"It is not acceptable. The money that has been added to reduce dependency waiting lists and guarantee the right that these people have recognized by law by the State, through the general budget (PGE), has been taken from the regional accounts , which clearly prevents speeding up the end of the shameful waiting lists", says the head of the State Association of Directors and Managers of Social Services, José Ramón Ramírez. Last year 45,360 people died on the waiting lists of the dependency; one every twelve minutes.
The entity has just published a new report in which they emphasize that the contribution for community dependency was reduced by 98 million euros last year.
Specifically, nine regional governments "cashed in" in 2022 with the increase in the PGE for dependency, so they relieved the regional coffers instead of increasing care for dependent people, for which the increase was intended budget
The nine communities that in 2022 have decreased spending on care for people in a situation of dependency with respect to 2021 are Catalonia, which has reduced investment by 57.3 million; Cantabria (8.7 million less), Asturias (10.8), Valencian Community (40.6), Andalusia (51.6), Extremadura (11), Madrid (15), Castile and Leon (7.4) and Murcia (one million).
"The cuts that have taken place in Catalonia are particularly bloody, a community that, once again, last year took last place on the Dependency Observatory's Rating Scale", points out Ramírez. 27% of people entitled to assistance in Catalonia were waiting to receive the service or be assessed.
According to the Dependency Observatory, published in March, the communities with the most "dependency limbo", that is, people waiting to receive benefits, are Catalonia (27.1%), La Rioja (18.9%) and the Basque Country (17.5%).
It is the second year that the Government has carried out the anti-dependency shock plan to reduce the long waiting lists and which has resulted in a budget increase. "But the bureaucracy and the incompetence of some regional governments do not allow to achieve the objective of reducing the waiting list, increasing the benefits and services and not even implementing the budget increase", points out the aforementioned entity. In the first year, there were ten communities that "cashed in" with the increase in the budget made by the General Administration of the State. In that group, Catalonia was not there. In 2022 yes, despite the "serious situation" of dependency in Catalonia.
"The change is surprising, because we know that from the Department of Social Rights, led by Councilor Carles Campuzano, there is a clear commitment to reverse the situation", explains the spokesperson of the State Association of Directors and Managers of Social Services, that just a year ago he appeared before the Social Rights Commission of the Parliament of Catalonia to report on the long waiting lists.
Public investment for the Department in 2022 was 10,234 million euros. Of these, the communities financed 74% with 7,573 million euros (1.27% less spending than in 2021). The state contribution stands at 26%, with 2,661 million euros (if the Basque quota and the contribution to Navarre are included), with the increase of 33.6% with regard to previous year, which was 1,992 million (including the contribution to Navarre, the Basque quota, the minimum level and the agreed level). "So, if Navarre's contribution and the Basque quota were taken into account, the contribution for dependency of the communities would be reduced even more and would reach 134 million euros less than last year", explains Ramírez.
The communities that invest the most in dependency per potentially dependent person per year are the Basque Country (2,329 euros), Extremadura (1,706) and Navarre (701). The Canaries (801 euros) and Galicia (615) are still in the queue. Catalonia invests 1,105 euros.
