Spain to update CUME benefits for parents of seriously ill children

Spain's Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Elma Saiz, has announced that a new regulation for the CUME benefit—designed for parents caring for children with cancer or other serious illnesses—will be released in October. The new rules are expected to include most improvements requested by families, specifically addressing the age limit of 26 years.

Currently, the benefit compensates parents who reduce their working hours by at least 50% to provide care. While it can be maintained until age 26 if the child has a disability of 65% or higher, advocacy groups such as ASFACUME and La CUME nos une are protesting to ensure the benefit continues beyond that age if severe disability or high-level dependency persists.

The announcement comes as the lower house moves to approve reforms to the dependency and disability law. While a Senate amendment sought to exceptionally extend the benefit beyond age 26 for those with significant disabilities, the government opposed the amendment due to budgetary concerns, opting instead to implement the new CUME regulation.