The average pension in mining councils exceeds 1,600 gross euros per month

2024-01-02 05:15:00

Councils with a mining tradition record the highest pensions in Asturias, according to the latest Social Security data distributed by municipalities, corresponding to last October. In that month, the average benefit in the Principality amounted to 1,412.52 euros gross, and the highest average salaries were collected in the following municipalities: Degaña (1,972.90 euros), Laviana (1,844.51), Riosa (1,823. 35), San Martín del Rey Aurelio (1,816.43), Aller (1,756.45), Bimenes (1,737.49), Mieres (1,728.26), Morcín (1,722.42), Langreo (1,657.75) and Lena (1,651.48).

That is, the average pension in the aforementioned councils exceeds 1,600 gross euros per month, 13.2% above the regional average. Most of the territories correspond to the Nalón and Caudal Basins, where mining activity in Asturias was concentrated for much of the 20th century. However, the highest average amount was charged in Degaña, where last October there were 337 recipients. In said municipality of the Southwest, bordering León, the Cerredo Group’s open-pit coal exploitation employed 75% of its inhabitants. Closed in 2019, the Asturian Government is currently working on its environmental restoration, using the Just Transition Funds to do so.

Following the aforementioned “top 10” of councils with the highest salaries are municipalities linked to different industries, such as Castrillón (where the average was 1,572.62 euros per month), Avilés (1,512.16 euros), Ribera de Arriba ( 1,503.77), Gijón (1,445.64) or Corvera (1,435.98). In the capital, Oviedo, where the service sector clearly predominates, the average was slightly above the regional average: 1,476.78 euros. And in Gijón the amount was 1,446.64.

For their part, the five municipalities with the lowest benefits were San Martín de Oscos (726.64 euros), Yernes and Tameza (731.83), Illano (758.75), Pesoz (762.69) and Villanueva de Oscos (784.88). This means that between the highest average remuneration, in Degaña, and the lowest, in San Martín de Oscos, there was a gap of 171.5%. That is, almost triple.

In Oviedo and Gijón, the amounts are slightly above the regional average, of 1,412 euros

Historically, mining and industry have guaranteed that Asturias enjoys the second highest pensions in Spain (only behind the Basque Country), since the contributions were also high during the workers’ active lives. In fact, as LA NEW SPAIN recently reported, the Principality is the autonomous community where a higher percentage of maximum benefits is collected (3,059.23 euros per month gross, before taxes) or even higher (for example, for those who delayed their retirement). Of the more than 300,000 benefits paid in the region, 10.3% (that is, a total of 30,912) amount to at least the aforementioned amount.

The Principality is the community where the most pensions above 3,000 euros are collected

And these amounts will grow in this newly released 2024, since a revaluation of 3.8% will be applied to bring them in line with the inflation of the last year. According to this percentage increase, the average pension in Asturias will increase by 53 euros per month, until reaching an average of 1,456.2 euros spread over 14 payments (that is, the average annual amount will be 20,386.8 euros). And the retirement benefit will increase by 62.3 euros per month, reaching 1,704.3 euros on average. If the total payroll of the almost 300,000 pensions in the Principality is computed, in 2024 the figure will be 6,113 million euros, a historical record that, considering its magnitude, almost reaches the total of the regional Budget for this year.

Asturias is the autonomous community most dependent on the pension system. Practically four out of every ten Asturians who receive compensation (39.5%) do so through this system, according to the Tax Agency. In Galicia, the second region with the highest rate of pensioners, the percentage of salaries that depend on pensions is lower, at 33%.

The legal retirement age rises to 66 years and six months from this year

Europa Press

Spaniards who this year want to retire with 100% of the pension will have to be at least 66 years and six months old, under the 2013 pension reform, in which the retirement age was progressively raised from 65 to 67 years old in a total horizon of 15 years. These 66 years and six months will be the minimum required for those who have less than 38 years of contributions (in 2023, 66 years and four months were required to be able to retire with less than 37 years and nine months of contributions). If the 38 years of contributions are exceeded, workers who want to retire as of yesterday, January 1, and enjoy the full pension, will have to be 65 years old. What did not change with the 2013 reform is the minimum contribution requirement to be able to access the contributory retirement pension, which is maintained for at least 15 years, two of which must be included in the 15 prior to retirement. Social Security allows workers to retire early voluntarily up to a maximum of 24 months before the ordinary legal age. If said early retirement is involuntary, it is possible to do so up to a maximum of 48 months before the ordinary retirement age. In the case of early retirement, Social Security applies a series of reducing coefficients on the amount of the pension, which depend on the number of months in advance and the accumulated contribution period.