Bill would extend care benefits for seriously ill children past age 26

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The bill would exceptionally extend the benefit and leave for caring for minors with cancer or another serious illness beyond age 26, when the child has a severe disability (65% or more) or a high level of dependency, as long as the child keeps living with the parent or caregiver and the need for direct, continuous and permanent care is proven.
2. Care resulting from home hospitalization, specialized outpatient treatment or other equivalent care that replaces a regular hospital stay, as determined by a doctor, would count as a protected situation.
3. In cases of severe disability or high dependency, both parents, guardians or foster caregivers could share the work schedule reduction at the same time, up to a maximum of 100% between the two, regardless of their marital status.
4. The right to a reduced work schedule for caregiving could continue past the current age limits while the proven need for care and cohabitation last; this would also apply to public employees.
5. Within six months, the Government would have to adapt the benefit's regulations, review the rules for self-employed workers so they do not lose protection, simplify paperwork, and secure the budget needed in line with the Pacto de ToledoPacto de Toledo 2020 political agreement with recommendations to secure the future of pensions..
6. Families that already lost the benefit because the child reached the age limit could request a review of their situation if the requirements of severe disability or high dependency and cohabitation still hold.

Who it affects

• Parents, guardians or foster caregivers of children with cancer or another serious illness who have a severe disability or high dependency: They could keep the benefit and the reduced work schedule past age 26 if they live with the child and the care need is proven.
• Families where both parents work: They could share the schedule reduction at the same time, up to 100% between the two.
• Public employees: They would also be entitled to the extended schedule reduction and to sharing it between both parents.
• Self-employed workers receiving the benefit: The Government would review their rules so the annual adjustment of contribution bases does not reduce their protection.
• Families that lost the benefit when the child turned 26: They could request a review of their situation if the requirements still hold.

Words worth knowing

Prestación (CUME)

Social Security payment for people caring for a minor with cancer or another serious illness.

Reducción de jornada

Right to work fewer hours, with a proportional pay cut, to care for a family member.

Gran dependencia, grado III

Highest officially recognized level of need for help from another person with daily activities.

Guardador con fines de adopción

Person temporarily entrusted with a minor by a court while adoption is being processed.

Pacto de Toledo

2020 political agreement with recommendations to secure the future of pensions.

It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries