Catalan government launches plan to cut dependency aid waiting times

The Catalan government has launched the "Pla Cura" (Care Plan) to simplify access to dependency aid and clear a significant backlog of applications across Catalonia. The long-term goal is to reduce the average waiting time from the current 397 days to 60 days.

A decree-law on urgent measures will be approved next week to streamline the process and boost human and technological resources. A key change will be combining the dependency assessment and the Individual Care Plan (PIA) into a single step. Additionally, the application process can now start at local primary care centres (CAPs), where doctors and social workers will coordinate to offer more accessible support.

Catalonia currently has 128,000 people awaiting dependency aid, with 18,200 of these classified under Grade III, the highest level of dependency.

Addressing a Backlog of Applications

In 2025, 158,000 initial dependency applications were registered, double the number from ten years prior. Over the last two years, the system has absorbed nearly 20,000 additional applications annually. This increasing pressure led the government to design the Pla Cura to speed up procedures.

Officials from the Departments of Health and Social Rights described the new strategy as a "fast track" to address the current saturation of the dependency system. They called it a "paradigm shift" and the "most ambitious reform" of the model since the Dependency Law was approved. The current system suffers from "significant IT obsolescence," and the backlog of applications is "considerable," they said. Catalonia has 252,000 active dependency care files, receiving 313,779 benefits or services, while 128,000 people are waiting at various stages of the process.

Pilot Programme Success in Vic

The new plan has already been successfully trialled through a pilot programme in Vic. This initiative established a single social and health window to manage the entire process with multidisciplinary care. "It has reduced the response time to 60 days and improved citizen experience," Health officials stated. They believe implementing this model across the region will significantly cut waiting times, moving closer to the 60-day target. As of March this year, the average wait for an Individual Care Plan (PIA) was 397 days, double the legal limit.

Integrated Care and Simplified Processes

The multidisciplinary approach tested in Vic is a central element of the new plan. Health officials confirmed that 99.7% of people awaiting these aids are "already identified within the health system." The proposal allows citizens to start the dependency application process directly at their CAP, where doctors and social workers, who have direct contact with patients, can jointly address requests and offer integrated, comprehensive, and closer support.

The Pla Cura will expand the number of dependency assessment services from 25 to 375 primary care teams and 107 basic social services. "Citizens must perceive that everything is part of the same care process," Health sources noted, adding that the goal is for these individuals to "feel there is continuity in their care."

The decree-law also stipulates that the dependency assessment and the Individual Care Plan (PIA) will be completed in a single home visit, with both issues resolved in one administrative act. This will reduce unnecessary visits and simplify the process. Once a person receives this resolution, they can start receiving the assigned aid within 15 days. Each applicant will also be assigned a dedicated contact person to guide them through the entire process.

Prioritising Urgent Cases

More personalised care will help detect and prioritise urgent cases. Clinical data will be used to analyse different profiles, and a "fast track" has been planned for complex situations. This includes Grade III cases, along with those involving mental health issues or children.

For Grade III dependent individuals awaiting a service, such as a place in a residence or day centre, a substitute benefit will be provided. These aids will be the minimum legally mandated for this level of dependency, €200, and will be offered while citizens await their assigned service.

Government officials explained that 85% of dependent individuals choose a non-professional carer, typically a family member. Therefore, the percentage of dependents waiting for a residence or day centre place is not the majority. However, the Catalan executive is working to provide 6,000 new subsidised places in residences and day centres over the next four years, with 2,500 already implemented.

The plan also includes more human, technological, and technical resources. It anticipates 25,000 additional assessment applications annually, 200 new professionals, and a budget increase of €25 million. For the first time, vSocial, an IT tool that uses artificial intelligence to organise and share social services information throughout the process, will be deployed.

The new model will be rolled out progressively. The first phase will cover one million inhabitants between September 2026 and March 2027, followed by a full rollout across Catalonia from March to December 2027. This will all operate under the umbrella of the Agency for Integrated Social and Health Care of Catalonia.