If a self employed person in Spain has been told by a hospital consultant that he should not be working due to his health and being in much pain all the time what happens. Does he get some sort of pension or benfits from the Spanish authorities. He has paid into the system for the past ten years. Just wondered what would happen if you cannot work anymore what do you do.

Yes you can, I am happy to say.

You will need a doctor's note stating your illness and that will need to go to the social security or mUtua, whichever is applicable.

You will probably wait a month for the money which will depend on what you are contributing. You will need to send in weekly or bi-weekly doctors notes.

Wishing you all the best and a speedy recovery.

What happens if the person cannot work ever again.

Although I am no expert, I do know of a few cases where people have used up their time on the sick.

most conditions have a time limit as to how long you can claim. As an example let's say pneumonia, it might be a limit of 12 weeks, then the doctor cannot give you any more sick notes, as they are at the limit for that illness.

You will then gave to attend a medical at the soc sec. Office, if they say you are fit for work your money will stop, even if you are not well enough to go back to work.

To try and get signed of permanently from work is long drawn out, complicated and costs money.

It is more like a trial and there are lawyers who are specialists in this sort of thing.

Your own doctor has no say in this, it is dealt with by the s.s own doctors.

They are very reluctant to sign people onto 'sick for life benefits' because as well as losing the monthly quota, prescription drugs will also be free or freeish.

The only way to get around this is to pay thousands to bribe the s.s doctors as in the case of the mother in law of a famous bullfighter.

The system is very harsh in Spain for those who are in this situation, and although it has always been difficult, unless a bent doctor could be found and palms greased, it is even harder now.

all benefits to disabled people have been cut right across the board, help at home takes about a year to claim and is more limited than ever.

I wish you more luck than some of the people I know who are not fit for work, but have been denied 'disability' payments.

It's tough out there.

Given the situation described let's just hope that the person the OP is referring to is British and can go 'home'

If they have been out of the UK for any length of time then they may not find it that easy to get benefits in the UK either.

People in bad health get benefits in the UK. Of course some posters will argue against that, why I don't know. Anyhow no matter how much the UK may be lacking, it is still a better bet than Spain for the ill and disabled.

So if someone ends up disabled and can no longer work they wont get any help from anywhere even if they have paid into the system.

Are you talking Spain here?, if so that has all been answered, it's difficult and takes a lot of time to get a permanent disability payment as it has to go through the courts as me-me has posted.

We know it is sad, and hits people with a great blow, but we know that's how it is.

Ajo y agua, as the saying goes.

Ajo-der y agua-ntar.