A new active retirement modality comes into effect: this is how it can affect you

MadridNews on active retirement. This Friday, a royal decree approved by the Spanish government three months ago comes into force, establishing a new modality for self-employed workers and employees, both part-time and full-time, to combine their work and collect their pension at the same time. The objective, as explained at the time by the Minister of Security and Migrations, Elma Saiz, is to facilitate retired people to return to work without losing their pension, with the idea of contributing to an "active aging".

"Our objective is for workers to have more and better options when retiring or combining work and pension. This is an improved flexible retirement," said Elma Saiz, as this possibility already exists today. What exactly does it consist of? According to the ministry, the regulatory change offers the possibility of requesting, for those who wish, the following options.

Who will be eligible?

• Employees on a part-time and full-time basis can be accommodated, as well as self-employed individuals, provided they have not registered three years prior to retirement. There will be no need to wait a minimum period from retirement to apply for flexible retirement.

Part-time workers

• In the case of pensioners who have part-time employment with an employer, they will be able to work between 33% and 80% of the working day. Previously it was between 25% and 75%. Regarding the amount of the pension, it will be reduced "in inverse proportion to the reduction in the working day".
• To encourage return to the labor market, if one returns to work after six months of retirement, the pensioner will receive an additional percentage of up to 25% depending on the percentage of the workday they perform.

Full-time workers

• In the case of full-time workers, the pension will be reduced in inverse proportion to the decrease in working hours. If flexible retirement is accessed once already a pensioner, at least six months having passed, the worker will also be able to increase the pension by up to 25% depending on the percentage of the day they choose to work again.

Self-employed workers

• A pensioner who returns to work as a self-employed person will be able to receive up to 25% of their pension while carrying out compatible activity.