A Spanish retiree, Eusebio Ponce, 75, spent much of his life driving trucks and contributing to Social Security. Currently, already retired, he receives a monthly pension of 1,300 euros, an amount he considers insufficient after four decades of work. According to the Spanish digital newspaper Noticias Trabajo, Eusebio states that, despite having finished paying his mortgage seven years ago, he still finds it difficult to meet day-to-day expenses.
The weight of daily expenses
“After 40 years of contributing, I receive R$1,300 and I feel that it is not enough”, comments the retiree, in a statement marked by resignation and the weight of so many years of work. The pension includes the two extraordinary installments for summer and Christmas, but even so it does not fully cover the constant increase in the cost of living. “What’s the point of a 2.6% increase if everything else goes up afterwards? Food, services, insurance…”, laments Eusebio, pointing to the disparity between income and expenses.
According to Social Security forecasts for 2026, purchasing power has noticeably decreased. “Ten years ago, 20 euros went a long way. Today, with 50 euros, you can barely buy anything”, he compares.
Work and life experience
Eusebio started his career at a very young age and, in the 70s, emigrated to Germany in search of better opportunities. “I left the countryside and started driving trucks. They were difficult years, but they helped to improve my family’s life. That’s how my mother was able to buy her first refrigerator”, he recalls.
Over 40 years of work, he accumulated contributions that, according to him, are not fully reflected in the pension he receives today.
Perspectives on the pension system
“Retired people receive it because they contributed. And young people will have to work to ensure that this continues to be possible”, comments Eusebio, recognizing the challenges faced by new generations and the importance of lifelong contributions.
The system became more demanding. In 2025, anyone who has completed 38 years of age and has made 3 months of contributions will be able to retire at age 65. Anyone who does not reach this level needs to wait until they are 66 years and 8 months, still fulfilling the minimum of 15 years of contributory career, two of which in the last 15 years.
Reality and challenges
While the debate continues about the sustainability of the system, the case of Eusebio, as mentioned by , highlights a concrete reality: many pensions do not meet the basic needs of retirees.
The Minister of Inclusion, Pensions and Migration, Elma Saiz, has guaranteed that the system is sustainable and that the legal retirement age advances according to the law, but examples like this show the impact on the daily lives of many retirees.
And in Portugal?
If Eusebio were retired in Portugal, his pension would be calculated based on wages and years of Social Security contributions, normally distributed over 14 annual payments, including summer and Christmas allowances. The final value would depend on the contribution history and the pension formation rate.
Despite this, many Portuguese retirees face difficulties similar to those reported by Eusebio, especially when annual pension increases do not keep pace with inflation. In these cases, there is the Solidarity Supplement for the Elderly, aimed at retirees with limited resources, but which often only helps to partially alleviate the burdens of day-to-day life.
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