But little by little and with certain state aid, Social Security income is also increasing, supported, among other things, by the progressive increases in social security contributions that the government has approved.
Thanks to these increases, paid by employees and businesses, the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration expects that Income from social contributions will amount to 189.8 billion euros in 2026a historic figure for the coffers of this institution.
Government estimates suggest that these revenues represent approximately 7% more than expected for 2025 it’s about to end.
According to the Executive’s calculations, to which this newspaper had access, the income forecast “includes both the evolution of the contribution and contribution bases in accordance with the most recent economic forecasts”, that the impact derived from the different measures adopted in recent years“.
The text refers in particular to the measures taken by the Executive, led by José Luis Escriva when he was Minister of Social Security, to increase social contributions.
On the one hand, there is the Generational Equity Mechanism (MEI). This is a contribution surcharge which It applies indiscriminately to all salaries and it increases every year. It is intended to balance the Social Security accounts and to fill the Social Security Reserve Fund, called the retirement piggy bank.
The MEI represents 0.8% of gross salary in 2025. In 2026, it will increase to 0.9%. The Government estimates that the collection of this measure will reach 5.298 million euros.
Furthermore, we note the increase maximum contribution bases. It is worth remembering that they must increase as much as the 2025 CPI (which is expected to end at 2.7%), plus an additional 1.2%, under, once again, the social security reform led by Escriva.
Thus, the maximum contribution bases will increase in 2026 to 3.9%, up to 5,101.2 euros per month.
But there is more. There is also the solidarity contributionwhich gradually applies to salaries exceeding the maximum contribution bases.
In 2026, this will mean a maximum increase of 1.25% (0.25% more than in 2025) on the highest salaries in Spain. By this formula, Elma Saiz’s team hopes to get 567 million euros more.
All this information appears in the draft order that Social Security submitted to a public hearing on 2026 contributions, which still has aspects to be resolved.
Especially the increase in minimum contribution baseswhich currently amounts to 1,381.20 euros per month. They depend on the interprofessional minimum wage (SMI) and its evolution. In 2026, they will increase in the same proportion. However, the increase in the lowest salaries has not even started to be negotiated yet.
There is another outstanding aspect, which is the contributions that the self-employed will pay to Social Security. As this newspaper has previously reported, self-employed groups assume they will be frozen this year, due to lack of new proposals from Elma Saiz’s department.
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