María Dolores Miralles, a former nurse from Jaén, retired at 66 with a contributory pension of 3,470.70 euros gross per month, paid 14 times a year, which corresponds to 2,741.85 euros net after a 21% tax withholding. The Spanish Social Security document recognizes 41 years and 320 days of contributions, with a regulatory base of 3,323.10 euros to which a percentage of 100% was applied. The amount also includes a supplement of 147.60 euros corresponding to the reduction of gender inequality in pensions, awarded for each child up to a maximum of four. The pensioner also received a one-time payment of 12,480.76 euros gross for delaying her retirement by one year.
The path to this pension was marked by enormous difficulties. After a divorce, María was responsible for five children, the youngest only a few months old. At that time, she worked only through replacements and temporary positions, even accumulating several jobs to pay for family expenses. The former nurse revealed that there were months when she had no money to fill the fridge and questioned what she would feed her children. Some of these jobs were done without Social Security registration, a reality she associated with working conditions existing about three decades ago.
Despite the difficulties, María continued studying while working and raising her children. First, she passed an exam for nursing assistant and then enrolled in the nursing program, which she completed while balancing work and children. After obtaining her diploma, she combined work as an assistant with replacement positions as a nurse and prepared for the nursing exam of the Junta de Andalucía, passing on her first attempt. During that period, she also wrote chapters for training books in different areas of nursing. Professional stability allowed her to buy an apartment, pay off accumulated debts, and continue supporting her five children.
Now, at 66, María plans to dedicate her retirement time to her eight grandchildren, something she could not do while accumulating work and studies. When asked if she would change anything in her journey, she assures she has no regrets and believes that life presents different obstacles to each person, and it is important to overcome them until reaching goals. The former nurse summarized what she feels in this new phase with a phrase: "After everything I worked and fought for, I deserve it."
