Efe Madrid

Madrid

Updated Tuesday, January 23, 2024-12:48

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Starting in April and until the end of the year,

the Government will deliver

wallet cards through the Red Cross to vulnerable families with children that they will be able to exchange in supermarkets for various products, especially food and hygiene.

In this way, a new care model is launched,

financed with European funds

, which

replaces the direct delivery of food to these families

, as agreed with the autonomous communities in 2021.

To know more

Economy.

Half of vulnerable households have to cut back on food expenses and 70% on clothing and footwear

  • Editor: GUILLERMO DEL PALACIO

Half of vulnerable households have to cut back on food expenses and 70% on clothing and footwear

Macroeconomy.

Body negotiates with Brussels to avoid a partial payment in the fourth disbursement of European funds

  • Editor: PABLO R. SUANZES (Correspondent)Brussels

Body negotiates with Brussels to avoid a partial payment in the fourth disbursement of European funds

The Council of Ministers approves this Tuesday the decree that grants the

Red Cross a subsidy of 100 million

euros to implement this year the European Social Fund Plus program of basic material assistance for families with children in a situation of severe poverty (with

income below 40% of the average income

).

It is aimed at some 70,000 homes, as explained to Efe by the Secretary of State for Social Rights, Rosa Martínez.

"We went from delivering bags of food to delivering electronic cards or redeemable vouchers so

that families have the ability to decide what they buy

, thereby increasing the supply and the possibility of deciding the type of food and products they can purchase. ", highlighted the number two of the department directed by Pablo Bustinduy.

The amount of the cards is set

based on the number of family members

: one adult and one child 130 euros per month, one adult with two children 160 euros, four members 190 euros and five members or more 220 euros.

Adults do not necessarily have to be parents, they can be uncles, grandparents and any other adult who is in charge of the children.

Depending on your needs,

the amounts are recharged

for one month, two or three months and can be maintained for up to a maximum period of one year, sources from the Ministry of Social Rights have detailed.

The management of Social Rights is "extraordinary and provisional"

The Government and communities agreed at the end of 2021 on a change of model that was to be launched next April, but in the absence of a framework agreement for its implementation by the communities, Social Rights has decided "in an extraordinary and provisional manner "manage it so that it is ready on that date and

there are no food coverage problems.

That date coincides with the end of the European program that financed the distribution of aid through Food Banks and the Red Cross for disadvantaged groups.

"Given the risk that some families would stop receiving"

aid, the Government has sought this solution so that communities have more time to implement their own systems that must be in operation from January 1, 2025.

"Every change requires a transition and adapting the systems and we want to ensure that in these months from April to December 2024 all wallet cards are available throughout the national territory," asserts the Secretary of State.

Financing this year is provided by the state part of the European Social Fund Plus, so

communities can reserve the autonomous section until next year

.

The program - which will continue for 7 years - is endowed with 100 million euros each year to care for some 10,000 families with children in situations of severe poverty.

From Social Rights they recognize that this is a limited program and that it does not cover all food needs and remember that it can be completed based on the needs of the social services of the communities that serve them.

Families that receive these cards can continue to resort to other aid provided by social entities, such as Food Banks that will continue to operate and receive financing through other means, such as collecting the 0.7% of Income and other programs.