Starting in 2026, Spain’s State Public Employment Service (SEPE) will let people receiving long-term contributory unemployment benefits combine their payments with a new part-time job, receiving up to €450 per month for a maximum of 180 days. The policy is intended to help unemployed people return to work without immediately losing their financial safety net.
The new Complemento de Ayuda al Empleo (CAE) will be granted automatically to people whose unemployment benefit period lasts at least 14 months (420 days). To qualify, recipients must have used up nine months of their benefit before starting the new job. The CAE applies to full-time and part-time contracts, but the employer cannot be the same company where the person worked in the previous 12 months. Other restrictions apply to family relationships and companies with recent ERTEs.
How the CAE Works
The CAE is not calculated as a percentage of the new salary. Instead, SEPE sets fixed monthly amounts based on the contract type and the month of benefit. For part-time jobs with working hours of 75% or more, the supplement can reach €450 per month. The amount falls as the benefit period progresses: between months 10 and 15, for example, a part-time contract of 50% to 75% pays €420 per month, dropping to €270 between months 16 and 18. The supplement can last up to 180 days, depending on when the new job starts within the benefit period.
Duration and Impact on Benefits
The full 180-day period is available only to those who start a compatible job from the thirteenth month of their benefit. If the job starts earlier, the supplement is limited to 30 days in month 10, 60 days in month 11, and 90 days in month 12. Every day of CAE received counts as a day of unemployment benefit used, whatever the supplement’s amount. The benefit is not “paused” while the recipient works part-time; it is gradually used up.
Options for Suspending the Supplement
Recipients who want to preserve their remaining unemployment benefit can ask to suspend the CAE. If they submit the request within 15 working days of starting the new job, the suspension takes effect from the first day of employment. Requests made later apply only from the date of submission. Recipients can submit the request online or contact a SEPE office by phone or in person.
What Happens When the Job Ends
When the job that triggered the CAE ends, recipients must notify SEPE within 15 working days. If they are still legally unemployed, they can apply to resume their remaining benefit. This matters particularly for those whose new contract lasts less than 360 days, as it may affect future benefit entitlements.
Labour Market Context
The reform comes as Spain’s labour market changes. The latest Labour Force Survey published by the INE showed that the second quarter of 2026 ended with 22,779,000 people employed and 2,495,300 unemployed, putting the national unemployment rate at 9.87%.
By smoothing the transition from unemployment to work, the CAE aims to reduce financial uncertainty for people hesitant to accept part-time roles. The measure could support jobseekers and employers as Spain’s labour market adjusts.
