Child Assistance Supplement under the Minimum Living Income Scheme (CAPI)

CAPI is a monthly financial payment for each child under the age of 18 who is part of the household unit. Its purpose is to strengthen support for families, promote the well-being of children and adolescents, and combat child poverty.

Although it forms part of the Minimum Living Income scheme, its income and asset limits are higher. It may therefore be awarded independently to families that are not entitled to receive the standard IMV payment.

Household units that include children under the age of 18 and meet the general requirements for accessing the Minimum Living Income may apply.

However, specific income, wealth and asset limits apply to CAPI. These are higher than those established for receiving the standard IMV payment:

• Assessable income for the previous financial year must be below 300% of the corresponding guaranteed-income threshold.
• Net wealth must be below 150% of the limit established according to the composition of the household unit.
• The corresponding asset test must also be met.

The main home is not included when calculating net wealth. The specific limits vary according to the number of adults and children in the household unit. It is therefore advisable to consult the latest official tables or use the online eligibility checker before submitting an application.

The amount is determined by the number of children under the age of 18 in the household unit and their age on 1 January of each year.

In 2026, the monthly amount for each child is:

• Children under 3 years of age: €115 per month.
• Children aged 3 to 5: €80.50 per month.
• Children aged 6 to 17: €57.50 per month.

These amounts may be revised, so it is advisable to check the current rates in the official information.

There are two possible situations: the Social Security Administration may recognise and pay the benefit automatically, or you may need to apply for it.

The National Social Security Institute already holds the necessary information and will pay the benefit automatically in the following cases:

• You are already receiving the Minimum Living Income.
• You have applied for the Minimum Living Income and your application is still being processed.
• You receive a Family Protection benefit, provided that the members of your household unit are the same as those listed in that case file.

If none of these circumstances applies to you, you will need to apply for the Minimum Living Income.

The Child Assistance Supplement is incompatible with the financial allowance for a dependent child or minor who has no disability or has a recognised disability of less than 33%. The two benefits cannot be received at the same time.

People receiving the Minimum Living Income, including those who receive only CAPI, must file a Spanish Personal Income Tax return every year.

This obligation continues to apply even when, due to their level of income, they would not otherwise be required to file a tax return under the general personal income tax rules. It also applies to members of the household unit who are considered beneficiaries.

Beneficiaries must also inform the National Social Security Institute of any changes that could affect continued entitlement to the benefit or the amount received, including changes to the household unit, address, income or assets.

To apply for CAPI, you must use the same application form as for the Minimum Living Income. There is no separate CAPI application: an IMV application must be submitted whether you may be entitled to receive both IMV and CAPI or only the Child Assistance Supplement.

Before starting the application, you can use the official online eligibility checker. After answering a series of questions about the composition and financial circumstances of the household unit, it provides an indicative assessment of whether you may qualify for IMV or CAPI.

The result of the eligibility check is not an administrative decision and does not guarantee that the benefit will be awarded. The final decision is made by the National Social Security Institute after reviewing the application and the supporting documentation submitted.

The application can be submitted online through the official Minimum Living Income service. It can be completed using a digital certificate or Cl@ve. A separate service is also available for people who do not have an electronic identification method.