With the new year approaching, the application of new rules for calculating the retirement pension will begin (extending periods for calculating the regulatory base) and for the integration of gaps in contribution periods. In addition, the contribution to the Intergenerational Equity Mechanism and the additional solidarity contribution will be increased.
From January 1, 2026, new forms will apply to the determination of the regulatory base for the calculation of the retirement pension, and we will see increases in contributions through the Intergenerational Equity Mechanism (MEI) and the additional solidarity contribution.
New rules for the calculation of the retirement pension:
The changes related to this point were introduced by Royal Decree-Law 2/2023, of 16 March, on urgent measures for the extension of pensioners’ rights, the reduction of the gender gap and the establishment of a new framework for the sustainability of the public pension system, but they begin to take effect next January 2026. We explain in turn the most important ones:
1.- Extension of the calculation period of the regulatory base
Until January 1, 2026, the amount of the retirement pension was calculated considering the salaries and contribution bases of the 25 years (300 months) prior to the causal event.
According to the new calculation system, the 324 contribution bases with the highest amount will be taken from the period of 348 consecutive months immediately prior to retirement.
But a progressive implementation has been established, whereby more months will be considered for the calculation of the retirement pension until these 324 bases are reached in 2037.
Specifically, in the period from January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026, the 302 highest contribution bases of the 304 months prior to retirement will be taken, which makes it necessary to review the contributions of the 25 years and 4 months prior to retirement. From then on, year by year, gradually, more months will be taken into account for this calculation until reaching, on January 1, 2037, the 27 years (324 months) prior to the causal event.
However, the royal decree provides for another transitional regime by which, depending on when the person retires, the previous or new system will be applied, depending on what is more favorable to them. Thus, for example, those who retire after December 31, 2025 and before December 31, 2040, the current regime will continue to apply if it is more favorable than the one in force on the date on which the pension is due.
2.- Integration of contribution gaps
Also from January 1, 2026, the regulations allow the so-called contribution gaps, i.e. the periods in which the applicant’s contribution has been interrupted, to be partially filled.
If in the period to be considered for the calculation of the retirement pension there are 48 months or less of non-contributions because they have not been obliged to contribute, they will be integrated with the minimum contribution base. The rest of the months (49 onwards) will be integrated with 50% of said minimum base.
In addition, a special measure is introduced to integrate gaps while the gender gap in contributory pensions is greater than 5%, understood as “the percentage that represents the difference between the average amount of contributory retirement pensions caused in a year by women with respect to the amount of pensions caused by men”.
Thus, until said gap falls below that threshold, for the calculation of the retirement pension of female employees, the months in which there has been no obligation to contribute, from month 49 to month 60, will be integrated with 100% of the minimum contribution base. From month 61, they will be integrated with a contribution that corresponds to 80% of the minimum base until month 84. Men will also be able to benefit from this benefit if they have children born or adopted and have contribution gaps close to birth or adoption.
This facilitation of the conditions for receiving a higher retirement pension undoubtedly generates a higher cost for Social Security. This forces us to keep in mind that we will also see increases in Social Security contributions.
Increases in social security contributions:
Also effective from January 1, 2026, the following are increased:
1.- The contribution rate related to the MEI, which goes from 0.80% (0.67% to be paid by the company and 0.13% by the employee) to 0.90% (0.75% by the company and 0.15% by the employee).
2.- The additional solidarity quota, which will become 1.15% for the first tranche, 1.25% for the second tranche and 1.46% for the third. You can check how the solidarity quota works here.
