107 People Receiving ALS Support, 59 Cases Pending
The Generalitat has approved aid for 107 people with extreme levels of dependency due to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), classified as grade III+ under the Spanish dependency system, with a further 59 applications currently in administrative processing. This was confirmed by Raúl Moreno, Minister of Social Rights and Inclusion, during a parliamentary session on Wednesday 21st October 2026. Moreno stated that the average processing time for these applications is now 43 days, reflecting efforts to prioritise dependency assessments for ALS patients. The ELA Law, formally supporting those with advanced ALS, aims to provide timely financial and care assistance to affected individuals and their families.
Bureaucracy Not the Barrier – Lack of Caregivers Is
Despite the swift administrative handling, the main challenge lies in delivering care. The bottleneck is not red tape, but a shortage of specialised caregivers trained to manage the complex needs of ALS patients. This gap delays the practical implementation of support, even after applications are approved. To address this, the Department of Social Rights holds weekly meetings with sector organisations to help families identify and select private care providers. The aim is to strengthen coordination and monitor ongoing service delivery.
We are making an agile processing, prioritizing the dependency assessments of these people,
, Raúl Moreno, Minister of Social Rights and Inclusion
Future Focus: Training and Financial Increases
Moreno acknowledged that expanding the pool of qualified professionals is the top priority. Once training programmes are enhanced and staffing stabilises, the Generalitat plans to approve a government agreement to increase the financial benefits provided under the ELA Law. No timeline was given for this review. The current focus remains on ensuring that approved aid translates into actual home care without delay.
Reported by catalunyapress.es, democrata.es, catalunyapress.cat, CatalunyaPress.
