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Madrid demands dependency care funding from the central government and warns of social impact
The Community of Madrid is demanding that the national government pay a debt of 3 billion for dependency care. Insufficient funding affects thousands of families and could change social care in the city.
Funding for dependency care is once again at the centre of debate in Madrid. The Comunidad, through its Regional Minister for Family, Youth and Social Policies, has requested an urgent meeting with the Minister for Social Rights to address a debt which, according to the regional government, already exceeds €3 billion. They say this figure reflects the gap between what the State contributes and what it actually costs to maintain the system in the region.
In the letter sent to the Ministry, Regional Minister Ana Dávila details that the State’s contribution in 2024 barely covers 27.5% of expenditure, far from the commitment to 50% co-financing. The forecast for next year does not improve, which, according to the Comunidad, worsens the situation of those who depend on these services in Madrid.
The impact is direct: with the funds that did not arrive last year, more than 12,000 residential places could have been created or millions of hours of home help funded. The Regional Minister considers it difficult to justify the central government continuing to rely on the extension of the General Budget to avoid increasing funding, especially when legal mechanisms exist to do so.
The case of ELA is mentioned as an example of how, even without new budgets, specific funds have been made available. However, the Comunidad criticises the fact that the same flexibility is not applied to the dependency-care system, which affects more than one and a half million people across the country.
Madrid’s request is clear: an immediate meeting to review funding, demand compliance with commitments and agree measures that guarantee the system’s sustainability. The aim is to ensure dignified care for the most vulnerable people, something which, according to the Comunidad, is at risk if the current imbalance is not resolved.
The dependency-care system in Madrid is one of the pillars of social care in the city. Its operation involves a network of residences, day centres and home-help services that reach thousands of families in every neighbourhood. Adjustments in funding affect not only those who receive the benefit, but also employment in the sector and the ability to respond to new needs. Madrid is already beginning to move in that direction, seeking solutions that make it possible to maintain the pace of care the city demands.