The Supreme Court of Spain has reaffirmed that mere cohabitation or having children together does not entitle individuals to receive a widow”s pension without formal marriage or official registration as a domestic partnership. This recent ruling aims to prevent fraud and ensure that access to public benefits like the widow”s pension is based on legally validated relationships.
According to the court”s decision, two essential conditions must be satisfied to qualify for the pension following the death of a spouse. If these conditions are not met, there is no entitlement to the pension, regardless of the emotional bond or living arrangements that may exist between the individuals involved. Lawyer Manuel Requena highlighted the implications of this ruling, noting that one individual was left without any financial support, neither a pension nor formal recognition of their partnership.
In Spain, even those who have officially registered as domestic partners may not necessarily qualify for the pension, as indicated by estimates from the National Institute of Statistics. This ruling serves as a significant clarification on the legal requirements for accessing widow”s pensions and underscores the necessity for formal recognition of relationships.
