Fraternidad-Muprespa analyzes CUME and REL benefits in its “Meetings with the Mutual” webinar cycle

Antonio José Aguayo, head of the Other Benefits area, of the Department of Economic Benefits, was the speaker in the third webinar, in which he shared with more than 500 attendees a complete presentation on two of the most relevant and least known benefits of Social Security: that relating to the care of minors affected by cancer or other serious illness, CUME, and the risk benefit during pregnancy and breastfeeding, REL.

The importance of these two benefits lies in the fact that they guarantee the social protection of families and working women in situations of special vulnerability, which is why Fraternidad-Muprespa seeks to provide a clear and rigorous dissemination of them. 

CUME

The first of them, the CUME benefit, is an aid which is paid monthly and is exempt from personal income tax. To access it, it is necessary that the requesting parent is working and registered with Social Security, that the reduction in working hours requested for the care of the minor is greater than 50% and that the minor's illness is included in the annex to Royal Decree 1148/2011. 

The age limit of the deceased is twenty-three years, extendable to twenty-six in cases of disability equal to or greater than 65%. A minimum contribution gap is also required, which varies depending on the age of the parent. Aguayo also detailed the documentation to be presented and the deadlines for the benefit, which begins on the day the reduction in working hours begins, as long as it is requested within a period of three months. 

With regard to its validity, Aguayo explained that the duration is initially one month, extendable and expires when the reduction in working hours ceases, the parents alternate, the need for care disappears, death occurs or the age limit is reached established.

REL

The second benefit analyzed was the REL or Risk during Pregnancy and Natural Breastfeeding, regulated by the Occupational Risk Prevention Law of 1995, the Conciliation Law of 1999, the Organic Law of Equality of 2007, Royal Legislative Decree 8/2015 and Royal Decree 295/2009. 

This benefit is intended to protect the health of the worker and the fetus or nursing minor when the working conditions pose a risk and it is not possible to adapt the position. This is a subsidy equivalent to one hundred percent of the regulatory base for temporary disability due to professional contingencies, which is paid monthly and is subject to personal income tax withholding. 

Its duration extends from the suspension of the contract or the cessation of activity until childbirth or until the child turns nine months, in the case of natural breastfeeding. 

The procedure begins when the worker communicates her pregnancy and the company has the obligation to adapt the position. If the adaptation is not possible, the Mutual Fund certifies the existence of risk and the company must change to a compatible position or suspend the contract, after which the worker requests the benefit, providing certificates from the company and the Public Health Service. 

The Mutual Fund recognizes or denies the benefit and proceeds to pay when appropriate. The speaker stressed that this benefit is not compatible with temporary disability due to high-risk pregnancy except in cases of multiple employment or multiple activities, in which IT can be accessed in those activities that are not affected by the risk.