In 2026, workers who do not reach the age of 38 and have contributed 3 years will not be able to access a retirement pension. These rules, which are part of the reform that began to be applied in 2013 under Law 27/2011 and the General Social Security Law, are aimed at ensuring the sustainability of the public pension system. The change implies a tightening of the requirements, especially with regard to the minimum years of contributions necessary to access the full pension at the ordinary age of 65 years.
Thus, those who do not reach this contribution threshold will have their retirement age delayed until 66 years and 10 months, and will not be able to request 100% of their pension unless they are a minimum of 36 years and 6 months. Now, it is necessary to meet another series of requirements, otherwise it could be denied.
Requirements to collect the full pension
The pension reform (Law 27/2011) established a gradual increase in both the retirement age and the years of contributions necessary to retire at age 65 and collect the full pension. In 2026, the contributions necessary to retire at age 65 will be maintained, that is, 38 years and three, while if the age is not reached it will be 66 years and 10 months, two months more than in 2025.
In 2027, the date on which the reform will end, the ordinary age will be 67 years, but there will still be the possibility of retiring at 65 years, as long as you have 38 years and six months of contributions, which is three months more than in 2026.
Now, this does not mean that you have the right to a full pension. In 2025 and 2026 to collect 100% of the regulatory base it is necessary to be 36 years and six months of contributions. However, in 2027, it will change and it will be necessary to have 37 years of contributions.
Practical example of how it is calculated
If a worker has a regulatory base of 1,500 euros per month, they will only be able to receive this full amount in their retirement pension if they comply with the years of contributions required to reach 100%. On the contrary, if the contribution career has been shorter, the amount of the pension is reduced proportionally according to the percentages set by Social Security.
Thus, with 15 years of contributions, which is the minimum to access a contributory pension, the worker will receive 50% of the regulatory base, that is, 750 euros per month. From there, for each additional month contributed up to month 49, the percentage increases by 0.21%. For example, if 16 years of contributions are reached, the percentage applied would be 52.52%, which would mean an approximate pension of 787.8 euros per month. After the 49th month of contributions and until the 209th month, the increase for each additional month is reduced slightly and becomes 0.19%.
Difference between 100% of the pension and the maximum pension
It must be clear that 100% of the pension is not the same as the maximum pension. The maximum pension refers to the maximum that can be collected by law, either for a single pension or for the sum of several benefits simultaneously. In 2026, the amount is set at 3,359.60 euros per month, which is equivalent to 45,746.40 euros per year, distributed over 14 payments.
For its part, collecting 100% of the pension means having the right to 100% of the regulatory base, which is calculated by dividing the last 300 contribution bases by 350, equivalent to 25 years. Achieving that 100% requires meeting the legally established age and contribution requirements, but in no case does it guarantee exceeding the maximum annual amount set for public pensions by Social Security.