Spain boosts dependency care funding, targeting 47% waitlist cut by 2027

The Spanish government approved a major increase in state financing for the Dependency Care System, doubling the monthly transfers to autonomous communities and allocating an additional €6.2 billion through the end of 2027. The Ministry of Social Rights projects that the extra resources will cut the waiting list for care services by 47% by the end of 2027, removing more than 70,000 people from the queue and extending benefits to an estimated 417,000 additional recipients, raising the total served to around 2.1 million.

Stakeholders noted the long‑standing challenges of the system: the average processing time remains about 320 days, far above the legal six‑month limit, and more than 13,500 deaths were recorded among those still waiting in the first five months of 2026. Older‑people organisations, unions and employer groups welcomed the funding but called for strict conditions to ensure the money improves service quality and employment conditions for care workers. The increase is framed as a structural, law‑protected boost that will continue beyond 2027.