The Social Security processed 13,427 benefits for birth and child care in Aragon in 2022, which represents a decrease of 6.4% compared to the same period of 2021. Of the total, 6,141 corresponded to the first parent, usually the mother, and 7,286 to the second parent, usually the father.
The expenditure associated with this benefit between January and December 2022 in the Autonomous Community was 94,162,567 euros, which represents an increase of 5.27% compared to the previous year.
By province, 2,376 benefits were processed in Huesca, 1,064 for the first parent and 1,312 for the second parent, with a value of 15,401,914 euros. In Teruel, there were 1,458 benefits, 638 of first parent and 820 of second parent, for a value of 9,576,097 euros. In Zaragoza, 9,593 benefits were processed, 4,439 for the first parent and 5,154 for the second parent, amounting to Euro69,184,556.
In Spain as a whole, Social Security processed 473,720 benefits for birth and child care in 2022, which represents an increase of 0.4% compared to the same period in 2021. Of the total, 224,359 corresponded to the first parent, usually the mother, and 249,361, to the second parent, usually the father.
The expenditure associated with this benefit between January and December 2022 has been 3,260.2 million euros. In 2021, this figure stood at 3,010.6 million, an increase of 8.3%.
The childbirth and childcare benefit replaced the old maternity and paternity benefits when it came into force on January 1, 2021 and has meant the complete equalization of both. Currently, the leave is 16 weeks for both parents and is recognized as an individual and non-transferable right. Of the 16 weeks, six of them must be enjoyed immediately after childbirth or judicial or administrative resolution in cases of adoption, custody or placement. The rest of the time can be arranged in successive periods, of at least one week in duration.
The amount of these benefits is equivalent to the contribution base of the month prior to childbirth, adoption, care or fostering, and is paid directly by the National Social Security Institute (INSS) during the weeks of the leave.
The National Social Security Institute offers the possibility to apply for the birth benefit electronically, through the portal Tu Seguridad Social (https://sede.seg-social.gob.es/) and via the form on https://tramites.seg-social.es/acceso/prestacion-nacimiento-cuidado-menor.html
Successive rest periods may also be requested electronically for the birth or care of the child, if the parents choose to divide the period.
Child care, foster child or family care leave
On the other hand, the number of surpluses registered in 2022 in Aragon was 1,894, of which 71% corresponded to women. The variation from 2021 has been minimal, with a reduction of 0.16% (3).
In the whole of Spain, the number of surpluses was 47,455, of which 33,290 corresponded to women, 70.2%, and 14,165 to men, which is equivalent to 29.8%. The number of surpluses has been reduced on average by 1% compared to the same period of the 2021 financial year.
Workers may apply for leave to care for children or minors who have been taken in or for the care of other family members. The first three years of leave to care for a foster child are considered an effective contributory period for the purposes of Social Security benefits for retirement, permanent disability, death and survival, maternity and paternity. The first year of leave to care for other family members is also considered to be actually paid for the purposes of these benefits.