Spain's dependency aid system sees long waits and dozens of deaths, report shows

The latest report from the Association of Directors and Managers in Social Services shows that across Spain 13,503 people died while waiting for a dependency assessment or aid between January and May 2026. Almost half of the deaths occurred in Catalonia (4,342) and Andalusia (2,204). Galicia recorded the fewest deaths, only 34.

Waiting times vary by autonomous community. Navarra’s average processing time is 211 days, above the legal 180‑day limit but below the national average of 320 days. The longest delays are in Murcia (552 days) and Andalusia (446 days). Galicia’s average wait is 312 days, the sixth‑longest, and its waiting list holds 1,365 people – the third lowest in the country. The report also notes regional changes in the number of beneficiaries, with the highest growth in the Canary Islands (22%) and declines in Navarra (‑2.1%).