The Public State Employment Service (SEPE) will suspend the subsidy for over 52 years to the beneficiaries who receive an inheritance whose amount exceeds the income limit established by law. According to the regulations, an inheritance is considered a “patrimonial increase derived from Mortis Cause” and, therefore, computes as an income. This situation forces the beneficiary to communicate this income, which can lead to confusion and the suspension of aid.
The subsidy for over 52 years is one of the most beneficial benefits of the SEPE, since in addition to having an amount equivalent to 80% of the public indicator of multiple effects income (IPREM), which in 2025 is 480 euros per month and being indefinite, until finding employment or reaching the retirement age, quotes for the retirement pension. However, to access and maintain this help, it is necessary to demonstrate economic vulnerability. Therefore, upon receiving an inheritance, many doubt whether or not it can affect this unemployment subsidy.
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How it affects to receive an inheritance in the subsidy for over 52 years
Both to request and to maintain the subsidy for over 52 years, the fundamental requirement is not to exceed the income limit. The General Social Security Law establishes that the monthly income of the beneficiary must not exceed 75 % of the minimum interprofessional salary (SMI). Now, in the case of receiving an inheritance it is necessary to understand how this limit affects, since it can vary depending on whether or not real estate is received.
When an inheritance is received that consists of an amount of money, the law considers it a patrimonial gain. In this case, the SEPE imputes the entire money received as income in the month in which the collection occurs. If that amount exceeds the limit of 75% of the SMI, the income lack requirement is temporarily breached, which causes the suspension of aid.
Now very important and as we say it is “temporary”, it means that the subsidy cannot be charged that year, but in later years, it can be requested and continue to perceive the help.
Now, if the inheritance includes real estate, the thing changes, since they can generate income continuously. In these cases the law distinguishes between “effective yields” (such as a rent) and “imputed yields” (the value attributed to an empty property).
- If the property is rented: the monthly rental income adds to other possible income. If the total continuously exceeds 75 % of the SMI, the subsidy will be extinguished, since the breach of the requirement is permanent.
- If the property does not rent (and it is not your usual home): the law attributes an imputed income, which also computes as monthly income and could cause the extinction of aid.
Now, like any rule, there are exceptions and it will be when this is the habitual housing of the beneficiary, which is exempt and is never computed as rent.
Sanctions for not communicating an inheritance to the sepe
Whether it exceeds the limit of 75% of the minimum wage as if not, the recommendation and obligation is to inform the SEPE. Do not do so is considered a serious infraction and the consequences are much more severe than a simple temporal suspension.
As explained by the regulations, one of the serious infractions is not to communicate the decline in the benefit when the requirements are stopped, which is exactly what happens when receiving an inheritance that exceeds the income limit of 75% of the SMI.
In this case, the SEPE can initiate a sanctioning procedure and the consequences can be the following:
- Extinction of law: the most likely sanction is the definitive loss of subsidy. Unlike whether it communicates in time (which would only imply a temporary suspension), hiding this information is considered a serious breach that entails the extinction of the right to aid.
- Return of the unduly charged: the SEPE will require the reimbursement of all the amounts that you have perceived from the date you charged the inheritance. This is because, from that moment, you were charging the aid without being entitled to it.
Therefore, not communicating an inheritance that exceeds the income limit can not only end up in the loss of the subsidy for over 52 years, but it can also lead to the fact that we have to return all the amounts charged improperly.