Another admonition from the Ombudsman to the Ministry of Equality and Inclusive Policies emerges as Ángel Luna criticizes Aitana Mas’s department for not heeding her guidance and for persisting in its rejection. Valencia’s program for participation income targets individuals who meet all the criteria to receive a Minimum Vital Income (RVI) supplement. The regional ombudsman contends that this benefit should not discourage job seeking, while also calling out the lack of support for hours or days of precarious work for job hunters. The ministry maintains that an alternative income model based on work has not yet been approved or enacted as part of the national regulation that would implement the IMV provision attached to the Ministry. It remains pending inclusion.
The complaint filed by the ombudsman emphasizes that Equality does not accept proposals that would positively resolve RVI cases after the maximum standard period of six months has elapsed. “Aid is denied to applicants who meet the requirements when they apply and for the full duration allowed for the department to issue a ruling,” Luna states. The district ombudsman is not aligned with approving this assistance if, “due to unacceptable delays by the administration, when a decision is finally made—sometimes after a year—the citizen may have secured employment, thus losing the right to receive the benefit for the months in which they fulfilled the conditions.”
ex officio complaint
Facing a high volume of claims, the presiding agency Moon He closed his ex officio complaint filed last October because withholding RVI benefits for short-term workers was viewed as injustice and a potential infringement of rights. This action was taken despite concerns about discouraging job seeking for fear of exhausting benefits. Luna urged Equality to resolve RVI cases positively once the maximum processing time has elapsed.
The Ombudsman notes there are notable delays that drive the problem, with Equity not taking action to implement the agency’s recommendations aimed at shortening resolution times. The regional ombudsman highlights that the ministry’s response has largely consisted of promising to address cases within the legally set time limits, while rejecting requests for RVI approvals in some instances.
Ombudsman’s stance on Equality: Mas accuses the ministry of obstructing an investigation
“Equality believes that, at the moment of decision, applicants cannot access the RVI under warranty schemes while they are employed and must rely on additional income methods that do not exist yet. This is an impossible work scenario,” the Ombudsman points out, underscoring that the alternative income method remains unimplemented.
Meeting
At the request of the Equality Section, the Ministry of Inclusion will convene with Valencia representatives next Monday to discuss regulatory changes and to align IMV compliance with employment income or self-employed earnings. The ministry also notes that the Ombudsman’s requests have touched four cases out of approximately 75,500 recipients associated with one of the RVI methods.
Equity further states that social services provide income-related support to those in need and ensure that the RVI does not impede job seeking, while additional routes for social and workforce assistance are promoted.
When Aitana Mas assumed leadership of Equality in June of the previous year, one of her first tasks was to repair relations with the Ombudsman after a difficult period. Yet, that effort did not fully materialize, as Ángel Luna returned in January to accuse the Ministry of obstructing part of an investigation and to complain about a lack of cooperation.