The Council of Ministers in Spain on 20 October 2026 approved a Real Decreto-ley that extends the widows’ pensions to unmarried couples with children together and treats sick leave following disasters as workplace accidents. The Minister for Inclusion, Social security and Migration, Elma Saiz, presented the measures after the meeting as strengthening social protection.
The core of the reform is access to a widows’ pension for partners who are not married and have not registered a civil partnership. They must have at least one child together and provide proof that they lived together for two years immediately before the death. The government is therefore addressing cases in which formal hurdles had previously prevented entitlement to survivor benefits. According to the government, the new rules are intended to reduce legal uncertainty and ensure equal treatment for people in comparable circumstances.
The Real Decreto-ley also provides that absences due to illness or injury connected with disasters will in future be classified as work-related incidents. This gives those affected the broader Social Security protection that applies to workplace accidents – for example, benefits during incapacity for work, in cases of possible disability or for survivors. Examples cited by the government include evacuations, flooding and severe storm damage with an immediate impact on people’s ability to work. The decree sets out the precise eligibility requirements, evidence and transitional periods.
According to Saiz, the package includes further social policy measures, including support for families with seriously ill children and improvements for victims of gender-based violence. Associations welcomed the direction of the reform but called for clear, consistent criteria for proving two years of cohabitation, as well as unambiguous rules on possible retroactive application, to avoid future legal disputes.
The Real Decreto-ley enters into force upon publication, but must be ratified by parliament within the constitutional deadline. The government expects it to be considered promptly; if parliament is in recess, the Diputación Permanente can carry out the ratification. Until final approval, implementation remains subject to the conditions set out in the decree.
By extending widows’ pensions and treating absences following disasters on an equal footing with workplace accidents, the government aims to close gaps in Social Security protection and reflect the realities of many families’ lives.
Editor: Daniel Mayer (Article created with AI assistance).