Major dependency care investment.
Sánchez announces record 7.2 billion euro investment for dependency care by 2027.
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Pedro Sánchez announced on June 23 the biggest funding boost in the history of Spain's dependency system. State spending will surpass €7.2 billion by 2027 — more than five times the €1.347 billion invested in 2018, according to RTVE.
The measure was approved the same day via emergency decree. It takes effect July 1, 2026. Over 1.6 million people with recognized dependency needs will benefit from higher monthly payments and better services, El Periódico reported.
Monthly Payments Double or Triple Depending on Grade
The reform restructures how much the State transfers each month to regions for every person receiving care. People with Grade I dependency — those who need help at least once a day — will see their monthly state transfer rise from €76 to €90, an 18% increase, according to El Periódico de Aragón.
The jumps are far steeper for more severe cases. Grade II recipients go from €130 to €260 per month — a 100% increase. Grade III, for people who need round-the-clock support, rises from €290 to €660, a 128% increase. Sánchez said at Imserso headquarters that the State will now meet its legal obligation to fund 50% of the entire system, according to La Moncloa.
265,000 People Stuck in 'Dependency Limbo' — One Dies Every 16 Minutes
As of May 2026, some 265,503 people had an approved right to care but were receiving nothing. Experts call this the "limbo de la dependencia." The average wait time is 320 days — nearly twice the legal limit of 180 days, according to LNE.
The human cost is stark. In the first five months of 2026 alone, 13,503 people died while waiting for aid — one person every 16 minutes, according to Diario de Mallorca. Regional gaps are wide: Castilla y León averages 119 days of waiting, while Murcia reaches 552 days.
Government Claims Historic Milestone, Opposition Cries Distraction
Minister Pablo Bustinduy called it "the most important social transformation of the legislature." He said the reform pushes Spain toward a model where people are cared for at home rather than in institutions, according to La Opinión de A Coruña.
The announcement came just hours after a court sentenced former minister José Luis Ábalos to 24 years in prison. Vox spokesperson José María Figaredo dismissed it as a "pucherazo electoral" — an electoral stunt — designed to change the subject. By using an emergency decree, the government also forces the opposition to vote against a popular social measure within 30 days, according to La Opinión de Murcia.
Social Sector Warns Money Alone Won't Clear the Backlog
Care worker associations gave the announcement a cautious welcome. José Manuel Ramírez of the Association of Social Service Directors said the system remains "low cost" compared to EU averages. He warned that the waitlist for initial dependency assessments actually grew by 7,293 people since late 2025, according to Información.
The concern is straightforward: without hiring thousands of new evaluators at the regional level, fresh funding will not reach people fast enough. The Congress of Deputies must validate the emergency decree within 30 business days. If approved, it sets the legal floor for the 2027 General State Budget, according to El Correo Gallego.
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