Resource article
Paro in Spain 2026 — prestación contributiva, duration, IPREM caps
Spain's contributory paro pays 70% of your regulatory base for the first 180 days, 50% afterwards, capped at IPREM × 175% (single) or × 225% (with 2+ kids). Duration scales from 4 to 24 months based on contributed days. We explain the rules and the asistencial subsidio that comes after.
What you will learn
- Qualifying rules + base calculation
- Duration: 4 to 24 months
- After paro: the subsidio asistencial safety net
- Filing at SEPE and common traps
Qualifying rules + base calculation
To receive prestación contributiva por desempleo, you must have contributed to the régimen general at least 360 days (12 months) in the last 6 years. Self-employed contributions to the RETA do NOT count toward paro.
The 'base reguladora' is the average daily contribution base of your last 180 days of work. Your monthly paro = base reguladora × percentage (70% first 180 days, 50% after).
The amount is capped between IPREM × 80% (~€480 in 2026) as floor, and IPREM × 175% (~€1,450 single) / × 200% (~€1,650, one child) / × 225% (~€1,800, two+ children) as ceiling. IPREM is updated annually in the Spanish budget.
Duration: 4 to 24 months
Duration is based on contributed days in the last 6 years: 360 days = 4 months of paro; 540 days = 6 months; 720 days = 8 months; 900 days = 10 months; 1,080 days = 12 months; 1,260 days = 14; 1,440 days = 16; 1,620 days = 18; 1,800 days = 20; 1,980 days = 22; 2,160 days = 24 months (max).
If you've worked continuously for 6+ years and never claimed paro, you receive the maximum 24 months. This 'savings' resets to zero each time you receive paro.
Voluntary resignation does NOT entitle you to paro at all. Despido objetivo, despido improcedente, end of fixed-term, and despido procedente disciplinario all entitle you (only voluntary resignation disqualifies in Spain).
After paro: the subsidio asistencial safety net
Once your contributory paro is exhausted, the subsidio asistencial may apply. It pays 80% of IPREM (about €480/month in 2026) for 6-30 months, depending on your family situation, age, and whether you've worked at least 90 days more (the 'subsidio por insuficiencia de cotización').
The subsidio is means-tested: your household income must be below 75% of SMI (Salario Mínimo Interprofesional ~€1,180 in 2026). If your spouse earns above this threshold, you may not qualify.
From age 52, the subsidio for older workers (subsidio para mayores de 52 años) can extend until you reach pensionable age, with mandatory contributions to your pension during the period.
Filing at SEPE and common traps
You have 15 working days from contract end to file at SEPE (online via cl@ve, or in person at the local oficina). Filing late costs you one day of entitlement for each working day of delay.
Trap 1: not registering as 'demandante de empleo' (job seeker) at SEPE counts as voluntary withdrawal — your paro is suspended. Renew the 'demanda' every 3 months.
Trap 2: refusing a 'colocación adecuada' (suitable job offer matching your profile) terminates your paro. SEPE's interpretation of 'adecuada' has been narrow recently, especially for offers below 75% of your previous salary.
Trap 3: leaving Spain for more than 15 days without notifying SEPE suspends your paro. EU travel up to 30 days for documented job search abroad is allowed under regulation 883/2004.
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