The Spanish government is tightening the screws on a vital but often overlooked rule that affects tens of thousands of unemployed people aged over 52. And it comes with a strict timeframe, or you could also be affected.
If you are over the mentioned age and fail to submit your annual income statement, you could end up saying goodbye to your monthly unemployment subsidy.
This isn’t a suggestion. It’s an obligation—one that the Servicio Público de Empleo Estatal (SEPE) of Spain is now hammering home with renewed urgency. The subsidy in question, currently worth 480 euros a month, offers a critical financial lifeline to people who have exhausted their regular unemployment benefit but haven’t yet reached retirement age. But SEPE has made it abundantly clear: no DAR, no subsidy.
The DAR—Declaración Anual de Rentas—is not some tedious bit of red tape to brush aside or delay. It’s a mandatory check-up on your financial situation. To continue receiving the subsidy, you must confirm that your income has not surpassed 75% of the minimum wage, which in 2025 stands at 1,200 euros per month. That threshold includes any other income you may receive—rental income, savings interest, occasional work, anything that counts towards your annual income.
Stick to the 15-day rule or lose
And here’s the real kicker: this declaration must be submitted within exactly 15 working days of the anniversary of your subsidy approval date. If you miss the window, the relevant authorities will suspend your payments, even by just one day. They could terminate your benefit altogether if you fail to justify the delay or update the records.
There’s no excuse. The declaration can be submitted online using a Cl@ve PIN, digital certificate, electronic ID, or in person with an appointment. Yet, hundreds slip through the cracks every year—some out of ignorance, others out of neglect.
But this isn’t just about bureaucracy—it’s about your pension. The subsidy includes full social security contributions.
This support could be the difference between a modest but stable retirement and slipping through the net entirely for many recipients, especially those with patchy employment histories.
SEPE is not sending this message out for fun. They’re drawing a line. The benefit exists to help, but help is conditional on responsibility. If you’re over 52, out of work, and receiving this subsidy, the DAR is your lifeline. Don’t miss it!
