In Catalonia, despite economic growth, social inequality continues to deepen. Having a job or receiving basic benefits does not guarantee an escape from poverty for thousands of families. This is especially true for households with children, where the situation has become critical.
Recent studies have shown that two-thirds of families with minors who receive the Guaranteed Citizen Income (Renta Garantizada de Ciudadanía, RGC) continue to live in extreme poverty. Women, who make up the majority of recipients, face additional challenges. Their vulnerability is due not only to economic factors but also to social structures that place the main burden of caregiving on them.
Families with children are at particular risk
An analysis of recent years reveals a troubling trend: while only a few childless households remain in severe poverty after receiving benefits, among families with children this figure reaches 66%. Large families are hit especially hard, as the benefit is often not enough to meet even basic needs. As a result, more than 167,000 minors in the region live on no more than 700 euros a month for the entire family.
Child poverty rates in Catalonia are significantly higher than the European average. One in four children here grows up below the poverty line, and the rate of extreme deprivation among minors is almost one and a half times higher than across Europe. The support system is failing: payments do not increase with the number of children, and confusion between different types of benefits only worsens the situation.
Women and the labor market: a closed circle
Women receiving RGC often find themselves trapped: the fear of losing their benefits discourages them from looking for work. As a result, many cannot enter the job market and have no chance to improve their families’ financial situation. Attempts to reform the system are slow, and so far, the changes have failed to address the root issues.
Catalan authorities have promised to make payments more flexible and compatible with other forms of aid to ease the transition to independence. However, unions and community organizations call these measures insufficient and are demanding urgent steps to support the most vulnerable groups.
Coverage issues and reform prospects
Since the introduction of the RGC in 2017, the idea was to make support available to anyone who needed it. In reality, coverage remains low: less than half of those eligible actually receive payments. Meanwhile, more than 1.9 million people live below the poverty line—almost a quarter of Catalonia’s population.
Since 2020, the RGC has supplemented the government benefit (Ingreso Mínimo Vital), but even together, these payments rarely help families escape poverty. The amount of aid depends on the household size, yet even the maximum allowances do not cover the rising costs of housing and food. Authorities have promised to review their approach, but for now, little has changed for most families with children.
