Barcelona reports 688 deaths amid dependency benefit delays

In Barcelona, 688 people died during 2025 while awaiting the resolution of their dependency recognition applications. Social Rights and Inclusion Counselor Raúl Moreno disclosed these figures in response to parliamentary inquiries. The majority of these deaths, specifically 634 individuals, occurred within six months of submitting their assessment requests.

This situation persists into 2026, with 299 deaths recorded in the capital so far this year. These delays reflect broader systemic difficulties within the Catalan dependency system, where processing times average approximately nine months. The government has attributed these delays to an aging population and an increase in the complexity of social service cases.

In a separate development regarding social assistance, the Generalitat has begun receiving applications for the Minimum Vital Income (IMV) in Catalonia. The government is progressively assuming these requests to coordinate them with the Guaranteed Citizen Income (RGC). Approximately 1,200 applications were received in the initial days of operation.