Congress approves a key reform that aligns degrees of dependency and disability, reduces paperwork, and adds €6.2 billion. The measure, driven by Sumar, will benefit thousands of residents in the Community of Madrid.
The reform of the dependency system, approved yesterday in Congress, will bring about a radical change for the thousands of people awaiting aid in the Community of Madrid. The law, promoted by the Ministry of Social Rights of Sumar, aligns the degrees of dependency with those of disability and eliminates bureaucratic hurdles that have delayed benefits until now.
According to the approved text, individuals with grade I dependency will be recognised as having at least a 33% disability, while grades II and III will be equated to 65%. This will allow those affected to automatically access benefits such as tax deductions, reserved parking spaces, or transport aids, without having to initiate a new administrative process.
More money and shorter waiting lists
The reform comes with a historic increase in funding: €6.2 billion additional until 2027, raising state investment above €7.2 billion. The aim is for the State to cover 50% of the funding for the system, alongside the autonomous communities. In the Community of Madrid, where waiting lists for dependency exceed 30,000 people, these funds could expedite assessments and reduce granting times.
The text also recognises teleassistance as a subjective right, meaning that all dependent individuals can request it without needing to prove minimum income. Additionally, home assistance and personal assistance are strengthened, two key benefits that enable the elderly and people with disabilities to continue living in their homes.
“We are moving towards a more dignified, personalised, and close care model that does not force people to adapt to a rigid system,” sources from the Ministry state.
The left celebrates, the right abstains
The reform passed with votes in favour from the PSOE, Sumar, and their investiture partners, while Vox voted against and the PP abstained. From Más Madrid-Compromiso con Getafe, a party within Sumar, they highlighted that “when the left governs, rights advance.” In Getafe, they have already launched an Independent Living Office for people with intellectual disabilities, a model that the reform aims to extend nationwide.
For residents of the Community of Madrid, the measure represents relief in a context where attention to dependency has been a constant demand. Associations such as the Federation of Persons with Disabilities of the Community of Madrid (FAMMA) have positively evaluated the alignment of degrees, although they warn that the key will be the actual implementation by the regional administration.
What changes for the citizen?
With the new law, a person with recognised dependency will not have to go through two separate processes to obtain the disability certificate. This will save months of waiting and paperwork. Additionally, it establishes that non-professional caregivers (family members caring for dependents) will receive more support, including training and family respite.
The reform also focuses on the protection of women and children with disabilities, who often suffer multiple discrimination. Mechanisms to detect and prevent abuse are strengthened, and their priority access to resources is guaranteed.
In practice, a resident of Alcalá de Henares or Móstoles caring for a dependent family member will be able to request teleassistance with fewer requirements, and if the grade is I, they will automatically obtain the 33% disability, allowing them, for example, to access discounts on public transport or municipal property tax (IBI).
The next step will be the transposition to regional regulations. The Community of Madrid must adapt its procedures within six months so that residents can begin to notice the changes. Meanwhile, associations recommend that those affected review their situation and, if they already have recognised dependency, request the alignment of degrees when the law comes into effect, likely at the end of 2026.
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