Cuota cero (region-dependent refund)

your region pays back €80 a month for 12 months, then 12 months more while you earn under the SMI

Official term

Cuota cero

Programa autonómico. Cada comunidad lo publica con su propio nombre oficial.

How it works

The scheme runs in 2 phases. Phase 2 applies only if you earn under the SMI, Spain's minimum wage.

  1. 12 months your region pays back €80 a month
  2. 12 months your region pays back €80 a month Only while your earnings stay under the SMI

Who can claim it

Requires tarifa plana. Offered by Madrid, Andalucía, Murcia, Castilla y León and Galicia among others; check your own comunidad's terms.

Does your income bracket matter?

No. This scheme fixes the base you contribute on, so the cuota is the same whatever you earn.

Which years it applies to

We have information about this scheme from 2023 onwards. The figures on this page are the 2026 ones.

See what it does to your cuota

Open the Social Security calculator with this discount

Sources

Always check the primary source before acting on a figure. Rules can be amended late in the year and sometimes even backdated.

Made with ❤️🔥 in the Canary Islands

MEI (Mecanismo de Equidad Intergeneracional)

MEI is an extra Social Security contribution that funds the state pension reserve. In 2026 it is 0.90% of your contribution base, paid in full by the self-employed. It rises 0.1 points a year to 1.2% in 2029 and buys you no additional pension rights.