The Gipuzkoa Provincial Council has significantly boosted its investment in home care assistance for dependent individuals, achieving a 50% increase over the last decade. Last year, 76 million euros were allocated to this area, benefiting 20,000 people across the territory, thanks to structural improvements implemented two years prior.
These figures were presented this Wednesday by Maite Peña, Deputy for Care and Social Policies, before the General Assemblies. Her appearance, requested by Elkarrekin Gipuzkoa, aimed to report on the evolution of the Economic Benefit for Personal Assistance (PEAP), which supports hiring a personal assistant at home, and the Economic Benefit for Care in the Family Environment (PECEF), for dependent individuals cared for by non-professional caregivers, since 2023.
Since 2023, Peña indicated that these aids have seen a considerable increase, projected to reach 76 million euros and 20,000 recipients by 2025. Of these, 45% received PEAP and 53% received PECEF. However, PEAP accounted for the largest economic expenditure, up to 62%, compared to 35% for PECEF, reflecting “a clear orientation of our system towards home care formulas with a greater professional component and higher intensity of support.”
The deputy cited the situation a decade ago as an example, when only 26% of beneficiaries received PEAP, and it represented 35% of the total expenditure. Since then, investment has grown by 50% and the number of recipients by 19%. “Today, we speak of a more developed, more intense, and more professionalization-oriented system,” she added.
Since 2023, when “important structural improvements” were introduced, people receiving PEAP in grade III represent 19%, and those in grade II represent 12%. Regarding family aids, 7% are grade III and 6% are grade II. Among these changes, guaranteed minimum amounts were established for all benefits (200 euros monthly for grade III, 150 euros for grade II, and 100 euros for grade I), and the maximum amounts for PEAP were increased, especially for grade II. Additionally, a specific supplement of 240 euros monthly was added in cases where the cost of care exceeded 125% of the Minimum Interprofessional Wage (SMI), with a maximum benefit of 1,072 euros.
Last year, 2,704 home visits were conducted, with a high suitability of the benefit to the person's situation in 80% of cases and medium suitability in 19%. “It's not just about reaching more people, but about reaching them better, with tailored and quality responses,” Peña stated.
Looking ahead, the deputy affirmed that the Provincial Council will continue to strengthen benefits, improve suitability, and maintain support for care in the family environment, while promoting more professionalized approaches.
“"We are aware that the system faces significant challenges, and this obliges us to address any changes with responsibility, ensuring the sustainability of the system."
Peña criticized the remarks of Miren Echeveste (Elkarrekin Gipuzkoa), who during her intervention demanded that these benefits be adjusted to the increase in the SMI. Peña emphasized the importance of sustainability and understanding the nature of each benefit. “It is not the same to equate the SMI for 400 people as for 7,000. We must work responsibly, assess what to promote, conduct studies, and seek compatibility of services. Good home care is essential, and support is needed to provide it in the best possible way,” she concluded.
