Severe material poverty in Catalonia has reached its highest level in years, affecting more than 700,000 people, information from the latest figures from the Generalitat. The Renta Garantizada de Ciudadanía (RGC) was introduced in 2017 as a universal safety net, yet the share of residents living in extreme deprivation has climbed from 6.7% to 8.9% since the law was approved.
The RGC was established as a subjective right, so eligible individuals could claim support from the state. Yet 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. The decline comes as the need for assistance grows, particularly among families with children: 179,000 minors now live in severe poverty.
Data from the Sindicatura de Greuges show that only 13.3% of people in extreme material hardship receive the RGC. Including the national Ingreso Mínimo Critical (IMV), just 41.5% of the poorest residents receive either form of aid. The Institut Català d'Avaluació de Polítiques Públiques (Ivàlua) has confirmed that coverage is too limited to help families, especially those with children, escape severe poverty. Among salaried workers, the risk of poverty remains close to 12%.
Social organizations and the original promoters of the RGC have urged the Catalan parliament to revise the law. Their proposals call for a shorter waiting period, with a streamlined application process that would bring the RGC and IMV together at a single point of access. The RGC currently provides €801.85 per month for an individual, while the IMV offers €733.60. Yet average rents in Barcelona now stand at €1,155 per month, leaving these amounts short of covering basic living costs.
Legislative and administrative reforms have not halted the rise in extreme deprivation. The left has introduced measures to support vulnerable groups, but the withdrawal of certain protections has further complicated the situation. That includes the Constitutional Court's decision to end energy poverty safeguards in Catalonia. More effective and accessible support is increasingly urgent.
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 low-income residents face. The debate centers on how to ensure aid reaches those most in need and whether existing policies can meet the scale of the crisis.
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 greater scrutiny. High living costs and insufficient benefit coverage, compounded by administrative hurdles, have left many families without adequate support. As the region faces ongoing economic pressures, the effectiveness of its social safety net remains a concern for policymakers and residents.
