The number of Catalans living in severe poverty has grown to 700,000. Fewer residents now receive the Guaranteed Income benefit. Official data show that current aid measures are failing to reach those most in need.
Severe material poverty in Catalonia has reached its highest level in years, with more than 700,000 people now affected, according to the latest figures from the Generalitat. Despite the introduction of the Renta Garantizada de Ciudadanía (RGC) in 2017, intended as a universal safety net, the proportion of residents living in extreme deprivation has climbed from 6.7% to 8.9% since the law's approval.
The RGC was established as a subjective right, meaning eligible individuals could demand support from the state. However, the number of beneficiaries has dropped sharply. Between March 2025 and February this year, recipients fell by 16,110, from 143,019 to 126,919. This decline comes even as the need for assistance has grown, particularly among families with children—179,000 minors are now living in severe poverty.
Current data from the Sindicatura de Greuges reveal that only 13.3% of those in extreme material hardship receive the RGC. When combined with the national Ingreso Mínimo Vital (IMV), just 41.5% of the poorest residents access these forms of aid. The Institut Català d'Avaluació de Polítiques Públiques (Ivàlua) has confirmed that the coverage rate is insufficient and does not enable families, especially those with children, to escape severe poverty. Among salaried workers, the risk of poverty remains close to 12%.
Social organizations and the original promoters of the RGC have called on the Catalan parliament to urgently revise the law. Their proposals include shortening the waiting period for benefits, streamlining the application process, and merging the RGC and IMV into a single point of access. Currently, the RGC provides €801.85 per month for an individual, while the IMV offers €733.60. Yet, with average rents in Barcelona now at €1,155 per month, these amounts fall short of covering basic living costs.
Efforts to address poverty have included legislative and administrative reforms, but these have not been enough to halt the rise in extreme deprivation. The left has introduced measures to support vulnerable groups, but the withdrawal of certain protections—such as the Constitutional Court's decision to end energy poverty safeguards in Catalonia—has further complicated the situation. The need for more effective and accessible support is now more urgent than ever.
Housing affordability remains a critical issue in Catalonia, as highlighted in a recent report on new restrictions targeting speculative property purchases. Rising rents and limited access to social benefits are compounding the challenges faced by low-income residents. The current debate centers on how to ensure that aid reaches those most in need and whether existing policies can be adapted to meet the scale of the crisis.
For context, Catalonia's approach to social welfare has often been seen as a model within Spain, but the persistent gap between policy and practical outcomes is drawing increasing scrutiny. The combination of high living costs, insufficient benefit coverage, and administrative hurdles has left many families without adequate support. As the region faces ongoing economic pressures, the effectiveness of its social safety net remains a pressing concern for policymakers and residents alike.
