Overview
- The reform entered into force in late August and for the first time lets pensioners take up self‑employment while keeping part of their pension if they meet new conditions.
- To use the scheme as an autónomo a retiree must not have been registered as self‑employed in the three years before retirement and, under that route, may retain 25% of their pension while earning from a business activity.
- Salaried returns under flexible retirement now allow part‑time work between 33% and 80% of a full day, with the pension reduced in direct proportion to hours worked and extra top‑ups for delayed re‑entry.
- If a retiree waits at least six months after leaving the labour market before using flexible retirement they can receive a 25% pension boost for 55–80% work or a 15% boost for 33–55% work.
- The reform revises the deferred‑retirement supplement by offering a 4% annual raise, a lump sum or a mix and counting full half‑years after two years of delay, while critics such as UPTA say the three‑year ban will unfairly block many long‑time self‑employed people and could limit uptake that has so far been around 3,000 users.