The increase in state funding to the dependency system by 6.2 billion euros between 2026 and 2027 for its distribution among the autonomous communities will allow reducing waiting lists by 71,000 people in 2027 (609 in Canary Islands) and creating 115,000 jobs (6,563 in the archipelago), in addition to serving more beneficiaries (16,565 more in the archipelago) and expanding services.
These are the estimates of the Ministry of Social Rights after the approval this Tuesday in Congress of the decree law that will increase the amounts that the State transfers each month to the autonomous communities for the number of people who have a recognized dependency benefit and according to the degree they have, which have begun to be paid in July and have increased on average by 82%.
Together with the approval of this increase in state funding, Congress approved for its referral to the Senate the reform of the disability and dependency laws which, in addition to contemplating an expansion of rights, services, benefits and less bureaucracy, guarantees that the State must contribute 50% of the investment.
Among the main new features, incompatibilities between benefits are eliminated, the personal assistance service is extended beyond the home environment (such as accompanying the user to do the shopping or go to the doctor), and other people who are not strictly family members are recognized as caregivers.
As for the modifications relating to disability, it establishes universal accessibility as a right, guarantees that they can receive different benefits, expressly incorporates the right to personal autonomy and develops the new article 49 of the Constitution.
In addition, bureaucracy is eliminated by recognizing 33% disability to people who are assigned a degree I of dependency, and those who obtain a degree II or III may be recognized with 65% disability, in order to speed up administrative processes and reduce waiting lists.
Likewise, the Council of Ministers approved this Tuesday the financial contribution that Social Rights will distribute this year among the autonomous communities for the agreed level, which is the other way of state funding that the dependency system has, which will also be increased by 120 million euros in 2026 and another 120 million more for 2027.
With these increases in funding, the Government will transfer 6.2 billion euros more to the autonomous communities so that they can reduce waiting lists, which Social Rights estimates could decrease by 71,000 people in 2027.
According to the ministry, this increase in the state contribution, which they describe as "historic," will have a great impact at the labor level, since it will allow the regional governments to hire more staff for their care systems, and will mean the creation of between 107,735 and 115,050 jobs within the dependency sector throughout Spain.
In addition, they estimate that next year 417,000 new beneficiaries will be able to be served, it will allow for improved working conditions for caregivers (the vast majority of whom are women), and offer more and higher quality services to users.
A priority objective of this increase in the contribution that the autonomous communities will receive in the area of dependency, Social Rights has highlighted, is that it translates into an improvement in the working conditions of these workers and into better salaries, better training, and more stability for them.
To this end, a dialogue table has been initiated with unions and employers so that both parties have all the information about this new funding and to try to ensure that social agents can carry out an immediate improvement of their conditions.
Distribution by communities
- Canary Islands: 237 million euros additional (78.8 million in 2026 and 157.7 million in 2027), and an estimated 16,565 new beneficiaries, a reduction of 609 people on the waiting list, and the creation of 6,563 jobs.
- Andalusia: 954 million euros additional from the Government to finance the minimum level of dependency (317.9 million in 2026 and 635.9 million in 2027), which would allow for the incorporation of 102,333 new beneficiaries, a reduction of 15,461 people on the waiting list, and the creation of 23,577 jobs.
- Aragon: 146 million euros additional (48.6 million in 2026 and 97.3 million in 2027), with an impact of 11,175 new beneficiaries, a reduction of 248 people on the waiting list, and 2,089 new jobs.
- Asturias: 79 million euros additional (26.2 million in 2026 and 52.5 million in 2027), which could translate into 9,370 new beneficiaries, 2,167 fewer people on the waiting list, and 2,374 new jobs.
- Balearic Islands: 84 million additional euros (28.1 million in 2026 and 56.3 million in 2027), which could incorporate 8,455 new users, reduce the waiting list by 1,248 people and create 1,752 jobs.
- Cantabria: 55 million additional euros (18.4 million in 2026 and 36.9 million in 2027), which would allow the incorporation of 2,493 beneficiaries, progress towards the elimination of the waiting list and create 1,032 jobs.
- Castilla-La Mancha: 236 million additional euros (78.8 million in 2026 and 157.7 million in 2027), with an estimated impact of 18,802 new beneficiaries, a reduction of 2,042 people on the waiting list and the creation of 6,254 jobs.
- Castilla y León: 341 million additional euros (113.6 million in 2026 and 227.3 million in 2027), which could allow the incorporation of 25,654 beneficiaries, practically eliminate the waiting list and 7,329 more jobs.
- Catalonia: 567 million additional euros (189.1 million in 2026 and 378.3 million in 2027), which could increase the system by 61,470 beneficiaries, reduce the waiting list by 24,881 people and 13,611 more jobs.
- Valencian Community: 535 million additional euros (178.3 million in 2026 and 356.7 million in 2027), which could translate into 61,727 beneficiaries, 4,471 fewer people on the waiting list and 12,704 new jobs.
- Extremadura: 114 million additional euros (38 million in 2026 and 76.2 million in 2027), with an estimated impact of 8,132 new beneficiaries, 2,845 fewer people on the waiting list, and the creation of 2,096 jobs.
- Galicia: 270 million additional euros (90.2 million in 2026 and 180.6 million in 2027), which could mean 15,938 beneficiaries, reduce the waiting list by 793 people and create 6,156 jobs.
- Madrid: 680 million additional euros (226.6 million in 2026 and 453.3 million in 2027), which could add 60,876 new beneficiaries, 11,497 fewer people on the waiting list and the creation of 22,315 new jobs.
- Murcia: 146 million additional euros (48.6 million in 2026 and 97.3 million in 2027), which could translate into an increase of 7,119 beneficiaries, 4,904 fewer people on the waiting list and 3,334 new jobs.
- Navarra: 38 million additional euros (12.6 million in 2026 and 25.4 million in 2027), which could add 3,405 new beneficiary people, a reduction of 88 people on the waiting list and create 1,419 jobs.
- Basque Country: 179 million additional euros (59.7 million in 2026 and 119.4 million in 2027), which could allow the incorporation of 2,631 beneficiaries, 4,153 fewer people on the waiting list and 1,328 new jobs.
- La Rioja: 25 million more euros (8.2 million in 2026 and 16.5 million euros in 2027), which could translate into 2,116 new beneficiaries, eliminate the waiting list, and 846 jobs.