The number of beneficiaries of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa's aid to cover home care costs for dependent elderly people has grown by 19% in the last decade, with 20,000 residents now receiving these services. Concurrently, the financial investment has risen by 50% over ten years, totaling 76 million euros.
Maite Peña, Deputy for Care and Social Policies, presented these figures yesterday at the General Assemblies of Gipuzkoa. Her appearance, requested by the Elkarrekin Gipuzkoa parliamentary group, aimed to report on the evolution since 2023 of the Economic Benefit for Personal Assistance (PEAP), designed to cover the costs of hiring professional caregivers, and the Economic Benefit for Care in the Family Environment (PECEF), which supports care provided by family members or non-professional caregivers.
Last year, 76 million euros were invested, benefiting over 20,000 individuals. Of these, 45% received personal assistance benefits, and 53% received economic aid for care in the family environment. In terms of expenditure, the former accounted for 62% of the total, compared to 35% for the latter. This data, according to Deputy Maite Peña, reflects “a clear orientation of our system towards home care models with a greater professional component”.
“"Ten years ago, only 26% of beneficiaries received the PEAP, and it represented 35% of the total expenditure. Today, we are talking about a more developed system, more oriented towards professionalization."
Since 2023, individuals receiving PEAP in grade III have increased by 19%, and those in grade II by 12%. For the economic benefit for care in the family environment, increases have been 7% (grade III) and 6% (grade II). Peña noted that “significant structural improvements were introduced that year,” such as guaranteed minimum amounts for all benefits—200 euros monthly for grade III, 150 for grade II, and 100 for grade I—and maximum PEAP amounts were increased, particularly for grade II.
Additionally, a specific monthly supplement of 240 euros was incorporated for cases where care costs exceed 125% of the Minimum Interprofessional Wage (SMI), “thus reinforcing coverage in situations of greater need, with the benefit potentially reaching a maximum of 1,072 euros”.
According to the latest available data from 2025, 2,704 home visits were conducted. The suitability of the benefit to the individual's situation “has been high in 80% of cases and medium in 19%,” according to municipal social workers. Peña stated that “this is key, because it's not just about reaching more people, but about reaching them better, with tailored and quality responses”.
Looking ahead, and considering the demographic challenge facing the territory, “we want to continue advancing in strengthening benefits, improving their adequacy, and maintaining support for care in the family environment and promoting more professionalized models,” explained the Deputy for Care and Social Policies. “We are aware that the system faces significant challenges, which obliges us to address any change responsibly, ensuring the system's sustainability,” she added.
