The Government will expand widow’s pensions for common-law couples, improve aid for vulnerable families and benefits for temporary disability

The Government has on its agenda the approval this Tuesday, October 20, in the Council of Ministers, of a Royal Decree Law that will change the widow’s pensionstemporary disability benefits (sick leave) as well as the financial aid received by families in vulnerable situations. Among the main novelties that will come to light and that will then have to pass the revalidation of the Permanent Deputation, is the possibility of accessing a widow’s pension in the case of de facto couples as long as there are children in common.

The regulations have been prepared by the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration of Elma Saiz and will improve the protection system for victims of gender violence, problems derived from menopause and those parents who must reduce the working day to care for children with serious illnesses.

This initiative, which has been advanced by The Country and collected by Europa Press, includes a series of measures that are within a new social package that the Executive contemplates and hopes to approve before the next elections on November 29. Now, and as happened with the housing decree, for it to go ahead it will have to be approved by the parliamentary groups, which in this case will be the Permanent Deputation of Congress.

Facilities for requesting a widow’s pension

One of the main changes is related to people who had not married their partners and who, after their partner’s death, have problems being able to request and therefore collect the widow’s pension because it cannot be formally proven that they were a de facto couple. The modification must be made in article 221 of the General Social Security Law (LGSS), which establishes that one of the requirements to accredit the union is to be registered in a specific registry or to have been established by public document, always respecting the deadlines.

Now, if there are children in common, this will be enough to prove that you are a de facto couple when it comes to requesting a widow’s pension, as indicated by the data provided by the aforementioned media. Thus, it is easier for this benefit to be recognized for those who were excluded due to not having the necessary documentation.

A period of 12 months (one year) is opened for the widow’s pension applications that have been denied to be reviewed.

Change in temporary disability benefit

This decree will also change the economic protection for people who have been victims of gender violence during the time they are on sick leave. The expected benefit is 60% of the regulatory base until the 20th day of the leave and 75% from that moment on.

The company will pay the corresponding salary until the day the sick leave begins and Social Security assumes payment of the benefit. There are other pathologies that are included in the process such as those of women who are going through menopause and the intention is to extend coverage in these cases when the situation does not allow them to work normally.

Aid for the care of minors with cancer or serious illness

The provision for the care of minors with cancer and other serious illnesses will also change. Today, it is allowed to compensate the loss of income of parents who reduce their working hours to care for their children with help, but with this reform, both parents will be able to collect the benefit at the same time or alternately. The conditions and requirements can be consulted at the time the new standard is published.

When there is high vulnerability, protection may be maintained after the age of 26 when the affected person has a Grade III dependency or high disability.

Aid increases for non-payment of alimony pensions

The rule includes an extension of the Child Support Payment Guarantee Fund, which is a measure aimed at protecting minors when one of the parents does not pay child support. The amount will go from 100 euros to 300 per beneficiary and will be for a longer period of time, although the advance data does not allow us to know how much.

Improvements are also contemplated in the case of orphans due to gender violence, in contributory benefits with a floor of twice the SMI (Interprofessional Minimum Wage) and in non-contributory benefits, for the same amount.

Extraordinary pensions for victims of terrorism are also increased so that none of them are less than two minimum wages. The minimum amount will be 2,442 euros per month, 36% above what is currently referenced.