The income of 1.7 million vulnerable people will rise 15% until the end of the year

The income of 1.7 million vulnerable citizens will rise by 15% from July 1 until the end of the year thanks to two of the measures included in the anti-crisis plan that the Government approved this Saturday: increase the payroll by 15% to the nearly 450,000 beneficiaries of a non-contributory pension and at the same time maintain the increase in the Minimum Vital Income (IMV) that has already been in force for three months and is enjoyed by nearly 1.2 million vulnerable people.

About half a million pensioners, precisely the most vulnerable and mostly women, will receive an extra 60 euros per month, some 360 ​​euros more throughout the remainder of the year, in order to be able to face the current scenario of runaway prices , a measure that derives from an agreement reached with Bildu.

Specifically, there are currently 445,069 people who receive a non-contributory pension -according to May data published by Imserso-, of which about 65% are women who have not worked, or at least not long enough to be able to access a contributory pension, for which a minimum of 15 years of contributions is required.

Unlike contributory benefits, there are only two types of non-contributory benefits: retirement, for those who have reached the legal retirement age (66 years and two months in 2022); and disability, for those who are between 18 and 65 years old and have a recognized disability of at least 65%. Its beneficiaries, who must be residents in Spanish territory and prove a minimum time of ten years (retirement) or five (disability) in the country, cannot exceed an annual income of more than 5,890 euros, the same amount at which the non-contributory pension, although the amount rises if you live with other relatives.

A total of 264,737 people currently receive a non-contributory retirement pension for an average amount of 421 euros per month. If the 15% increase agreed with Bildu is finally approved, they will receive a bonus of just over 63 euros per month, 442 euros in total if the seven payrolls they will receive between now and the end of the year are added (in December they have an extra pay) .

Almost 200 million cost

In addition, there are another 180,332 disability benefits, with an average amount of 462 euros per month. Its beneficiaries will see their income increase by 70 euros per month from July, 491 euros in total at the end of 2022.

The monthly cost for the State of non-contributory pensions is just over 195 million euros, so a 15% increase until December will mean an additional outlay of almost 25 million.

Once 2022 ends, the Executive will have the difficult decision to consider this increase an acquired right and maintain it next year or go back and cut that extra 15% precisely to the groups that need it most.