The eco-socialists of Cieza point out that since its creation in 1988, state funding for the Concerted Plan has been declining, representing just 1.71% of the total in 2016.
Following the approval of the National Strategy for the Prevention and Fight Against Poverty by the Council of Ministers, IU-Greens warns of its limitations due to the lack of funding. The left-wing federation points out that To combat this serious problem, it is a priority to revalue the IPREM (Public Indicator of Multiple Effects Income), increase welfare benefits, implement a minimum income benefit, and adequately fund Social Services..
United Left-Greens shares the need for the Strategy, but “Combating poverty requires resources, especially to guarantee the income of the most vulnerable people and families.”Therefore, the ecosocialists of Cieza urge the Government to provide funding for policies to combat poverty, to strengthen social protection mechanisms and to increase the value of social benefits.
United Left-Greens advocates for increased welfare benefitsso that their amount is in line with the poverty risk thresholds established at any given time, thus ensuring they fulfill their intended purpose: guaranteeing a minimum level of subsistence. Currently, the INE (National Institute of Statistics) sets the poverty risk threshold at €8,522 per year for single-person households. However, social welfare benefits in 2019 were well below that amount.
Another key element, with regard to social benefits, is the IPREM (Public Indicator of Income for Multiple Effects). Since its creation in 2004, it has accumulated a loss of purchasing power of 8.81% because it has not been updated according to the CPI and has remained frozen for seven of the fourteen years it has been in effect. IU-Verdes demands that the IPREM be increased to 600 euros per month in the short term.to maintain, at least, the purchase value it had in 2004.
On the other hand, the red-green party insists on the the need for a minimum income benefit to address the serious coverage gaps in our social protection systemProbably the most obvious gap is the one that affects people who are long-term unemployed.
To combat poverty and social exclusion, IU-Verdes considers it essential Increase funding for the Agreed Plan for Basic Social Services of Local CorporationsIn particular, state funding. Through this agreement between the three levels of government, funding is guaranteed for primary social services, which serve people at risk of poverty and social exclusion, including home care, alternative housing, social integration, as well as information and guidance on available resources.
Since its creation in 1988, state funding for the Concerted Plan has been decreasing, to represent barely 1.71% of the total in 2016.In 2012, when the economic crisis made the role of basic social services even more necessary, state funding decreased by 471%. These cuts, which IU-Verdes denounced at the time, have not been reversed to this day.