A study of disability pensions in Spain (1971-1987)

In the region of Murcia (in the south-east of Spain), which has one million inhabitants, the prevalence rate of severe disability pensions, 68.92 per 1000, is much higher than that of old-age pensions, 43.50 per 1000, the reverse of what is seen in Spain in general. The administrative procedure followed in order to obtain a severe disability pension has been studied with the aim of identifying the nature of its components. A random sample of 1948 case records has been analysed from the overall number of 98,485 requests arising between 1971 and 1987. The average annual rate of disability applications was 5.4 per 1000 inhabitants, increasing with time from 1971 to 1982, and decreasing from 1983 onwards due to the creation and functioning of a new official controlling body. In the great majority of cases, 89.5%, the evaluating commission gave a disability pension, mainly at the higher grade ('total disability') until 1982 and at an inferior grade ('severe disability') from 1983 onwards. Those applicants working in hotel services, domestic services and so on, mainly women, had the highest rates of disability applications.