Social Security in Tenerife

As estate agents specialising in finding property in Tenerife for buyers in the UK, we are often cast in a councilling role as families consider the many ramifications of living in a foreign country.

One of the questions we are often asked is related to the Spanish social security system, what benefits are expats entitled to, how to enter the system and so on.

Though it is always advisable to discuss your own situation with an appropriate professional the following outline may answer some of your initial questions about the social security system here in Tenerife.

Generally, as the Spanish Social Security System is contributory, you must be working and paying contributions in order to receive or be entitled to the benefits of the system. Provisions are made to include non-contributory benefits in the cases of retirees, invalidity and allowances for families with dependants.

 Either as an employee or self-employed individual you must join the system in order to enjoy any benefits at all. Applying for your NIE is the first step.  

Working in Tenerife as an Employee

As an employee your contribution to National Insurance will be deducted from your base salary by your employer. He also pays his own contribution on your behalf. Up to a salary of €2,652 your contribution will be 4.7% of your salary against general contingencies and 1.6% against unemployment. 

Being Self-Employed 

If you are self-employed your contributions will be in the region of 28.3% of earnings over €740 per month. You can elect not to be covered for short term incapacity in which case you will pay only 26.5%.

Transfer of Benefits from the UK

One aspect of the social security system in Spain that often comes up is whether or not benefits that you are entitled to in the UK can be transferred to Tenerife. In the case of unemployment benefits - if you have been receiving it already for more than four weeks, you may be entitled to continue receiving it in Tenerife for up to three months. For more information about this and other benefits including pensions you can contact:

D.S.S.-Overseas Branch
EU Office Longbenton
Newcastle upon Tyne NE98 1YX
Tel: 0191 213 5000

There is a leaflet entitled "Social Security in the European Union" published by the European Commission which is full of useful information. You can request it from the address above.

Contributed by Lupain S.L.  based in Los Cristianos. Visit the Lupain website for an online dbase of properties in Los Cristianos and Las Americas as well as a range of informative articles on living in Tenerife or contact Lupain by email.