The Social Security processed 5,039 benefits for birth and child care in Navarre between the months of January and September. Of these, 2,275 corresponded to the first parent, usually the mother, and 2,764 to the second parent. The cost associated with this benefit amounted to 46,741,358 euros in the first nine months of the year.
Throughout the country, 356,112 cases of birth and child care benefits have been processed for a total amount of 2,857.3 million euros. Of that total, 164,810 corresponded to the first parent, usually the mother, and 191,302, to the second parent, usually the father.
The average duration of active childcare and birth benefits between January and September has been 110 days on average, with just 2 days of difference between the time enjoyed by men and women. Last year, the men chose to enjoy one week less.
Extension of the birth permit
Last July, the protection for parents and minors, co-responsibility if there are two parents, and the right to family and work conciliation were improved by approving the three-week extension of the birth and childcare leave, which went from 16 to 19 weeks and, in the case of single-parent families, to 32 weeks.
In particular, 17 weeks, of equal duration and non-transferable between both parents, and 28, in the case of single-parent families, may be enjoyed during the first 12 months of the baby, or, in the case of adoption, foster care or foster care, in the first year, from the judicial or administrative decision; in weekly periods or cumulatively.
In addition, families will be able to enjoy two additional weeks of childcare leave, four in the case of single parents, flexibly until the child reaches the age of 8. Families whose children were born on or after 2 August 2024 may be retroactively accommodated. This right may be requested from 1 January 2026.
The amount of these benefits is equivalent to 100% of the base of contributions for common contingencies of the month immediately prior to the month prior to the start of the rest.
The National Institute of Social Security, in charge of the payment of the benefit, offers the possibility of requesting it through the portal Tu Seguridad Social (https://sede.seg-social.gob.es/) and in https://prestaciones.seg-social.es.
Successive rest periods may also be requested electronically for the birth or care of the child, if the parents choose to divide the period.
Leave of absence for child care, foster child or family member
On the other hand, the number of surpluses registered between January and September was 1,795, of which 1,490 corresponded to women and the rest, 305, to men. The number of surpluses in Navarre fell by 2.4 percent compared to the same period last year. In the country as a whole, there were 43,263 surpluses registered.
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.