Spanish pensioner Angel returned to the workforce at the age of 73 as a self-employed excavator operator after his 850 euro monthly pension proved insufficient to pay his 800 euro rent. Speaking on Spanish television channel Antena 3, the 77-year-old explained that his previous retirement benefit left him with just 50 euros a month to cover all remaining living expenses.
To launch his new career, Angel took out a 50,000 euro loan to purchase an excavator after completing training to operate the heavy machinery. Registering as a self-employed worker reduced his monthly pension payment by 350 euros, but the move dramatically boosted his overall income to an average of between 3,000 and 3,500 euros per month.
With monthly self-employed tax contributions of less than 150 euros, Angel said his financial situation has improved substantially. He stated that he was not looking for a luxurious lifestyle and would have preferred to remain retired if his pension had been enough to afford a small apartment.
Pensioner poverty in Spain
His case highlights a growing disparity among elderly residents in Spain. While some retirees receive pensions between 2,000 and 3,000 euros a month and own their homes outright, others survive on pensions of less than 1,000 euros without owning property. For those paying market rent on low pensions, subsistence is difficult, forcing some to share rooms with university students or rely on social assistance.
In Spain, self-employed workers register under the autónomo system, paying fixed monthly social security contributions. Angel first shared his experience during a broadcast in September 2025 on Y ahora Sonsoles, a news and magazine show on Antena 3, one of Spain's main commercial television networks.
Ongoing debt repayment
Angel continues to work at 77 to pay down the remaining balance of his 50,000 euro machinery loan while meeting his everyday expenses. He maintains that returning to physical labor was a necessity born of high housing costs, noting that staying retired on 50 euros a month after rent was not a viable option.
