A woman in Catalonia has been ordered to repay €22,918 in non-contributory pension benefits after a court upheld a decision that her household no longer met the economic requirements, according to Diari de Girona. The case centred on her son being registered at her address since 2020.
The Tribunal Superior de Justícia de Castella i Lleó confirmed the administrative withdrawal of the pension, which the woman had received since 2015. Once her son’s income was included in the household’s economic unit, the total went above the limit for the benefit.
The original review took place in 2023, when the Administration of the Services of the Junta de Castella i Lleó found the son was officially registered at the same home. That registration changed how the woman’s financial situation was assessed for the pension.
Authorities said that sharing an official domicile meant the son’s income had to be counted as part of the household. On that basis, the administration ended the pension and sought repayment of the amounts paid after the change, which came to €22,918.
The case shows how empadronament, the official registration of residence, can affect eligibility for public aid and pensions. Changes in household composition or registration details can alter whether someone still meets the rules for support.
The ruling leaves the administrative decision in place, so the woman is legally required to return the money. For readers following similar public-benefit cases in Catalonia, see our news coverage for more updates.