Many investors or families immigrate to Spain by purchasing property, some for business, some for their children's education, and others for retirement. So, why choose to immigrate to Spain for retirement? This is inseparable from the local welfare system.
Retirement
The retirement age in Spain is higher than in China: it is 65 for both men and women (some professions allow retirement before 65). However, not everyone who reaches the age of 65 is eligible for retirement benefits. The basic conditions for retirement, whether one has been an employer, an employee, or both during their lifetime, are as follows:
1. Must be at least 65 years old. (If under 65, retirement cannot be processed without special reasons such as health issues).
2. Must have contributed to social security for at least 15 years prior to applying for retirement, whether as an employee or an employer. The total must reach 15 years, meaning there must be a 15-year contribution record on the certificate issued by the Social Security Office.
If one has just turned 65 when applying for retirement and has contributed for 15 years, the pension received will only be 50% of the calculation base used at the time of contribution.
Documents Required for Retirement Procedures
1. Personal ID card;
2. Social security certificate;
3. Spouse's ID card;
4. ID cards and proof of relationship for children under 14 living with the applicant;
5. If unemployed, proof of unemployment registration.
If one is 65 years old but has not yet reached 15 years of contributions, they can go to the Social Security Office to arrange for special contributions, i.e., paying the insurance premiums themselves until the 15-year requirement is met, at which point they can process retirement and receive a pension. Many elderly people who come to Spain to reunite with their children, even if they have already retired in China, are still considered to be of working age in Spain if they are under 65. Furthermore, because they have never worked in Spain, they are not eligible for a pension.
Non-Contributory Pension
Elderly people in Spain who are 65 or older and do not meet the requirements for a standard retirement pension, and have no other economic income, can apply for a non-contributory pension (pension no contributiva). The specific conditions are: for Spanish citizens or immigrants from other countries with a legal residence permit in Spain:
1. No sufficient economic income;
2. Age 65 or older;
3. Residency requirement: Must have resided in Spanish territory for more than ten years between the ages of 16 and the age of claiming the pension, and must have resided continuously in Spain for the two years prior to the application. Disabled persons under 65 but over 18 who have resided in Spain for more than 5 years, and have lived continuously in Spain for the two years prior to the application, may also receive this subsidy.
4. Application location: Social Welfare Departments of various autonomous regions or offices of the Social Security Bureau; applications can also be processed through the post office.
Other Benefits
Elderly welfare in Spain is quite good. Elderly people who are destitute or whose income is below the minimum standard can receive a small subsidy from the government to maintain a basic standard of living, or be admitted to nursing homes for care.
The social welfare departments of various regional governments have also established activity centers for the elderly, organizing various interest activities such as painting, dancing, and gymnastics. These activities are free. I have also visited the central district of Madrid to introduce Chinese culture, Chinese legends, and Tai Chi to the elderly, which were well-received. We might consider organizing some exchange activities in the future to let Spanish seniors learn more about China and the Chinese people.
In addition to the organizations and activities provided by the regional governments, financial institutions such as Caja de Madrid and La Caixa have also assisted various autonomous regional governments in establishing many activity centers for the elderly. Participants in these centers must at least be bank depositors or pay a very small fee. In addition to interest groups and sightseeing tours, these centers also provide bars, televisions, and computers for everyone to enjoy.
Another point that many people already know is that all elderly people over 65, regardless of nationality or whether they have legal residency, can purchase monthly subway and bus passes for the elderly by presenting their personal identification (residence permit, passport), and the fare is much cheaper than the standard fare.
Many tourist attractions also offer discounts for seniors over 65. Legal residency is not required; just identification, including a passport, is sufficient. Living in a foreign land, with children busy at work, the lives of the elderly can be very dull. We should take advantage of these available benefits to enrich our lives. Every regional government has a Department of Social Affairs (Consejería de Asuntos Sociales) where you can obtain information about welfare for the elderly.