In Spain, court rulings on occupational disability are becoming increasingly significant for thousands of workers facing chronic illnesses. A recent example is the case of a 37-year-old woman who worked as an administrative assistant in Castilla-La Mancha; the court granted her the right to a lifelong pension due to chronic fatigue. This decision not only determines the fate of a specific employee but also reflects a trend towards more attentive consideration of such cases in judicial practice.
Case Summary
The Labor Disputes Chamber in Castilla-La Mancha reviewed the appeal of a woman suffering from myalgic encephalomyelitis—a condition that causes persistent fatigue, cognitive impairment, headaches, and photophobia. Despite a medical board report noting severe limitations, the National Institute of Social Security (INSS) initially refused to recognize total occupational disability. This refusal became the starting point for litigation.
Arguments of the Parties
In March 2023, the medical board officially recorded that the employee was suffering from a severe form of the illness, which significantly limited her ability to carry out even the most basic professional tasks. However, the INSS did not consider these limitations sufficient to recognize total disability. As a result, the dispute went to court, where in October 2024 a first-instance ruling was made in favor of the plaintiff.
Court’s Position
The appellate court upheld the findings of the first instance, relying on the expert report presented during the hearings. The court noted that the consequences of the illness had reached such a degree that the woman could not leave her home, drive a car, and suffered from constant physical and mental exhaustion, preventing her from doing anything except caring for herself. Based on these facts, the court determined that it was impossible for the claimant to perform any professional activity with the necessary regularity and efficiency.
Pension amount and terms
As a result of the court’s decision, the woman was granted a lifetime pension equal to 100% of the established base—2,773.76 euros, with all future indexations. However, as Talent24h notes, the decision has not yet entered into legal force and can be appealed to the Supreme Court.
Context and trends
This case illustrates how complex and ambiguous the process of recognizing disability can be, even with serious medical indications. In recent years, courts are increasingly faced with the need to balance strict criteria and the real limitations that workers experience. Such stories become topics of public debate, especially amid the tightening of criteria for disability recognition, as detailed in material about judicial practice in Catalonia— why even police officers are increasingly being denied disability status.
Possibility of appeal
At this time, the court’s decision in the case of the resident of Castilla-La Mancha is not final. The judicial system’s press service emphasizes that the parties retain the right to appeal to the Supreme Court. Therefore, a final ruling has not yet been made in this case, and its outcome may serve as a precedent for similar disputes in the future.
