Which Spanish body pays which benefit when your life changes

Terms used

• INSS — The INSS is the national Social Security institute that recognises and pays pensions, survivor benefits, birth and childcare benefit and minimum income.
• TGSS — The TGSS is the Social Security treasury that handles registration, your Social Security number and the collection of contributions.
• SEPE — The SEPE is the state public employment service that pays unemployment benefit and registers job seekers.
• Mutua — A mutua is a non-profit employers' association that covers work accidents and occupational disease, and often pays sick pay.
• NUSS — The NUSS is your Social Security affiliation number.
• CAISS — A CAISS is an INSS office where you can apply in person, with an appointment.
• Ingreso Mínimo Vital — The Ingreso Mínimo Vital is the national minimum income, paid by the INSS.

Key rules

• Job loss: Unemployment benefit is applied for at SEPE, not at the INSS.
• Births and deaths: The INSS pays birth and childcare benefit and survivor pensions.
• Sick pay: For employees, the employer pays first, then the INSS or your mutua takes over.
• Regional help: Regional minimum income, care and housing aid come from your region, not national Social Security.

Start with the event, then the office

Spain splits benefits between a few national bodies and your region. Most national benefits come from the INSS or SEPE. Help for low income, care and housing often comes from your region. Find your event below.

Who is who

• INSS recognises and pays contributory benefits: retirement, permanent disability, survivors, and birth and childcare.
• TGSS handles your registration, your Social Security number (NUSS), your alta and baja (starting and ending work registration), and the collection of contributions. It does not pay benefits.
• SEPE pays unemployment benefit and registers you as a job seeker.
• Mutua is a non-profit body run by employers. It covers work accidents and occupational disease. It often pays sick pay too, if your employer or you (if self-employed) chose it.

Illness

Your family doctor in the regional health service issues the sick leave note. If you are an employee in the general regime, your employer pays you from day 4 to day 15. From day 16, the INSS or your mutua pays, depending on who covers you. Ask your employer which one.

Work accidents and occupational diseases go through the mutua or the INSS, whichever your employer contracted. The employer pays the first days as in ordinary sickness.

If you are self-employed or in a special regime, the payment rules differ. Ask the INSS or your mutua before you rely on this timing.

A new child

Birth and childcare benefit is recognised and paid directly by the INSS. SEPE does not handle it.

Losing your job

SEPE handles both unemployment benefit and the non-contributory subsidy that can follow it. Apply at SEPE, not at the INSS.

Retirement or a death

The INSS recognises and pays retirement pensions. It also pays death and survivor benefits: widow or widower pensions, orphan pensions and death grants.

You can apply online through Seguridad Social, by phone, or in person at an INSS office (CAISS) with an appointment.

Low income, care and housing

The national minimum income, the Ingreso Mínimo Vital, is paid by the INSS.

Your region runs its own schemes as well:

• Regional minimum income schemes, such as the Renta de Garantía de Ingresos in the Basque Country, the Renta Garantizada de Ciudadanía in Catalonia and the Renta Mínima de Inserción in Madrid. Each region's social services department pays these.
• Long-term care (dependency) benefits.
• Housing and family aid.

Names, amounts and requirements differ by region. Ask your regional social services office what exists where you live.

Public healthcare also runs through your region's health service, such as the Servicio Madrileño de Salud, the Servei Català de la Salut or the Servicio Andaluz de Salud.

The questions below cover the most common mix-ups.

Frequently asked questions

Do I apply for birth or childcare benefit at SEPE?

No, you apply to the INSS, not SEPE, because the INSS recognises and pays birth and childcare benefit directly. SEPE only handles unemployment benefit and job-seeker registration.

Who pays me if I am on sick leave for more than 15 days?

From day 16 of sick leave, the INSS or your mutua pays you, depending on which covers your contingencies. If you are an employee, your employer pays days 4 to 15.

Is minimum income paid by the national Social Security or by my region?

Both exist: the national Ingreso Mínimo Vital is paid by the INSS, while regional minimum income schemes are paid by each region's social services department. Regions also run long-term care (dependency), housing and family aids.

Where do I apply for a widow's or orphan's pension after a death?

You apply to the INSS, which recognises and pays widow/er pensions, orphan pensions and death grants.