In 2026, Social Security will implement a change to improve the calculation of the retirement pension for those who have “gaps” or periods without contributions in their working life. This measure aims to reduce the gender gap in pensions, so it is intended for working women and in certain cases for men with children. With this “integration of gaps” the aim is that, after applying the method of calculating the Social Security retirement pension, the amount is not affected by those periods in which contributions could not be made.
This improvement is regulated in the forty-first transitional provision of the General Social Security Law (which can be consulted in this BOE). Now, it must be understood that, although it improves the amount of the pension by raising the regulatory base (which is the average of the contribution bases), this integration cannot be used either to accredit the minimum contribution period of 15 years (generic deficiency) or the specific deficiency (having 2 years of contributions within the last 15) to access contributory retirement. Standard integration for other groups or beyond the benefited months follows the general rules of article 209.1.b).
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How the improvement in gap integration works from 2026
Currently, the integration of gaps found in article 209.1.b of the General Social Security Law allows the first 48 months without contributions to be “filled in” within the pension calculation period with 100% of the minimum contribution base, and the following months with 50% of said minimum base.
The improvement that comes into force in 2026 (Transitional Provision 41) establishes that, for female employees (and men who meet certain requirements), the periods without contributions will be integrated in a more favorable way:
- From gap number 49 to 60 (that is, 12 months): They will be integrated with 100% of the minimum contribution base of the General Regime in force at that time.
- From gap number 61 to 84 (that is, 24 more months): They will be integrated with 80% of the minimum contribution base of the General Regime.
For the remaining unpaid months that may exist within the calculation period (beyond month 84), the general rule of 50% of the minimum base would be applied again.
Now, and very importantly, for men to benefit from this improvement, they must prove that their professional career has been interrupted or affected by the birth or adoption of children, meeting the specific requirements detailed in article 60.1.b) of the LGSS. This special gap integration measure will only be in force as long as the gender gap in retirement pensions is greater than 5%.
A practical example
Let’s imagine Ana in 2028. When calculating her regulatory base for retirement, her contributions over a long period are taken into account (the last 29 years, discarding the worst 2, according to the rule that is applied gradually). Within that period, Ana has not contributed for 70 months (gaps) because she dedicated herself to taking care of her young children.
- Without the improvement: Gaps 1 to 48 would be filled to 100% of the minimum base. Gaps 49 to 70 (22 months) would be filled only to 50% of the minimum base.
- With the 2026 improvement: Gaps 1 to 48 are filled 100%. Gaps 49 to 60 (12 months) will also be filled to 100% of the minimum base. Gaps 61 to 70 (10 months) will be filled to 80% of the minimum base.
As a result, Ana’s regulatory base will be higher thanks to this improvement, and her final retirement pension will also be higher.
Another example. Carlos turns 67 in 2027 and has contributed 14 years and 6 months throughout his life. She had a child and meets the requirements of article 60.1.b) because she interrupted her career to care for him. He has several gaps in his record. Although the improvement in the integration of gaps (filling some months at 100% or 80%) would help you to have a somewhat greater regulatory base if you reached 15 years, these “integrated” or “filled” months do not serve to add the 6 months that you need to meet the minimum requirement of 15 years of contributions (the generic gap). Therefore, Carlos will not be able to access the contributory retirement pension despite this improvement in the calculation.