La Laguna Sees Drop in Social Aid, Cites National Programs
La Laguna's Social Welfare department reported a decrease in financial aid packages granted in 2025, despite a similar budget, attributing the decline to the effectiveness of national support programs like the Minimum Living Income.
The La Laguna City Council’s Social Welfare department reported a decrease in the number of financial aid packages given to residents in 2025. This happened despite the budget for these benefits remaining similar to the previous year. According to the council, this trend might suggest a change in how aid is provided to vulnerable people, possibly because other social support programs are now more established.
In 2025, 2,546 aid applications were approved, costing a total of 765,729 euros. Another 242 applications were either turned down or withdrawn. These figures are lower than in 2024, when 3,140 aid packages were granted, with a total budget of 1,039,300 euros. María Cruz, the councilor in charge of social welfare, explained that fewer people applied for aid due to national programs like the Minimum Living Income (IMV). The IMV is a social security benefit designed to help prevent poverty and social exclusion, and it seems to have helped some families better afford their daily costs.
Looking at the types of aid given in 2025, help with buying food was the most requested, with 1,942 benefits worth 288,650 euros. Next was rental assistance, with 111 grants totaling 250,853 euros. Other highly requested categories included eye prosthetics (129 aids for 27,956 euros), dental work (99 aids for 60,604 euros), electricity bills (69 aids for 15,700 euros), essential household items (66 aids for 23,129 euros), and water bills (50 aids for 4,982 euros). The city's aid also covered things like hearing aids, prescription costs, home repairs, mortgages, private nursery school fees, special equipment, and making homes more accessible for people with disabilities or the elderly.
Councilwoman María Cruz highlighted the high demand for aid for eye prosthetics and dental treatments. She explained that this trend is due to the population getting older and the fact that the national health system doesn't always cover these specific needs, meaning direct social security help isn't always an option.
The Social Welfare department also mentioned other support options available. For water bills, the local company Teidagua offers ways to pay in installments or helps cover part of the costs through different programs. They also noted the positive effect of the electricity social bonus, which was available until December last year. This bonus cut electricity bills by almost 50%, significantly easing the financial strain on many vulnerable families.
Mayor Luis Yeray Gutiérrez stressed that these public aid programs are vital. They help families who are struggling financially and can't afford their most basic needs. The mayor emphasized that all levels of government must work together to find solutions and ensure the well-being of families and individuals with fewer resources, both now and in the future.