Spain expands care benefit for children with cancer and widens early retirement for disabled workers

The Ministry of Inclusion, Security and Migration announced a draft Royal Decree that revises the CUME (Care for Minors with Cancer or Serious Illness) benefit. The proposal adds compatibility with the child's training internships, permits primary‑care physicians to issue the required medical report, improves the application form and clarifies long‑stay hospital care definitions. The budget for the benefit is set to rise from €84 million to €355 million by 2025.

A separate decree, published in the Official State Gazette on 31 July, expands the early‑retirement scheme for workers with disabilities to eleven new pathologies, including Parkinson’s disease, spinal injuries and chronic kidney failure. Around 50 000 workers with a recognised disability of 45 % or more may now retire at age 56 without a pension reduction, provided they meet contribution requirements. Disability organisations such as CERMI welcomed the measure as a significant step for social protection.