The Department of Social Rights and Inclusion began this week to pay the benefit for people with ALS in Catalonia, with two initial beneficiaries who have already received the payment and 105 people recognized with grade III+. The aid can reach 15,000 euros per month and is part of the reinforcement of dependency policies and the deployment of the new care model.
The start of payments coincided with the budget debate in the Parliament, where the opposition questioned the real scope of the accounts despite the implementation of the aid. While the department defends that the 2026 budget grows to 4,248 million euros, 28% more than in 2023, Junts has warned that it only reserves 1% to fulfill the commitment of the law linked to high dependency aid.
Mònica Martínez Bravo placed ALS aid within the new care model
The minister Mònica Martínez Bravo presented the 2026 accounts of her department in the Catalan Chamber and framed this benefit within the deployment of measures on dependency, childhood, and personal autonomy. She also maintained that the budget for Social Rights grows more than that for Health and Education in percentage terms.
Martínez Bravo defended that the purpose of the aid is to prevent access to this type of benefit from depending on the economic capacity of each family. In this line, she contrasted the Catalan model with that of the Community of Madrid, where she placed the co-payment at 40%, and stated that the Government's objective is to guarantee access to public services.
The department plans to allocate 96.5% of the budget directly to people, according to the data presented during the appearance. The measure on ALS is also connected with the framework of the dependency law and with the Cura Plan, aimed at streamlining dependency and disability assessments.
Junts, PP, Vox, and CUP questioned the real scope of the accounts
During the parliamentary debate, Ennatu Domingo, a deputy from Junts, warned that the accounts only allocate 1% to fulfill the commitment of the law linked to high dependency aid. From ERC, Najat Driouech defended the budget agreement out of responsibility and national interest.
Andrés García Berrio, a deputy from the Comuns, warned that his group will be demanding regarding the application of the allocations. Montserrat Berenguer, a deputy from the PP, maintained that Social Rights continues to be Cinderella compared to Health and Education.
Vox focused part of its criticism on the immediate execution of the benefit. María Elisa García stated in Parliament that not a single euro had reached ALS patients, despite the department having communicated the start of payments this very week.
The CUP also expressed reservations about the general approach of the accounts. Pilar Castillejo said that she does not perceive a fundamental change and demanded that this area be de-commodified.
The 2026 budgets of the Department of Social Rights and Inclusion amount to 4,248 million euros and place at 105 the number of people who already have grade III+ recognized to access the benefit for ALS.