your employer or Social Security gives you.

• Your vida laboral report from Social Security, which lists your regime and the periods you were registered.

Checklist

• Read your payslip and note the regime and contribution group printed on it.

• Check your contract to see whether you work for an employer, which usually means the general regime.

• Ask your employer whether your job is in household work or agriculture, which have their own special systems.

• If you are in the household system, confirm that your employer is paying unemployment contributions for you.

• If you are in the agricultural system, ask which monthly base and rates apply to your contract.

Frequently asked questions

Which jobs fall under a special system instead of the general regime?

Household employees and agricultural workers are the best-known jobs with their own special system. Fixed-discontinuous workers in certain sectors, and some seasonal or food-processing jobs, also have special arrangements. If your job is in one of these areas, ask Social Security which system applies to you.

Can a household employee get unemployment cover?

Yes, since 2024 household employees can be covered for unemployment, and the employer must pay the contributions for it. Household contributions are based on tranches of monthly pay, and the employer registers you and pays them.

How are contributions calculated for agricultural workers?

Agricultural workers contribute on a monthly base with specific rates for each type of cover. Temporary workers can have additional or reduced amounts. The bases and rates are set every year, so ask your employer or Social Security for the current figures.