The Minimum Interprofessional Wage (SMI) rises in 2026 by 3.1%, reaching 1,221 euros gross per month in 14 payments (17,094 euros gross per year), with retroactive effects from January 1, 2026. This new increase of 37 euros per month (in 14 payments) not only directly affects the workers who receive this salary, but also those who receive the subsidy for those over 52 years of age, because the SMI is used as a reference for the income requirement and for the retirement contribution of this aid.
Of course: it is worth clarifying it from the beginning. The increase in the SMI does not increase what is charged per month for this subsidy, but it mainly affects the contribution and the income limit to be able to access and maintain it. That is, the new SMI will increase the contribution for the retirement pension of people who receive said subsidy.
It is also important to indicate that the new SMI increase has been approved by the Council of Ministers on Tuesday, February 17, but is pending publication in the Official State Gazette (BOE) in the coming days. Once it is published here, it would come into effect.
New income limit to access aid
To request (and continue receiving) the subsidy for those over 52 years of age, one of the requirements requested by the SEPE is not to exceed 75% of the SMI as the monthly income limit, without counting extra payments.
With the new SMI of 2026, this limit rises to 915.75 euros per month, which can make it easier for more people to receive the subsidy or not lose it due to specific income.
In addition to this financial requirement, in order to apply for it you must meet the usual conditions, including: being 52 years old at the time of application, not having reached retirement age and being legally unemployed. And as for contributions, it is required to have contributed to Social Security for at least 15 years (with a minimum of 2 within the last 15) and to have paid unemployment contributions for at least 6 years.
Retirement pension contributions rise
It is necessary to highlight that the subsidy for those over 52 years of age is the only one that contributes to the retirement pension. Specifically, it contributes 125% of the current minimum contribution base each year.
The new increase in the 2026 SMI to 1,221 euros means that the minimum base is automatically increased. This is established by Royal Decree-Law 3/2026, which establishes that the minimum bases will increase by the same percentage as the SMI, adding an additional sixth.
Given that the minimum wage increases by 3.1%, the total increase applied to the minimum bases will be 3.616%. In this way, the minimum base goes from 1,381.20 euros in 2025 to approximately 1,431.14 euros per month in 2026.
This implies that the subsidy for those over 52 years of age will be quoted this year for 125% of that amount, that is, for a base close to 1,788.93 euros per month.
It is worth remembering that this contribution does not increase the number of years worked, but it does improve the regulatory basis with which the future retirement pension will be calculated. That is, although the amount of the subsidy continues to be 480 euros per month, Social Security will be contributing for a slightly higher base, which can have a positive impact on the final pension.