This measure changes the usual rules of the game, where the pension ended at 21 or 25 years old, and opens the door for some beneficiaries to receive this aid for life.

How the orphan's pension works and when it is extended

General limits for collection

The orphan's pension is granted to the biological or adopted children of the deceased parent. It normally ends at 21 years old, but it can be extended to 25 if the orphan does not work or their income is below the minimum interprofessional salary (SMI), which currently stands at 17,094 gross euros per year.

When the pension becomes lifelong

But the key lies in permanent absolute disability. If the orphan has been recognized with this condition that incapacitates them for any work activity, the pension has no expiration date. The same applies to Great Disability, which adds the need for help from another person for daily life.

This means the pension can last 20, 30 or even 40 years, as long as this disability lasts. A change that makes clear that social protection adapts to harsher realities than just the age limit.

Amount and calculation of the benefit

Applied percentage

The amount the orphan receives is calculated using 20% of the corresponding regulatory base. This base varies according to the labor status of the parent at the time of death and the cause of death.

Differences depending on the child's situation

If the child does not have a disability, the collection limit is clear and strictly linked to age and income. But when there is a disability, the amount is maintained as long as this situation lasts.

Application and retroactivity of the collection

Deadlines to apply for the pension

The application is key: it must be submitted within three months after the parent's death. If late, the pension can only be collected retroactively for up to three months.

Payment and start of the benefit

If the deadline is met, payment starts the day after the qualifying event if the parent was registered, assimilated or not registered. If the parent was a pensioner, the pension begins on the first day of the following month.

In the case that the orphan is over 21 years old with a disability or Great Disability, the pension ends if the disability that justifies lifelong collection disappears.

The rule, published on May 28 and applicable from August 28, shakes up the traditional relationship between work and pension. With part-time schedules and incentives, the Government aims to avoid retirees staying unemployed when they can still contribute to work.

The most notable changes in flexible retirement

New compatible working hours range

Pensioners who return to work as employees will be able to do so between 33% and 80% of the comparable full working day. The pension will be reduced proportionally to the hours worked, a formula that introduces more flexibility than before.

This means it will not be necessary to give up the entire pension to rejoin work, but neither will it be paid in full. A delicate but necessary balance.

Incentives for starting later

If the return to activity occurs more than six months after retirement, the compatible pension can increase by 25% if the working hours are between 55% and 80%. If the hours are lower, between 33% and less than 55%, the increase will be 15%.

This increase does not mean receiving 25% more of the total pension, but improves the amount compatible with work. A reward for waiting before returning to work.

Flexible retirement for self-employed and mandatory communications

Self-employed activities

Retirees who want to resume self-employment can do so provided they have not been self-employed in the three years prior to retirement. In this case, the compatible percentage will be 25% of the recognized pension.

This opens a door to late entrepreneurs or small businesses with the guarantee of a supplementary pension.

Obligation to communicate

To avoid undue payments, the pensioner must inform Social Security of the start, modification, or cessation of work activity. Transparency is key to avoid penalties or overpayments.

Flexible retirements initiated before the new rule will continue under the old regulation, maintaining a certain margin of legal certainty.

Impact and reactions

A response to demographic aging

With a life expectancy that keeps growing, flexible retirement is presented as a necessity to sustain the pension system and avoid unnecessary unemployment.

But it also raises challenges: how to manage part-time schedules and prevent abuses?

The debate on sustainability

Experts warn that despite incentives, the compatibility of work and pension could generate inequalities among retirees depending on the activity and hours they can assume.

For now, August 28 marks the beginning of a new stage that could change how retirement is understood in Spain.

A change that will leave no one indifferent.

It is easy to fall into the error of thinking that it only involves receiving assets or money, but the truth is that debts and tax liabilities are also inherited, which can leave heirs more affected than a bad experience. For this reason, talking about inheritances is not just talking about money, but about decisions that can avoid family conflicts and unexpected costs.

How succession opens and why it is a problem

The key moment: death

Paloma Abad Tejerina, president of the Association of Family, Childhood, and Succession Lawyers of Madrid, makes it clear: succession opens at the very instant death occurs, not when the documents are signed. This means that heirs already acquire ownership and responsibilities, even if they are not aware of it.

But here is the catch: this ownership is not only positive. It includes debts and encumbrances that can have a very serious economic impact if one is unprepared.

The most common mistakes that complicate inheritances

One of the biggest mistakes is accepting an inheritance without knowing exactly what it implies. Many think they only receive assets, but they also assume debts and tax obligations.

For this reason, lawyers recommend analyzing the patrimonial situation before accepting the inheritance. A common way to protect oneself is to accept it "benefit of inventory," which limits liability only to the inherited estate, avoiding the loss of one’s own assets.

Wills and conflicts: not everything is black or white

Generic wills, real problems

Wills with generic phrases like "I leave everything to my spouse" or "the children will sort it out" almost always end in long and costly judicial disputes. This is especially sensitive in blended families or with complex patrimonial situations.

The will is not just about distributing assets: it also serves to designate guardians of minor children, executors or estate administrators, and to establish mechanisms that avoid future conflicts.

Donations and collation: the most common misunderstanding

Many people are unaware that donations made during life, especially to children, are considered advances on the inheritance through "collation." This means that when dividing the inheritance, these donations can be deducted from the portion corresponding to each heir, unless otherwise specified.

Ignoring this detail can cause heirs to encounter unexpected disagreements when it comes time to distribute the estate.

Tax pressure and planning: the last puzzle

Inheritance tax and strict deadlines

Heirs have a six-month term from the death to file the inheritance tax, with the possibility of requesting a six-month extension if done within the first five months. Although it may seem only a formality, not doing it on time can be a serious problem.

The differences among autonomous communities make the tax burden vary greatly, and some deductions can ease the pressure for spouses and children, but not all families are aware of these.

Planning to avoid conflicts and unexpected expenses

Lola de Cárdenas, lawyer and legal communicator, insists that making a will not only simplifies procedures but also saves money and future headaches. Modifying the will is possible at any time, which makes it easier to adapt it to life changes.

Lawyers agree that most conflicts could be avoided with good planning and professional advice. Talking openly about inheritances is not taboo, but a way to protect the family.

Planning an inheritance is not just distributing belongings. It is to avoid death taking away more than it leaves behind. Those who ignore this may end up with a lottery of debt and disputes. Talking about it is the first step to not turning an inheritance into a family time bomb.

The reality is that the conditions for accessing pensions will become the real battleground. Not only for sustainability, but because how and when we can retire will be the key to understanding future cuts.

The hidden trap of the retirement age

Comparison between France and Spain

While in France any change to the legal retirement age sparks protests that resemble declarations of war, here it seems to hurt us less if the cuts do not affect the direct monthly payment. But don’t be fooled: raising the retirement age by 2 to 6 years is a double blow. You have to contribute for more time and, moreover, the final pension will be lower.

Experts already warn that future reforms will go in this direction. Minister José Luis Escrivá made it clear in 2023: higher taxes on labor and a higher effective retirement age. This is not theory, it is the reality we expect.

Planned reforms and their impact

The calculation period to determine the pension will increase, but the real and more visible objective will be the retirement age. More years of contributions with an expectation of receiving less: the perfect formula for cutting without it seeming a direct cut.

This will especially affect early retirements, increasingly penalized, and flexible retirement, which would allow receiving pension and salary but with stricter conditions.

Early and delayed retirements: what to expect?

Penalties and restrictions for retiring early

If retiring at 62-63 used to be common, now this will be almost a privilege for a few very specific groups. Economic penalties will make early retirement not worthwhile for most.

Pre-retirements will also be pursued and limited, as they represent a direct burden on public finances.

Incentives and obligations to extend working life

Delayed retirement will become the new norm. There will be incentives to extend working life beyond 67-69 years, even though the real savings will be limited. The idea is that those who work longer will receive a higher pension or, at least, will not see it reduced.

But this system creates a dilemma: many will choose to postpone retirement purely for economic reasons, not out of desire.

The future of the pension system: more flexibility with less generosity

Flexible retirement as a growing option

It is expected that more and more pensioners will be able to combine the pension with jobs, including self-employment. In the long run, this option could eliminate reduction coefficients, allowing pensioners to receive both pension and salary without restrictions.

This will not mean savings for Social Security, but it will represent a change in the labor and social market, with older people continuing to contribute actively.

A notional accounts system with visible traps

The model being outlined resembles a notional accounts system: the pension will depend on the contribution period and retirement age. Those who work longer will receive more; those who opt for early retirement, less.

All in all, this is a disguised cut, but necessary to balance public spending. That said, don’t let them tell us this is just an improvement or a simple technical reform.

What is coming is a scenario where flexibility in retirement age will be the key to balancing the books, but at the cost of cutting rights and expectations.

The major pension cuts will not come in the monthly paycheck, but at the moment of being able to access pensions. And for many people, that will be a hard blow to bear.

Social Security regulates this right and the conditions to be able to receive two different retirement pensions. Everyone talks about earning more, but here the law puts the brakes on the party.

Requirements to receive two retirement pensions

Being self-employed and contributing to two systems

The self-employed who contribute both to the special self-employed scheme (RETA) and the general scheme may be entitled to two retirement pensions, as long as they meet the requirements of each scheme separately.

The law establishes that a minimum contribution of 15 years must be accredited in each system. Of these, at least two must have been contributed in the last 15 years before retirement.

Cases of overlapping contributions

If the self-employed is not registered in both systems at the same time, the contributions must have been simultaneous for at least 15 years. This means that contributing 15 years to one scheme and 15 to the other at different times does not count; they must coincide temporally.

This prevents pensions from being accumulated for periods that have not overlapped, thus limiting double reception.

How the amount of each pension is calculated

Calculation methods of the regulatory base

The regulatory base, which determines the pension amount, is calculated with two possible formulas. The one most favorable to the pensioner must be chosen:

• Divide by 350 the sum of the last 300 contribution bases.
• Divide by 352.33 the sum of the 302 highest bases of the last 304.

This base is different for the self-employed, who only consider six months of fictitious bases for non-contributory periods, whereas those in the general scheme consider 48 months.

Percentages according to years contributed

The percentage of the regulatory base to which one is entitled depends on the years contributed:

• With 15 years contributed, 50% is paid.
• For each additional month up to 49 months, 0.21% more is added.
• For the following 209 months, 0.19% per month is added.

But the sum of the two pensions can never exceed 3,359.60 euros per month, which is the maximum limit in effect in 2026.

What happens if the requirements for two pensions are not met?

Sum of contributions to determine the regulatory base

If the worker is not entitled to two pensions, the contributions from the schemes in which the requirements are not met are accumulated to calculate the regulatory base in the scheme where they do have the right to retire.

This ensures that the contributed time is not lost, but rather serves to improve the pension of a single scheme.

Pension according to the registered scheme

The pensioner will receive the pension from the scheme in which they are registered or in an assimilated situation at the time of retirement entitlement.

Therefore, even if two separate pensions are not received, what has been contributed in other schemes is not lost.

The rules are not meant to give away, but to set limits for those who thought they could hoard pensions endlessly.

The Government of Colombia has launched an operation to personally verify pension beneficiaries and social aid recipients. This measure aims to completely stop improper payments, especially to deceased individuals or those who do not meet the requirements.

How does the home visit control for pension holders work?

Visits to urban and rural areas

Government technical teams will tour neighborhoods and isolated areas to verify on site that pensioners and social aid beneficiaries are alive and meet the official requirements.

This involves checking documentation, marital status, and living conditions, all trying to adjust the database to reality.

Data cross-checks and administrative verifications

In parallel, the Government is strengthening the interconnection between official records to detect inconsistencies, such as duplicate payments or payments to deceased persons.

This complement to traditional controls minimizes errors resulting from exclusive reliance on remote processes or self-declarations.

Which pensions and aids are controlled?

Pensions administered by Colpensiones and special regimes

The program affects pension holders managed by Colpensiones and other special regimes, where a higher risk of errors and fraud has been detected.

Social aids and subsidies for vulnerable people

Additionally, aid reception by older adults and vulnerable groups receiving periodic monetary transfers is verified.

The objective is to prevent public funds from reaching people who do not meet current criteria or who have died.

What happens if an improper payment is detected?

Immediate suspension of the benefit

If an incorrect payment is confirmed, such as pensions to deceased individuals or those not meeting requirements, the benefit is suspended until the situation is clarified.

Audits and possible repayments

Complex cases undergo internal or external audit, with claims for repayments in confirmed fraud cases, reinforcing accountability and the sustainability of public funds.

What tools does the Government use to avoid administrative errors?

Integration and updating of databases

The Government is committed to modernizing and integrating civil registries, censuses, health systems, and tax information to reduce unintentional errors that generate improper payments.

Transparency and traceability in public resources

This strategy improves transparency and allows more effective monitoring of resources allocated to pensions and social aids.

Ultimately, those who don’t know where they are when the visit occurs may find their pension suddenly disappears. This campaign is a topic of debate in the streets, while the State becomes more serious than ever.

According to official data from the INE, nearly 50,000 apartments are transferred by inheritance each year in Spain, and many remain under joint ownership, a breeding ground for disputes among siblings. Lawyers and notaries recommend a clear solution: leave the home to a single child and compensate the rest.

Dangers of sharing ownership of an apartment between siblings

The joint ownership: a guaranteed deadlock

When a home is inherited in equal parts, a joint ownership or condominium is created. Legally, all have the same rights, but in practice none can decide anything without the unanimous agreement of the others. This causes simple decisions, such as selling, renting, or living in the property, to hit a wall of disagreements.

The conflict of the "occupying heir"

The situation worsens when one of the heirs already lives in the house or moves in after death. This "occupying heir" can make it difficult for the others to enforce their rights without going to court, which is costly and slow.

Assigning specific assets: the strategy experts recommend

Equitable but not shared distribution

Specialists like lawyer Antonio Martínez assure that when making a will it is wise to leave specific assets to each child and the home only to one. This avoids joint ownership which often generates conflicts.

Tax advantages and lesser-known practices

Notary María Cristina Clemente highlights that this method avoids having to carry out a subsequent dissolution of the condominium, which involves additional taxes. Furthermore, a recent ruling by the Madrid TSJ confirms that monetary compensation to balance values does not generate extra taxes.

When the conflict is already a problem: legal alternatives

Negotiation and dissolution of the condominium

If the heirs do not reach an agreement, the first option is to try to negotiate. If this fails, the Civil Code allows for the dissolution of the condominium: one heir takes 100% and compensates the rest, preventing anyone from being in undivided ownership indefinitely.

The figure of the partition commissioner and the judicial route

When neither negotiation nor dissolution works, an impartial professional (notary or lawyer) can make a binding distribution. The judicial route is always a last resort, expensive and often with financial losses for everyone, since the property is usually valued below market at auction.

Making clear what belongs to each and avoiding shared properties is the best way to save eternal family disputes and real estate deadlocks.

According to official data from Social Security, starting next year, the estimated increase for pensions will be 2.7% in general, with larger increases for minimum pensions, which could reach up to 7%. But not everyone will notice this increase depending on their specific case.

The paradox of minimum pension supplements

What is the minimum supplement and how does it work?

Social Security grants a supplement to ensure that minimum pensions reach a minimum income threshold. This supplement is offered only if the pensioner does not exceed certain annual income limits.

If this limit is exceeded, the supplement is withdrawn and the pension is reduced to its actual contributory amount, which may be lower than what the pensioner received until now.

When is the supplement lost and why does it affect widowhood?

If a person with a minimum widowhood pension receives additional income above 9,442 euros annually, Social Security can withdraw the supplement. These incomes include not only salaries but also rental income, bank interest, or other property benefits.

This means that despite the general pension increase, the pensioner may end up receiving less if they lose this supplement, a situation many do not expect.

The weight of additional income in the revaluation

How do extra incomes affect the pension?

Additional incomes are not a minor detail: they directly condition the amount the pensioner ends up receiving. The established limit means that an apparent increase in the base pension is canceled out by the loss of the supplement.

For example, if a pensioner receives money for renting a home or bank interest that exceeds the threshold, Social Security can eliminate the part that was added to maintain a minimum.

Obligations and risks for pensioners

Beneficiaries are required to report any change in their income. Social Security cross-checks data with the Tax Agency to detect possible limit exceedances.

If irregularities are detected, it can claim back the amounts overpaid, causing unexpected repayments and unnecessary headaches.

Reactions and official data

Pension increase figures for 2026

The Government has announced an increase of contributory pensions of 2.7% for next year, while minimum pensions could receive an increase of 6% to 7%, to alleviate inflation and guarantee certain social protection.

However, the cut of the minimum supplement for those exceeding certain incomes means this increase is not effective for everyone.

The Social Security statement

Official sources remind that the withdrawal of the supplement is not a direct cut but a consequence of the current regulation on income limits.

They also warn that pensioners must be responsible when reporting their incomes to avoid claims and possible penalties.

The increase that is not so much, once again.

The system allows retirement up to two years early, but with reductions that can reach up to 19%, depending on the years contributed and the months advanced. The ministry does not consider eliminating these coefficients, despite calls from pensioner groups.

The reduction coefficients and early retirement

How the cuts work for advancing retirement

For years, Social Security has established that those who decide to retire before the legal age face a penalty on the amount of their pension. This reduction depends on how much the retirement is advanced and the years contributed.

For example, a worker with more than 38 years and 6 months contributed who chooses to retire 1 year and 10 months earlier than the legal age will face a 14% cut on their pension. If they only advance one year, the cut will be 5.25%, and if they advance two years, the reduction rises to 19%.

Who can retire and when based on years contributed

Currently, workers with 38 years and 3 months contributed can retire at 65 years old. Those with fewer years contributed will have to wait until 66 years and 10 months. Starting in 2027, the minimum age will rise to 67 years for everyone.

The possibility to advance or delay retirement is voluntary, but it comes at a cost: less pension if advanced, more incentives if delayed. This system seeks to balance the sustainability of public finances.

Criticism and the request to remove penalties

Retiree associations and the cost to the State

Various associations demand that reduction coefficients for early retirements be removed, especially for those with long working careers, as they consider these are not taken into account in the current calculation.

The Government has warned that eliminating these penalties would cost more than 3.3 billion euros to public coffers, an amount that currently seems impossible to assume.

Voluntary and involuntary early retirement

Penalties affect both voluntary and involuntary early retirement, such as when a worker is forced to leave their job due to a collective layoff or another reason beyond their control.

For now, there are no plans to eliminate these cuts, despite social pressure and demands from affected groups.

How it affects workers and what you need to know

Calculating the pension with penalties

Reduction coefficients apply to the amount that would correspond without advancing retirement. The more months advanced, the greater the cut, even if the work career has been long.

For example, a worker with a career longer than 38 years may see their pension reduced by up to 19% if they advance retirement by two years. This penalty does not distinguish between long and shorter careers.

What options do workers have

• Retire at the legal age according to years contributed (without penalty).
• Advance retirement, accepting a proportional cut.
• Delay retirement, receiving economic incentives but working more years.

The decision will directly impact quality of life during retirement, and this is precisely where the balancing act between a system seeking sustainability and the real needs of people is played out.

The reality is that retiring earlier can be costly, even if you have paid more than your neighbor all your life.

The Spanish government has approved a regulatory change aimed at encouraging retirees to remain linked to the labor market, compensating them with an extra increase to their pension. The measure takes effect right at the end of summer and affects both salaried workers and the self-employed.

What does the new flexible retirement regulation imply?

Conditions to receive the 25% supplement

The key change is that pensioners working between 55% and 80% of a full workday will see their pension increase by 25%. But it is not immediate: at least six months must have passed since they retired.

Thus, if a retiree with a pension of 1,600 euros returns to part-time work with a 60% workday contract, they could receive 640 euros of pension plus a 160-euro supplement, totaling 800 euros monthly while working.

Schedules and other percentages

An increase of 15% is also considered for those who work between 33% and 55% of the workday. Previously, the range was 25% to 75%, but now it has been expanded from 33% up to 80% for salaried workers.

Additionally, the waiting period has been eliminated, allowing flexible retirement to be requested at any time after the pension is recognized.

What about the self-employed and other novelties?

Inclusion of the self-employed

One of the big novelties is that self-employed workers will also be able to opt for this modality, provided they have not been registered in the self-employed regime in the three years prior to retirement.

These pensioners will be able to receive up to 25% of their pension while carrying out a compatible activity.

Improvements for early retirements

The reform also benefits those who accessed involuntary early retirement. When moving to full retirement, the contributions made during flexibility will be used to recalculate the pension and improve the amount.

A change that promises to do justice to those who had to advance their labor withdrawal.

The context and other pension supplements

Number of pensioners and average amount

The Spanish public system already has more than 10.4 million pensioners, according to Social Security data from January 2026. The average pension stands at 1,363 euros, but many receive less than the legal minimum.

That is why the minimum supplement exists, an aid that raises the pension to the established minimum but depends on the pensioner’s total income.

Other supplements and requirements

For example, those who have had children and whose pension was generated from 2016 onwards are entitled to a supplement to reduce the gender gap, which is added even if the maximum pension is exceeded.

It should be noted that if additional annual income exceeds 9,442 euros, the right to the minimum supplement is lost.

The reality is that this reform seeks for retirement to be less a full stop and more a stage with room to remain active without losing purchasing power.

According to official data, although the official date to deposit the extra payment is between July 1 and 3, 2026, many pensioners will see your account grow between June 22 and 25. And yes, the 2.7% increase in pensions makes this payment more generous than ever.

Schedule and amount of the 2026 summer extra payment

When does the payment arrive?

The official date for the summer extra payment deposit is between July 1 and 3, 2026. But the big news is that most banks will allow pensioners to have these funds in advance, starting June 22.

This means you won’t have to wait until July to see the double payment on your payroll: between June 22-25 you will already be able to enjoy this financial boost.

How much exactly is paid?

With the 2.7% revaluation approved by the Government, the extra payment absorbs this increase and matches the amount of a full ordinary monthly payment.

For example, a pensioner with the average retirement pension will receive an extra payment of approximately 1,552 euros, which will add to June’s ordinary payroll, creating a significant double deposit in the account.

Who is eligible for the summer extra payment?

Which pensions receive the extra payment?

The summer extra payment affects recipients of contributory pensions structured in 14 annual payments. This includes retirement, widowhood, orphanhood, family support, and most permanent disability pensions.

Most pensioners, nearly 10 million across Spain, fall into this group and will receive this payment, which provides an important financial boost before summer.

Who is excluded from the extra payment?

Pensions linked to professional contingencies, such as work accidents or occupational diseases, are excluded. These pensions are paid prorated over 12 monthly payments, so they are not entitled to an extra payment.

Additionally, the final amount will depend on the calculation period: if the pensioner was registered after December 1, 2025, the extra payment will be proportionally reduced until May 31.

Context and practical impact of the extra payment

How does the 2.7% revaluation affect it?

The 2.7% increase is not just a number. It translates into a direct increase in the extra payment and ordinary payrolls, which strengthens the purchasing power of pensioners in a complicated economic context.

Therefore, this year’s summer extra payment is not simply another monthly salary, but a true relief for thousands of families.

Bank policy allowing early payment

The banking sector has decided that most pensioners can access their money before the official date, between June 22 and 25, thanks to their commercial policy.

This makes the double payroll arrive earlier, avoiding waits and favoring family financial planning before summer.

The reality is that June will be a particularly well-loaded month for pensioners entitled to the extra payment.

Once again, bureaucracy sets the timing, but the bank can be your best ally to benefit earlier.

The new AIReF report, presented on May 30, 2026, updates forecasts for the 2022-2050 period and confirms that the deficit and public debt will increase due to the impact of an aging population and insufficient measures.

Formal compliance with the spending rule but with red flags

The spending rule and the percentage of GDP

The report points out that net pension spending is set at an average of 13% of GDP between 2022 and 2050, slightly below the 13.3% limit established by the regulation. This figure improves compared to the previous year, when 13.2% was forecast, thanks to an expected increase in revenues, especially from self-employed contributions.

Improvements in revenues but without guaranteeing sustainability

The upward revision of revenues reaches up to 1.6% of GDP, with notable contributions such as 0.4 points from the Intergenerational Equity Mechanism and 0.3 points from the reform of self-employed contributions. But just because this is the case does not mean the treasury will withstand what is coming. AIReF insists that these measures are insufficient to guarantee the system’s sustainability.

Uncontrolled increase of public debt and growing transfers

Debt will rise up to 123% of GDP

The main problem is that, despite complying with the rule, the system generates serious financial pressures. Public debt will soar and could reach 123% of GDP by 2050 if there are no changes in current policies. The aging of the population will be a relentless driver of this increase.

Transfers and deficit: a ticking time bomb

The report stresses that transfers from the central Government and Social Security will have to increase by 2.3 more points, up to 3% of GDP, to cope with the spending increase. This will mean cuts in other policies or more debt, incompatible with European and national fiscal frameworks.

Criticism of the current design and proposals for revision

Partial view of the spending rule

AIReF denounces that the current rule is based on an incomplete view, limited to pension spending as a percentage of GDP, and does not properly incorporate revenue measures. This causes a mistaken perception of the real situation and a hidden risk.

The need to revise the rule

Moreover, linking to European aging forecasts means the rule cannot adapt to more recent data and does not fit the new European fiscal framework. For this reason, AIReF proposes that the spending rule be revised to make it more precise and realistic.

The reality is that the current pension reform is a patch that will cover holes but will not prevent the debt and spending bomb from exploding later.

The Tax Agency has confirmed the conditions that allow you to benefit from this deduction, which can exceed 1,000 euros and reach up to 1,356 euros, as long as the requirements for the contract and validity of the mortgage loan are met.

Requirements to deduct home insurance linked to the mortgage

Temporal and contractual conditions

The key lies in the acquisition date of the property: it must be before January 2013. In addition, the mortgage must remain active with the same financial institution and the home insurance must be strictly tied to this loan.

This temporal limitation marks the difference between who can claim the deduction and who cannot, a detail that often goes unnoticed but conditions access to this tax benefit.

Base and percentage of the deduction

The maximum base to apply the deduction is 9,040 euros of capital invested annually. On this amount, 15% can be deducted, which raises the deduction up to a maximum of 1,356 euros.

It must be kept in mind that it is not possible to deduct the total insurance premium; only the part linked to the mortgage risk can be included in the return.

Which home insurance concepts are deductible?

Part linked to the mortgage

Only the coverage that protects the home against incidents related to the mortgage is deductible. This means that basic coverages, such as protection against fire or major damages, are included in the tax calculation.

Exclusion of complementary coverages

Any additional coverage, such as minor damages, travel assistance, or theft of personal belongings, is excluded from the deductible base. This restriction complies with regulations that only allow deductions for elements directly related to the investment in the main residence.

Other deductions in force in the 2025 Income Tax return

Family and cohabitation deductions

The 2025 campaign maintains other tax incentives, such as a deduction of up to 2,500 euros for families who live with and care for ascendants over 75 years old, provided the cohabitation requirements and income limits are met.

Deductions for improvements and transitional regimes

Deductions related to the acquisition or financing of housing under transitional regimes and for improvement works intended for people with disabilities also remain in force, each within its regulatory scope.

The Income Tax return is a minefield of details that can mean significant savings. Home insurance linked to mortgages prior to 2013 is a tax ally that many overlook.

The Ministry of Finance has opened the door to deferrals, provided that a lack of liquidity is proven, but at a cost: the interest, which this year rises to 4.0625% annually, is not free.

Options to avoid falling into a financial hole with the Income Tax

Deferrals: a costly relief

The Treasury allows taxpayers to request a payment deferral when they do not have the resources to pay the full amount. This measure serves to avoid the immediate impact but involves a cost: late payment interest.

It is the Tax Agency itself that evaluates case by case, ensuring that the economic problem is temporary. Without this proof, the deferral is not granted. The procedure is done online from AEAT’s Electronic Headquarters, with digital certificates or Cl@ve, since not everyone is prepared for this digital bureaucracy.

Payment methods: from installment plans to deferrals

The system allows splitting the payment into two installments without interest: 60% when filing the return and the remaining 40% before June 25. This is the most popular option, especially for those who can pay in installments without additional costs.

But when the pocket does not allow it, the only option left is deferral, the last resort that does not avoid the extra burden of interest. There are also alternatives such as direct debit, in-person payments, or through Bizum, but these imply settling the full amount without deferrals.

Why the return may result in a payment and not a refund

Low withholdings and other fiscal traps

That the return comes out to pay is not a mistake, but a fairly common inconvenience. It happens when IRPF withholdings have been too low during the year, leaving more money each month but a pending bill when it’s time to settle.

Factors such as having multiple payers, receiving public aid, withdrawing pension plans, or salary changes that disrupt the withholding calculations also influence.

Who is obligated to file the return

Anyone earning more than 22,000 euros from a single payer or more than 15,876 euros if there are several is obligated to file. Freelancers and recipients of unemployment benefits are also fully included.

Experts recommend always filing to avoid later problems. And don’t forget to keep all receipts for at least four years in case the Treasury decides to review your return and impose fines that can range from 150 to 6,000 euros.

How to plan and what to do to avoid surprises

Anticipate the payment to avoid falling into a hole

Having a return to pay can be a hard blow if unplanned. Therefore, including this payment in the annual planning or having a small savings cushion for these obligations can ease strong financial tensions.

It is a way not to be caught off guard and to prevent the payment from unbalancing the family or personal budget, often just when it is least affordable.

The cost of interest and digital bureaucracy

It must be kept in mind that deferring the payment is not free. The annual interest of 4.0625% can turn a small debt into a bigger problem if not controlled.

The process to request the deferral is neither immediate nor simple, it requires digital identification and verification that the case meets the requirements. It is not an open door for everyone, but for those who really cannot face the payments right now.

The reality is that the Treasury provides some breathing room, but does not give away a single euro.

Royal Decree 416/2026, published on May 27, regulates flexible retirement and how to combine pension with a job. In the Canary Islands, where almost 215,000 people receive a retirement pension, the measure will begin to apply at the end of August.

How flexible retirement works

Compatibility between work and pension

The main novelty is that those who are already retired will be able to work part-time and receive part of their pension at the same time. The workday must be between 33% and 80% of a comparable full-time day.

The pension is not collected in full but is proportionally reduced according to the hours worked. Therefore, it is not possible to cheat by collecting the full amount while working half-heartedly.

Extension to self-employment

Another relevant change is that this flexibility will also apply to people who work on their own account. But only if they have not been self-employed in the three years prior to retirement.

In this case, the compatible pension will be 25% of the total, and no more.

Incentives and mandatory communication

Increases based on the workday

If a retiree starts part-time salaried work six months after retirement, they may receive an increase in the compatible pension.

• Between 55% and 80% of the workday, the increase is 25%.
• Between 33% and less than 55%, the increase is 15%.

Obligation to notify Social Security

The retired person must notify Social Security in advance of any start, modification, or cessation of compatible work activity.

If they do not, they could have to return part of the unduly collected pension and face penalties.

Entry into force and objective of the reform

When it starts to apply

Although the royal decree is now official, the new regulation will be activated three months after its publication, that is, at the end of August 2026.

Pensions started before will be governed by the previous regulation.

What the government intends with this

The measure aims to boost flexible retirement, which until now was hardly implemented.

The goal is for retirees to reintegrate or maintain work activity without completely losing their pension.

Furthermore, it repeals an old 2002 rule to update the legislation to the most recent pension system reforms.

The flexibility that promised to be a refuge ends up being a complicated game of numbers and notifications.

The new Argentine succession law modifies the application of the will and regulates when it can be declared null, affecting the final distribution of assets. According to the Civil and Commercial Code, the declaration of nullity can leave heirs out of the inheritance, opening the way to intestate succession.

Why a will can be declared null according to the Civil Code

Legal reasons that invalidate the will

Articles 2462 and 2531 of the Civil and Commercial Code indicate reasons that cause a will to lose validity:

• Non-compliance with a legal prohibition.
• Defects in the form of drafting.
• Executed by a person without reason at the time of making the will.
• Executed by a person declared judicially incapacitated.
• If the testator cannot read or write and the participation of an interpreter in public deeds is not guaranteed.
• Made under error, deceit, or violence.

The immediate consequences of a testamentary nullity

A null will causes the assets not to be distributed according to the expressed will, but instead intestate succession is resorted to. This generates a judicial process that may prolong the resolution and increase family tensions.

The deceased's will, in some cases, remains locked away.

How the order of hereditary call works according to the new law

Priorities established by the Civil and Commercial Code

The code establishes a clear hierarchy to determine who inherits when there is no will or it is null:

• Descendants (children, grandchildren): have absolute preference.
• Ascendants (parents, grandparents): only inherit if there are no descendants.
• Spouse: shares the inheritance with descendants or ascendants, depending on the case.
• Collaterals (siblings, nephews): only if there are no descendants, ascendants, or spouse.
• The State: if there are no heirs, the assets pass to the State.

Forced heirs and the legitimate portion

Forced heirs, such as children and spouse, have the right to a minimum part of the inheritance, known as the legitimate portion. This rule limits the capacity of the will’s author to freely dispose of the assets and protects these family members.

The law prevents direct heirs from being excluded, even if the will states otherwise.

What happens when there are no heirs and intestate succession generates conflicts

Vacant inheritance and judicial intervention

If there are no heirs or legatees, the assets pass to the State by judicial declaration. Any person who claims later must initiate a formal process and accept the assets as they are.

Family tensions and the importance of legal advice

Intestate succession often generates family conflicts and litigation. The intervention of a judge is common to ensure that the distribution is made respecting the law and the rights of forced heirs.

A good lawyer can be the only difference between keeping the inheritance or losing it.

Inheritance rules vary depending on jurisdiction, and not knowing them can leave more than one surprised when it comes to dividing assets. Recent changes cause that now, even with a will, the inheritance may not reach who was expected.

The changes will especially affect those who are still working and considering retiring earlier. Social Security has established a clear schedule and conditions that leave little room for those who want to advance their exit.

What changes in 2027

The ordinary retirement age rises to 67 years

Until now, the legal retirement age had been rising progressively. With the reform that is definitively applied in 2027, it is set at 67 years for everyone who does not meet specific contribution requirements.

This means that the door to leaving the labor market closes later, also affecting early retirement schemes.

Stricter restrictions for early retirement

Those who want to leave earlier will have less room to maneuver without permanent pension penalties.

Involuntary early retirement (for example, due to redundancy or company closure) will only be accessible at 61 years if 38 and a half years of contributions have been made. Otherwise, the minimum maximum age rises to 63 years.

The impact according to birth year

Generation 1964-1965: the transition bridge

This group is experiencing the final stretch of the transition period. The change already affects them, but some aspects are still governed by the old system.

They have had time to adapt, but the pressure is already noticeable.

Generation 1966-1967: the first affected by the change

Those born in these years will be the first to experience the new restrictions upon reaching the minimum age.

The rule already limits them much more from retiring earlier without losing purchasing power.

How to prepare for the change

Monitor your employment history and years contributed

It is essential to periodically download the employment history report.

Detecting contribution errors or omissions can avoid disappointments when the time to retire arrives.

Penalties for advancing retirement

Early retirement permanently reduces the monthly pension, between 2.81% and 21% if voluntary, and up to 30% if involuntary.

The fewer years contributed and the earlier the retirement, the lower the amount will be.

It is a cost paid for a lifetime.

Blanca Palmero, a lawyer at Vilches Abogados, explains what happens when a forced heir is unintentionally left out and how the law regulates this delicate situation.

The key concept: preterition and its importance

What is preterition?

Preterition is the omission of a person who, by kinship, has the right to be an heir and does not appear in the will. This can happen due to ignorance or forgetfulness and directly affects the validity of the will.

This error often occurs when an unknown child or heir appears after the will was made or when there are family changes not reflected.

Differences with disinheritance

Preterition is not the same as disinheritance, which is a voluntary and explicit decision to exclude an heir. In contrast, preterition is not including an heir unintentionally.

Therefore, the law protects these forgotten heirs so they do not lose their rights due to an error or ignorance.

Forced heirs, legitimate portion, and legal consequences

Who are the forced heirs?

The Civil Code establishes that descendants, ascendants, and spouses are forced heirs, entitled to a minimum part of the inheritance, called the legitimate portion.

Ignoring these rights can annul parts of the will or the entire will, depending on the case.

Impact of omitting an heir

If a forced heir is forgotten, the corresponding share of other heirs is reduced to guarantee their legitimate portion. If the omission is total (other forced heirs are also omitted), the will is considered null and the inheritance is distributed as if the will did not exist.

Intestate succession then applies, which can radically change the intended distribution.

Intentional and unintentional preterition: how each affects the situation

Intentional preterition

When someone knows they have an heir and decides not to include them, the right of the forgotten heir is respected by reducing other shares and legacies. This is a dispute that can end in court to guarantee the legitimate portion.

In this case, the testator cannot avoid the minimum share the law recognizes for the forgotten heir.

Unintentional preterition

When the omission is due to ignorance or forgetfulness (for example, an unknown child), the testator did not know there were more heirs. This can cause the will to be declared null if all forced heirs have been forgotten.

This is one of the most common causes of conflict in inheritances that apparently seemed clear.

For this reason, lawyer Palmero always recommends consulting specialists to avoid such an error causing an entire will to disappear.

The Spanish government recently approved a royal decree that will come into effect in three months. The measure affects both self-employed and employed workers, part-time and full-time, and aims to promote active aging with more flexibility.

Who can take advantage of the new active retirement modality?

Employed workers

This option is open to both part-time and full-time workers, without needing to wait any period after retiring to apply for it. This breaks with the previous rule that imposed a minimum waiting time.

Self-employed workers

Self-employed individuals also have access, provided they have not been registered in the three years prior to retirement. They will be able to work and receive up to 25% of the pension, an initiative that could boost many who want to stay active.

How does it work for part-time and full-time workers?

Part-time work

Pensioners who return to work part-time will be able to work between 33% and 80% of the working day, an increase from the previous limit of 25% to 75%. The pension will be reduced proportionally to the hours worked, but here is the detail: if the activity is resumed after six months of retirement, an increase of up to 25% of the pension can be received depending on the working hours.

Full-time work

Those who choose to work full-time will see the pension adjusted inversely to the working hours. But, just like in the part-time case, after six months the pensioner may increase the pension by up to 25% depending on their work dedication. This opens the door to better combining work and pension without giving up either.

What repercussions could this new active retirement have?

Benefits for the labor market

With this reform, the government seeks to increase pensioners' participation in the labor market, helping to ease the pressure on the pension system. Additionally, it facilitates older people continuing to contribute experience and income.

Possible doubts and pending issues

Flexibility is a step forward, but it remains to be seen how it will impact labor rights and social protection. It also remains to be resolved how cases of compatibility between pension and work will be managed in practice, especially for the self-employed.

The reality is that this change may be a boost for many pensioners who do not want to stay inactive, but also a new bureaucratic maze that only time will clarify.