In a ruling of 15 May 2025, the Court of Justice of the European Union concluded that the current Article 60 of the General Social Security Law continues to treat men less favourably than women by requiring additional requirements to access the €35.90 monthly supplement per child. Luxembourg considers the rule to constitute direct discrimination based on sex and urges Spain to modify it.
The failure in three keys
- Comparable situations, different requirements
For mothers It is enough to prove the status of parent; for parents It is required, among other requirements, to have interrupted one's career (for example, more than 120 days without contributions if the child was born before 1995) or be a widow's pensioner. The CJEU emphasizes that both mothers and fathers can suffer the same loss of contributions when caring for children and, therefore, should be treated equally. - It is not a valid positive action measure
The Court recalls that positive actions (Article 157.4 TFEU) must remove obstacles during women's careers, not rewarding them ex post upon retirement. The supplement does not correct inequality at source and, furthermore, maintains a filter that excludes many parents in the same situation. - What happens if the father asks for it?
The Spanish version only allows one parent to receive the extra: the one with the lowest pension. Luxembourg clarifies that, if the father meets the same requirements as the mother, European law does not prevent transfer the supplement to her, even if this means eliminating the amount already granted to the mother. However, it leaves it to Spanish judges to decide whether, within the framework of domestic law, the amount already accrued can be maintained.
What happens now?
- Social security must review the files denied to parents and adjust its regulations.
- Spanish courts and tribunals They will apply European jurisprudence directly while Parliament amends the law.
- In parallel, the debate on financingThe supplement currently costs around €1.2 billion annually; universalizing it could almost double that figure, according to union calculations.
How much is charged?
The amount for 2025 is €35.90 gross per month per child, with a limit of four children (max. €143.60 per month, revalued). It is added to—but does not replace—the contributory retirement, disability, or widow's pension.
In summaryFive years after its creation, the supplement to reduce the gender gap returns to the legislative table: the EU demands real equality of treatment between parents and places Spain before the task of redesigning, for the third time, a supplement that still has not passed the non-discrimination test.
English 
Spanish