The Council of Ministers approved this Tuesday what the government describes as a “social shield”. This is a series of measures that include the prohibition of evictions without alternative housing for vulnerable families, the limitation of cuts in basic supplies (electricity, water and gas), the extension of the social electricity bonus or aid to those affected by dana, among other policies.
This package also includes the revaluation of pensions in 2026: the general increase in the system is 2.7%, the minimum without family charges is 7% and the same with charges is 11.4%, a percentage increase that also applies to non-contributory pensions and the minimum vital income (IMV).
All these percentages are specified in precise amounts in certain types of benefits. Below we detail these new figures, according to the Official State Gazette this Wednesday. In order not to decline within a maximum period of one month, the decree-law containing these measures must be validated by Congress at the start of the year. PP, Junts and PNV do not guarantee their support.
Minimum contributory pensions
The income ceiling for recognition of minimum pension is 9,442 euros per year without a dependent spouse and 11,013 euros with a dependent spouse.
Minimum pensions are the lowest monthly amounts of contributory benefits, those generated by contributions throughout working life). When a retiree does not reach this minimum, once the benefit that would correspond to him has been calculated, what are called minimum supplements are activated, also determined by the situation of the beneficiary. According to the latest Social Security data, there are 2.12 million pensions supplemented by minimums in Spain.
Non-contributory pension
This type of benefit is intended for elderly people who have not paid enough Social Security contributions throughout their lives and who lack sufficient resources. They increase by 11.4% compared to 2025. Social Security pays 471,000 non-contributory benefits, including 63% to women.
As established by the Government, non-contributory pensions from the Social Security disability and retirement scheme will have an annual amount of 8,803.2 euros in 2026 (629 euros per month in 14 payments, 64 euros more per month than in 2025).
This amount is supplemented by different family circumstances, detailed in the BOE. For example, in the case of a child under eighteen years of age and a dependent minor placed in foster care or in permanent care with a view to adoption with a degree of disability equal to or greater than 33%, it will be 1,000 euros per year.
Maximum pension
The BOE establishes that, “until the General State Finance Law for 2026 is approved”, the maximum ceiling for public pensions will be 3,359.6 euros per month or 47,034.4 euros per year. This is an increase of 2.815%, slightly higher than the 2.7% that generally applies to the system due to price developments over the past 12 months.
The increase, which only applies to new retirees, is greater due to the surcharge on contributions for the highest salaries, the main objective of which is to strengthen the system’s income in the face of increasing pressure from the aging population.
The rest of the retreats
As a general rule, pensions increase by 2.7%, in line with price developments last year, so as not to lose purchasing power. The current average retirement pension is 1,512 euros per month. A retiree with this amount will receive 1,552 euros per month, an annual increase of 571 euros.
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