Spain has launched a new program to assist those who need it most with a wallet card. This initiative carries a budget of 100 million euros and is a direct effort to support the country’s most vulnerable households, especially families living below the poverty line.
Below is a clear explanation of what this assistance includes for families in need and how to request a wallet card.
What is a wallet card?
The wallet card provides economic assistance to families living in poverty. The program targets child poverty, a particularly pressing issue in Spain. The country currently faces a high child poverty rate within the European Union. The wallet card aims to meet basic needs for about 10,000 families each year and to reach a total of 70,000 beneficiary families over the seven years the program is planned to run.
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How to request a wallet card
To qualify for this assistance, a household must reside in the country with minor dependents and have income below 40 percent of the national average. Beneficiary selection involves social services at the autonomous community and municipal levels. The process to choose participating families will begin in April and, initially, organizations such as the Red Cross will help manage the program. In the longer term, each autonomous community will oversee funds allocated from the European Social Fund Plus.
What can you buy with a wallet card?
Beneficiaries can use the wallet card at supermarkets and other entities affiliated with the system. Purchases of items like alcohol or cosmetics are not allowed. The monthly amount varies with household size: 130 euros for a household with one adult and one child, up to 220 euros for families with five or more members.
The wallet card marks a meaningful shift in how social support is delivered. Previously, the ministry made large non-perishable food purchases, which were distributed through the Red Cross and other food banks to families in dire need. With the wallet card, families can buy what they need directly from supermarkets, enabling a more direct and dignified form of assistance.
Attention to other vulnerable groups
It is important to note that those not in severe poverty will continue to receive support through Food Banks and other charities. This includes elderly individuals facing financial difficulties, homeless people, and families with children over 18 years old. These groups will continue to be assisted through existing charitable programs.