What it is
The minimum vital income: financial aid for households with no resources
It is a royal decree-law. It was introduced on 1 June 2020. Introduced by: Gobierno.
Official title: Royal Decree-Law 20/2020, of 29 May, establishing the minimum vital income.
Source: Congreso de los Diputados, file 130/000021· updated 11 Nov
Automatic summary, not yet reviewed
- This rule creates the minimum vital income (ingreso mínimo vital), a monthly Social Security benefit that guarantees a minimum income level for people living alone or in a cohabitation unit who lack sufficient resources.
- The amount covers the gap between the household's income and a guaranteed income. For a single person in 2020 it is 5,538 euros per year, and it rises with the number of household members, with a 22% supplement for single-parent households.
- Beneficiaries can be people aged 23 to 65 who live alone, or members of a cohabitation unit made up of relatives up to the second degree, with exceptions such as victims of gender violence Violence a woman suffers from a current or former partner because she is a woman..
- To qualify you must have lived in Spain for at least one year before applying, be in economic vulnerability (income and assets below the set limits), have applied for other available benefits and, if not working, be registered as a job seeker.
- The benefit is compatible with work and with the regional minimum income schemes, which are not counted as income, so that taking a job is not discouraged and aid is not duplicated.
- Applications are filed online with the National Social Security Institute, which must decide within a maximum of three months. Applications could be submitted from June 15, 2020.
- Beneficiaries must report any change in their situation within thirty days, file an annual income tax The personal income tax (IRPF in Spain): what people pay on what they earn from work, business or savings. return, take part in inclusion programs and justify travel abroad. Fraud can lead to penalties, loss of the benefit and repayment of amounts received.
- The child allowance for children with no disability or a disability below 33% is abolished and folded into the minimum vital income, with a transitional benefit during 2020 for its current recipients.
Who it affects
- People aged 23 to 65 living alone without sufficient resources: They can apply for a monthly benefit that tops up their income to the guaranteed level, if they meet the residence, income and asset requirements.
- Households made up of relatives up to the second degree in a situation of vulnerability: They receive an amount that rises with the number of members, plus a 22% supplement for single-parent households.
- Women who are victims of gender violence or of trafficking and sexual exploitation: They are exempt from some requirements and can form a cohabitation unit under special rules.
- Autonomous communities and local entities: They can start and process applications under agreements, and take part in inclusion programs through social services.
- Current recipients of the child allowance for children with no disability or a disability below 33%: They receive the transitional minimum vital income benefit during 2020 and are then folded into the new benefit.
Words worth knowing
- Unidad de convivencia (cohabitation unit)
- Group of people living in the same home who are married, registered partners, or relatives up to the second degree, with some exceptions.
- Prestación no contributiva (non-contributory benefit)
- A Social Security benefit you can receive without having paid contributions before, because it addresses a situation of need.
- Renta garantizada (guaranteed income)
- The maximum amount the minimum vital income can pay depending on household type; the benefit covers the difference up to that amount.
- Silencio administrativo (administrative silence)
- If the administration does not answer within the set period, in this case the application is deemed denied.
- Real decreto-ley (royal decree-law)
- A rule with the force of law that the Government can pass urgently in situations of extraordinary need.
- gender violence
- Violence a woman suffers from a current or former partner because she is a woman.
- income tax
- The personal income tax (IRPF in Spain): what people pay on what they earn from work, business or savings.
It summarizes the law as published in the BOE. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries
Where it stands
How far did it get?
It took 7 of 7 steps. It reached BOE, and today it is passed.
- Introduced1 June 2020Someone registers the text in the Congreso.
- Admitted9 June 2020The Bureau of the Congreso accepts it and, for a members’ bill, the plenary decides whether to consider it.
- Amendmentsno dateGroups propose changes.
- Committeeno dateA committee goes through the text in detail.
- Plenary9 June 2020All 350 deputies vote.
- Senateno dateThe Senate can pass it, amend it or veto it.
- BOEno dateIt is published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) and comes into force.
See the 4 official steps on a timeline
10 June 2020
How did the plenary vote?
Voted on: Processing as a Government bill by the urgent procedure of Royal Decree-Law 20/2020, of 29 May, establishing the minimum vital income.
This law had 2 votes; this is the latest with every deputy’s vote. See them all
Source: Congreso de los Diputados, vote 4 of sitting 26· updated 11 Nov
Each dot is a seat. Tap one, or use the arrow keys, to see who it is.
Your province
How did the deputies from your province vote?
And your senators: the Senate does not link its votes to this law in its open data, so we cannot put them side by side here.
Or see how most of each province voted
- A Coruña More votes in favour 8 yes · 0 no
- Albacete More votes in favour 4 yes · 0 no
- Alicante/Alacant More votes in favour 12 yes · 0 no
- Almería More votes in favour 6 yes · 0 no
- Araba/Álava More votes in favour 3 yes · 0 no · 1 abst.
- Asturias More votes in favour 7 yes · 0 no
- Ávila More votes in favour 3 yes · 0 no
- Badajoz More votes in favour 6 yes · 0 no
- Barcelona More votes in favour 32 yes · 0 no
- Bizkaia More votes in favour 5 yes · 0 no · 3 abst.
- Burgos More votes in favour 4 yes · 0 no
- Cáceres More votes in favour 4 yes · 0 no
- Cádiz More votes in favour 9 yes · 0 no
- Cantabria More votes in favour 5 yes · 0 no
- Castellón/Castelló More votes in favour 5 yes · 0 no
- Ceuta More votes in favour 1 yes · 0 no
- Ciudad Real More votes in favour 5 yes · 0 no
- Córdoba More votes in favour 6 yes · 0 no
- Cuenca More votes in favour 3 yes · 0 no
- Gipuzkoa More votes in favour 4 yes · 0 no · 2 abst.
- Girona More votes in favour 6 yes · 0 no
- Granada More votes in favour 6 yes · 0 no · 1 abst.
- Guadalajara More votes in favour 3 yes · 0 no
- Huelva More votes in favour 5 yes · 0 no
- Huesca More votes in favour 2 yes · 0 no
- Illes Balears More votes in favour 8 yes · 0 no
- Jaén More votes in favour 5 yes · 0 no
- La Rioja More votes in favour 4 yes · 0 no
- Las Palmas More votes in favour 8 yes · 0 no
- León More votes in favour 4 yes · 0 no
- Lleida More votes in favour 4 yes · 0 no
- Lugo More votes in favour 4 yes · 0 no
- Madrid More votes in favour 37 yes · 0 no
- Málaga More votes in favour 11 yes · 0 no
- Melilla More votes in favour 1 yes · 0 no
- Murcia More votes in favour 10 yes · 0 no
- Navarra More votes in favour 4 yes · 1 no
- Ourense More votes in favour 4 yes · 0 no
- Palencia More votes in favour 3 yes · 0 no
- Pontevedra More votes in favour 7 yes · 0 no
- Salamanca More votes in favour 4 yes · 0 no
- Santa Cruz de Tenerife More votes in favour 7 yes · 0 no
- Segovia More votes in favour 3 yes · 0 no
- Sevilla More votes in favour 12 yes · 0 no
- Soria More votes in favour 2 yes · 0 no
- Tarragona More votes in favour 6 yes · 0 no
- Teruel More votes in favour 3 yes · 0 no
- Toledo More votes in favour 6 yes · 0 no
- Valencia/València More votes in favour 15 yes · 0 no
- Valladolid More votes in favour 5 yes · 0 no
- Zamora More votes in favour 3 yes · 0 no
- Zaragoza More votes in favour 7 yes · 0 no
More details: how each group and each province voted
The groups
Who voted in favour and who against?
In favour, most of Euskal Herria Bildu, Republicano, Socialista, Mixto, Ciudadanos, Gcup-ec-gc, GPlu, Popular en el Congreso and VOX. 2 deputies voted differently from their group.
By province: in 52 most voted in favour; in 0, against.
Coloured by how most of each province’s deputies voted.
- In favour: 52
- Against: 0
| Group | Seats | How it voted |
|---|---|---|
| Euskal Herria Bildu | 5 | 4 in favour · 1 against |
| Republicano | 13 | 13 in favour |
| Socialista | 120 | 120 in favour |
| Vasco (EAJ-PNV) | 6 | 6 abst. |
| Mixto | 9 | 9 in favour |
| Ciudadanos | 10 | 10 in favour |
| Gcup-ec-gc | 35 | 35 in favour |
| GPlu | 12 | 12 in favour |
| Popular en el Congreso | 88 | 87 in favour · 1 did not vote |
| VOX | 52 | 51 in favour · 1 abst. |
What happens next
What happens now?
It is law, or will be once published in the BOE. It comes into force on the date its own text sets.
Published in the BOE: Royal Decree-Law 20/2020, of 29 May, establishing the minimum vital income.
Sources
Where does all this come from?
- Congreso de los Diputados, file 130/000021
Official title, type, author, dates and stage.
Retrieved 11 November 2026
- Congreso de los Diputados, vote 4 of sitting 26
The count and every seat’s vote.
Retrieved 11 November 2026
- BOE, BOE-A-2020-5493
The law as published.
Retrieved 11 November 2026
- The data comes from the open files of the Congreso, the Senate and the BOE, unaltered.
- Each deputy’s province is the one of their seat on the day of the vote.
- We only say “passed” or “rejected” when the majority needed is certain; otherwise we say which side had more votes.