Social Security

Contributions to Social Security are compulsory for all foreign workers in Spain, whether employed or self-employed. The Social Security system in Spain is designed to provide the working population with a range of medical and financial coverage against a variety of accidents and contingencies. By contributing to this you will be entitled to the same level of protection as a Spanish National. It is mainly paid for by worker's contributions (currently around 6.4% of the monthly wage,) but the state also contributes around 20%.

Cover under Spanish Social Security legislation generally means you are exempt from making contributions to your home country; however, agreements between Spain and other EU countries allow EU Nationals resident in Spain to remain a part of their home Social Security scheme for a limited period. EU Nationals who are transferred to Spain by their employer can continue to make Social Security contributions in their home country for a period of one year on provision of Form 101 and extend this by a further year on provision of Form E-102 (available from a UK post office.) After two years in Spain you must legally begin making Social Security contributions.

Usually, your Spanish employer will complete the necessary process to register you with Spanish Social Security. If not, you must do so yourself. Fortunately, the procedure is not as complex as some others you may have to go through! Go to your local Social Security office (the address may be found at your Town Hall or by looking up "Seguridad Social' in the Yellow Pages) and present the following:

• Proof that you are employed in Spain
• Passport, plus marriage certificate and the birth certificates of any dependents if relevant.
• Proof of residence (title deeds to a property or a rental agreement)

You may also be required to provide copies of some or all of the above, or translations; check if this is so with the Social Security office in your area. After one or two months you will receive a registration card (cartilla de la seguridad social or tarjeta sanitaria) in the post. Note that one card will provide cover for both partners in a marriage if only one partner is working and for all dependents (children under 16 years) who are registered on the card.

If you are a pensioner, you will qualify for social security benefits if you receive a state pension from another EU country, or a country that has an agreement with Spain. You and your spouse will be entitled to benefits, but must prove your entitlement to a pension by obtaining form E-121 from your home country. If you retire to Spain before reaching Spanish retirement age, you must get private health insurance cover.

Some local offices:

Avenida Andalucía, 31, 29006 Málaga
Tel: (+34) 952 347 622, (+34) 952 347 979

Alameda Capuchinos, 79 29013 Málaga
Tels: (+34) 952 653 146, (+34) 952 653 175

Calle Esperanto, 1 29007 Málaga
Tel: (+34) 952 393 700

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