Economist Eduard Conti has warned on RAC1 that this misplaced belief can leave many families without access to a widow's pension, a fundamental right within the public social protection system. In his conversation with journalist Noemí Pols from La primera pedra, Conti explained that there are 'many couples who don't know' that living together is not equivalent to legal recognition. He also added that from a practical point of view, 'it is highly advisable to regularize the relationship, get married or register as a de facto couple, especially if there are children or a mortgage', as it is complete protection that many families are unaware of. The economist pointed out that it is common to invest in private insurance without being fully aware of the rights granted by the Social Security. However, he warned that those who have not formalized the relationship 'will not be entitled to the widow's pension', although children will maintain the orphan's pension, equivalent to 20% of the regulatory base for each minor. For this reason, he launched a recommendation that he considers fundamental to protect the family's financial future: 'It is worth reviewing first what the public system offers'. He recalled that the widow's pension exists to compensate for the loss of household income and that, in general, it represents 52% of the regulatory base, which can be extended to 70% when there are family burdens. Economist Gonzalo Bernardos: 'The main source of current home buyers are young people who are moving from renting to buying with the help of their parents.' A reflection that reopens the debate on access to housing in Spain. The economist illustrated this reality with a specific case: in a married or registered couple where both earn 3,000 euros gross monthly, the surviving person could receive around 1,500 euros monthly in fourteen payments. All this with a clear limit: the sum of benefits cannot exceed the 3,000 euro cap set by the regulations. Conti recalled that the widow's pension is compatible with work, but it is extinguished if the beneficiary remarries or registers a new de facto partnership. Antonio Arias, notary: 'The separation of assets is not distrust, it is common sense'. In many households, it is taken for granted that years of cohabitation, children or a joint mortgage guarantee a certain financial protection in the event of the partner's death. However, this belief is erroneous.
