In which cases can a widow and retirement pension be collected at the same time?

When you reach the ordinary retirement age or meet the contribution period required by Social Security, you have the right to receive a contributory retirement pension from the public body. But in what situations is it possible to receive two pensions at the same time?

First of all, in order to receive 100% of the retirement pension in 2023, it is necessary to be 66 years and four months, if they have contributed less than 37 years and nine months. It is also possible to retire by collecting the full amount of the benefit at age 65, as long as they have contributed for 37 years and nine months or more.

What are the exceptions

The General Social Security Law, approved by Royal Legislative Decree 8/2015, establishes in article 163 that it will not be possible to make pensions compatible “when they coincide in the same beneficiary, unless expressly provided otherwise, legal or by regulation”.

However, there are exceptions, such as the case of the collection of the widow's pension. This is financial aid aimed at those people who become widows as a result of the death of their companion, when they have had a marital relationship or as a common-law relationship with them, as long as they meet certain requirements.

This pension can be collected at the same time that a work activity is carried out, as well as collecting the unemployment benefit or other types of aid. The widow's pension is compatible, in turn, with the retirement pension and the temporary disability pension. However, a series of conditions must be met, such as not exceeding the maximum pension limit established by law.