• Of the total, 9,242 benefits corresponded to the first parent, usually the mother, and 10,216 to the second. • Social Security spent 135 million euros on these benefits last year. • The number of family care surpluses amounts to 2,897

January 30, 2023.- The Social Security processed 19,458 benefits for birth and child care in 2023 in Castilla y León. Of the total, 9,242 corresponded to the first parent, usually the mother, and 10,216, to the second parent, usually the father.

The expenditure associated with this benefit between January and December 2023 has been 135 million euros.

The average processing time for this benefit in the whole of Spain in 2023 is 8.2 days and in the month of December, specifically, 7.8 days. 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.

In other autonomous communities, the highest number of childbirth and childcare benefits has been recognized in Andalusia (87,008), Catalonia (82,180), Madrid (74,755) and the Valencian Community (47,758).

The average duration of active childcare and birth benefits between January and December 2023 has been 113 days for women and 108 days for men.

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 in Castilla y León

On the other hand, the number of surpluses discharged in 2023 was 2,897.

The communities with the most processed surpluses are Madrid (11,413), Catalonia (8,143), Andalusia (6,281), the Valencian Community (5,593) and the Basque Country (5,337).

Although the number of surpluses increases in all communities, the ones that have increased the number of surpluses over the previous year are Galicia, 32.6%, Cantabria (25.6%) and the Canary Islands (22.5%).

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.