In the Valencia Community, a troubling share of retirees lives below the poverty line, totaling more than 396,000 people. That figure comes from a CC OO study that reveals a clear gender pattern: 23% of men are below the poverty threshold, while 53% of women rely on monthly benefits of 681 euros or less. The report also highlights steep housing costs and the struggle to keep homes adequately heated as part of a wider housing crisis affecting older adults.
Announcing the findings, the CC OO PV secretary for Public Policy and Social Protection, alongside the presidents of the union’s Pensioners federations at national and regional levels, underscored the purpose of the Observatory on Social Conditions of Older Adults 2022. The goal is to illuminate living conditions, health status, sources of economic and social support, and the specific risks faced by older people as they age.
Spain ranks among Europe’s oldest nations, and in the Valencia Community life expectancy is notably high. Men born there can expect to reach 86, while women tend to live to about 90. These demographics should inform discussions about pension policies and the persistence of gender gaps in pension payments, according to the study.
Key findings show a substantial portion of retirees living in poverty, with 38.9% earning less than 681 euros per month, a share that disproportionately affects women. An additional 17.1% of retirees fall into severe poverty, with incomes not exceeding 458 euros, a situation dominated by women by about 70%. The CC OO interprets these numbers as a signal of the need for stronger protections against wage gaps that translate into smaller pensions.
The study notes improvements in social protection and wage policy, including an agreement between unions and the central government aimed at reducing the negative effects of income disparities on pension outcomes.
Access to basic needs is another major concern. The energy deficit means 9.4% of seniors cannot keep their homes warm enough. Additionally, 4.4% report delays in covering essential housing costs, and more than 30% cannot cover unexpected expenses. Evaristo Soto emphasizes that these conditions push thousands of older people toward social exclusion, with negative effects on health and overall quality of life.
Reform to reassess 89,000 minimum pensions in Alicante
Ana Belén Montero highlighted Valencia’s need to reform care models, especially for residential care. Available data show a shortfall of more than 16,000 beds across Spain to meet desired levels, and 23,485 beds would be needed to reach 5% targets set by the World Health Organization. Of 234 healthcare settlements in the Community, 254 are private and only 70 are public.
The study also reveals that the Valencia Community has 2.4 hospital beds per thousand people, below the national average of three, with health expenditure per capita around €1,701, aligning with the national norm.
Finally, Sepúlveda stressed the importance of strengthening Primary Care and bridging the digital divide, calling for better socio-sanitary coordination, more resources, and new facilities such as geriatrics and psychology services to support aging populations.
Alicante residents devote about 6.4 years of gross earnings to housing costs. A 2022 analysis by Infojobs indicates the average Alicante resident would need to allocate their entire gross salary to pay a typical mortgage for around 6.4 years. This places Alicante among the provinces with the highest housing affordability pressures. The study notes an average 80-square-meter home price of €143,111, against an annual gross income of €22,208, underscoring the long road to property ownership.
Across Spain, other provinces show varying levels of burden. The Balearic Islands require the longest tenure for mortgage payments, at 11.3 years, followed by Madrid at 10.4, Gipuzkoa at 9.8, Barcelona at 9.6, and Malaga at 9.4. Biscay and Álava hover around 9 years, with Girona at 7.9, Santa Cruz de Tenerife at 7.6, Pontevedra at 7.2, and Las Palmas at 6.7. Jaén remains the most affordable, around 3.6 years. In Valencia and Castellón, the burden sits around 5.2 and 3.9 years respectively, illustrating regional disparities in housing affordability.