El Ingreso Mínimo Vital protege a más de 860.000 hogares en los que residen más de un millón de niños, niñas y adolescentes

The Minimum Vital Income (IMV) payroll in May reached 862,859 households, in 590,959 of which minors live together. The benefit protects 2,631,545 people, according to the latest statistics published by the National Social Security Institute (INSS).

The average amount of the benefit is 538.7 euros per month per household and, overall, this month's payroll has amounted to 500.2 million euros.

In May 2026, there were 146,768 active benefits more than a year ago, having increased the number of protected households by almost 20.5%., a percentage similar to the increase in the number of beneficiaries, almost 20% (437,879) more than the same month. In May, 68% of the holders (587,066) and 53.4% of the beneficiaries (1,406,210) are women.

In its almost six years of existence, the IMV has protected almost 3.7 million people (3,667,743), progressively adapting to the reality of households and improving their capacity to respond to situations of vulnerability.

Social investment in children

The IMV has been consolidated as a model in which the protection of children occupies a central place. Currently, 1,069,948 children and adolescents are beneficiaries of the benefit, representing 40.7 per cent of the total. In cumulative terms, almost 1.6 million minors have been covered since 2020 by the benefit.

More than two-thirds of the families receiving the IMV have children in charge (590,959 households, almost 70% of the total), which shows its direct impact on the reduction of child poverty.

“More than one million children are now growing up in homes protected by the Minimum Vital Income and this is the best proof that the benefit is reaching those who need it most,” emphasizes Elma Saiz, minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Strong. Of the total number of households, 144,540 are single-parent households, most of which are supported by women who take sole responsibility for bringing forward their children. This reality reflects a greater exposure to precariousness and shows that economic difficulties are concentrated more intensely in this family model.

This reality is also reflected in the whole of the benefit. 68% of IMV holders are women and more than half of the beneficiaries are women as well. In this context, the IMV acts as a stability mechanism for many families in which women assume the main economic and care responsibility.

Child Support Supplement

The Child Support Supplement (CAPI) strengthens IMV coverage with additional support for each dependent child. In May, 597,878 households received it, with an average aid of 66.9 euros per child and 121.8 euros per household with children. This benefit establishes different amounts according to age: 115 euros per month for children under 3 years old; 80.5 euros between 3 and 6 years old; and 57.5 euros between 6 and 18 years old.

The ICSC can be perceived independently of the IMV, since it has broader income thresholds. Así, además de proteger a familias en situación de pobreza severa, alcanza a hogares con rentas bajas o moderadas. For example, it can be requested by a family of two adults and two minors with incomes of up to 4,182 euros per month, which significantly expands the scope of the network of protection against child poverty.

The Minimum Vital Income and young people

The IMV not only acts as a protection mechanism, but also as an accompaniment tool towards the inclusion of young people. The average age of the beneficiaries, which is 28.5 years - and 20.7 years if the headlines are excluded - reflects their impact on the stages in which working life begins. In this sense, compatibility with work income and incentives to enter the workforce reinforce its role as a lever towards employment.

Precisely, the improvements incorporated into the IMV facilitate access to the benefit for young people in vulnerable situations. For example, people over the age of 18 or emancipated minors with dependent sons or daughters may apply for help. And the independent living period has been reduced for young people under 30 years, from 3 to 2 years.

General requirements to apply for the IMV

The IMV is a Social Security benefit that guarantees a minimum level of income to households in vulnerable situations and that was launched almost six years ago. It is configured as a subjective right, adapted to the reality of each unit of coexistence, and constitutes a key instrument in the fight against poverty and social exclusion, with special attention to minors.

To apply for the IMV, it is necessary to have resided in Spain legally, effectively and continuously for at least the previous year. Residence is demonstrated by the registration in the central register of foreigners in the case of Community and Swiss citizens, or with the corresponding authorization in the case of persons from third countries. The domicile in Spain is verified with registration certificate and the unit of coexistence is demonstrated by means of the family book, civil registration certificates or padronal data.

In addition, both the applicant and the rest of the members of their household must be in a situation of economic vulnerability, since they do not have sufficient income or patrimony.

In the case of people who exhaust the unemployment benefit and do not manage to reinsert themselves, they access the IMV without the need to request it or provide new documentation, since the SEPE and the Social Security Office carry out the recognition of income beforehand. As a result, since last year the beneficiaries already know whether, depending on the income of the previous year, their benefit will be increased, reduced or extinguished.