The amounts of widow’s or retirement pensions depend mainly on a percentage of the regulatory base. Sometimes, after applying the calculation method, the amount does not even reach the current minimum, which is why many pensioners are left in an unfavorable economic situation. At this point, Social Security offers the “minimum supplement” so that pensions reach what is called the “minimum pension.” Now, this supplement is not fixed, so Social Security can remove it and cause pensioners to receive below the minimum pension.
This makes sense, since if we look at Social Security statistics, 75.93% of widows’ pensions receive below the current minimum wage (set at 1,221 euros per month). In fact, 2 out of every 3 widows or widowers earn less than 1,000 euros per month (61.48%).
As established by the Royal Decree 39/2026the minimum pensions for widows with family responsibilities are 1,256.60 euros, and for those over 65 years of age, 936.20 euros per month. For holders between 60 and 64 years old, it is 875.90 euros, and for holders under 60 years old it is 709.40 euros.
In this way, the minimum supplement is a “complementary amount” that is added to the pension when it does not reach the minimum set for each year (minimum amounts for 2026). In other words, the amount is the difference between the resulting pension and the minimum, provided that the requirements are met. According to Social Security data, one in four pensioners receives this supplement with an average supplement of 369.83 euros per month.
| Widow’s pension supplements minimums | Number | Percentage | Middle P. (€/month) |
C. medium (€/month) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 554,145 | 23.65% | 928.85 | 369.83 |
| General | 365,754 | 20.90% | 926.48 | 356.80 |
| Self-employed workers | 163,644 | 35.22% | 933.00 | 403.70 |
| Sea workers | 12,184 | 31.85% | 913.37 | 342.89 |
| Coal mining | 1,076 | 5.73% | 888.30 | 328.50 |
| Work accidents | 10,365 | 21.36% | 968.88 | 331.91 |
| Occupational diseases | 1,099 | 13.72% | 941.67 | 365.77 |
| SOVI | 23 | 0.15% | 525.66 | 184.79 |
Social Security can remove the income and residence supplement
There are two reasons why Social Security can withdraw this supplement, and that is due to residence and income limit. Regarding residence, the General Social Security Law establishes that it is necessary to “reside in Spanish territory.” This does not mean that you can never go out; It may be done within the legal limits established by law.
On the other hand, pensioners cannot exceed the income limit set each year, which includes income from work, capital or capital gains. The Social Security website explains that for 2026 the limits are the following:
- 9,442 euros annually for those widowed pensioners “without a dependent spouse” (single-person economic unit).
- 11,013 euros annually for pensioners who have a “dependent spouse.”
This limit rises every year, as do salaries and pensions, which is why this supplement “is not consolidated.” That means that if one year you collect, for example, an inheritance, it can be lost, but the next year, if the requirements are met, it can be collected.
In this sense, Social Security explains that it is mandatory to communicate any variation in income that exceeds these thresholds to avoid having to return amounts perceived as “improper collection.”