[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The new wallet card is an initiative of the Government of Spain, which is initially administered Red Cross and then by the autonomous communities. We are going to explain what it is and how it works. It seeks to offer direct and less stigmatizing help to families with minors in extreme vulnerable conditions. However, it has generated controversy because, according to Equality Minister Loles López, "280.000 vulnerable families in Andalusia are going to be left out" of the distribution of basic foods.
Change of model
Pablo Bustinduy, Minister of Social Rights and Agenda 2030, highlighted the paradigm shift with this new model. Wallet cards or redeemable vouchers, which replace the traditional food bag system, seek to avoid the so-called «hunger queues«, offering families a more dignified and direct means to satisfy their basic needs.
Funding for this initiative comes from the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and the state tranche of the fund. It is estimated that it will benefit approximately 70.000 families throughout Spain. During 2024, the state portion of the fund will cover the costs, allowing the autonomous communities to allocate their resources to other projects.
The wallet cards will begin to be distributed in April 2024 under the temporary administration of the Red Cross. As of January 1, 2025, management will pass into the hands of the autonomous communities with financing secured by the ESF+.
The wallet card and its operation
These cards will allow families in vulnerable situations buy food and basic necessities at collaborating supermarkets. A key aspect is that they will facilitate access to fresh products such as fruits and vegetables. The amount of the cards varies depending on the family composition, ranging between 130 and 220 euros per month.
The social services of the autonomous communities will be responsible for determining the families eligible for the program. The selected families must go to the Red Cross reference centers to collect their cards.
In addition, the Red Cross will be in charge of the tender to identify and select participating supermarkets during 2024. Starting in 2025, responsibility for this selection will fall to the autonomous communities.
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280.000 families will be left out of the wallet card
Loles López, Minister of Social Inclusion, Youth, Families and Equality of the Junta de Andalucía, raises the question: Why does the PSOE Government take away food from some vulnerable families. She says it is the antithesis of social.
As stated in published Europa PressThe counselor, Loles López, has warned that "280.000 vulnerable families in Andalusia are going to be left out" of the distribution of basic foods due to the new model "imposed" by the Government of Spain, which "has turned a deaf ear" to the warnings from autonomous communities such as Andalusia, which already made its concern public in August. This means “excluding 85%” of the current beneficiaries – 330.158 people – from the community.
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The PP-A asks the Government not to leave "vulnerable" Andalusians without food
January 29, 2024. The deputy secretary of Equality, Health, Youth and Social Welfare of the Popular Party of Andalusia (PP-A), Beatriz Jurado, has expressed deep concern regarding the modifications proposed by the Government of Pedro Sánchez in the criteria for access to the wallet cards. This measure, according to Jurado, could leave more than 280.000 Andalusians considered vulnerable without food.
The wallet cards, a program aimed at providing food assistance, currently benefit more than 330.000 Andalusians. However, with the proposed new requirements, which prioritize families with children at risk of poverty, it is estimated that approximately 85% of current beneficiaries could lose this vital support.
Jurado has criticized the central government for what he considers a lack of dialogue and planning in the process of change. Concern is particularly focused on low-income seniors who live alone, who represent 60% of current beneficiaries. In addition, it is feared that soup kitchens will also be excluded from this program.
In a call to Sánchez Government and Spanish Socialist Worker's Party (PSOE), the representative of the PP-A has requested greater attention to the voices of the autonomous communities and social entities, emphasizing the importance of dialogue in the management of social issues and the need to avoid improvisations and unilateral decisions.
The PP-A parliamentarian has proposed a "dual model" for the wallet card system, defended by the Andalusian Ministry of Equality. This model seeks to ensure that no one who needs help is excluded and that entities can continue to provide food to those in need. According to Jurado, this model has already been successfully implemented in Andalusia during the pandemic, demonstrating the compatibility of both services.
A technical meeting is scheduled for this Wednesday between the Ministry of Social Rights and the autonomous communities, with the hope of finding a solution that meets the needs of all those affected. The situation in Andalusia highlights the complexity of social assistance policies in Spain and the importance of a balanced approach that considers the needs of all vulnerable groups.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column] [vc_column_text]
Wallet card in press
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| Requirements for the Wallet Card: Up to 220 euros for vulnerable families: Starting in April, the Government will deliver these cards that are redeemable in supermarkets and will replace the baskets of the Food Banks. These are the foods that are most expensive from the countryside to the supermarket Carrefour announces a price drop in 500 products January 24, 2024 Source: Diariodejerez.es |
| The Council of Ministers approves wallet cards for delivery to vulnerable families starting in April: The Government has detailed in a press conference after the Council of Ministers the requirements and amounts that families will receive in the form of wallet cards starting in April. January 23, 2024 Source: ondacero.es |
| Board warns that "280.000 families will be left out" of food distribution with the Government's wallet card: The Minister of Social Inclusion, Youth, Families and Equality, Loles López, has warned that «280.000... January 24, 2024 Source: europapress.es |
| The wallet cards will assist 60% of the most vulnerable families in Córdoba: The Food Bank will receive 600 tons less this year, so it will reduce its list of users January 24, 2024 Source: Diariocordoba.com |
| How to apply for the new Government wallet card: aid of up to 220 euros: The Government has confirmed details of the new wallet cards that will be given to vulnerable family members from April. The Council of Ministers approves wallet cards for delivery to vulnerable families starting in April, January 24, 2024 Source: ondacero.es |
| Amount and details of the Government wallet card for vulnerable families: The amount of the cards is set based on the number of members of vulnerable families and ranges between 130 and 220 euros, depending on the number of children. The Council of Ministers approved the measure this Tuesday. January 23, 2024 Source: lasexta.com |
| Wallet cards: the new help for vulnerable families: It will be aimed at the purchase of food and basic hygiene products January 23, 2024 Source: lavozdealmeria.com |
| The Government plans to provide wallet cards to 70.000 vulnerable families: The new model approved by the Council of Ministers replaces the direct delivery of food and will go into operation in April. Families with dependent children will receive between 130 and 220 euros per month, depending on the number of members. Fountain: canalsur.es |
| New 'wallet cards' to end hunger queues: deadlines, requirements and how to request them: Two of the objectives are to eliminate the stigmatization associated with 'hunger lines' and reduce child poverty The Government promotes a new model of wallet cards "so that families do not have to go to the hunger lines" January 24, 2024 Source: diariodesevilla.es |
| This is how the wallet cards will be for making purchases in Cádiz: requirements, amounts and deadlines: The most vulnerable families will benefit from a measure created to alleviate purchasing difficulties Free and discounted public transport in Cádiz in 2024 3,5 million euros of aid to Cádiz families January 24, 2024 Source: Diariodecadiz.es |
| What they consist of and who will be able to benefit from the new wallet cards of between 130 and 220 euros per month to make purchases: Food banks warn that replacing traditional baskets with this new model will leave more than 350.000 families unattended. Among those affected, vulnerable people without dependent children January 24, 2024 Source: larazon.es |
| New 'wallet cards': requirements, deadlines and how to request them: This past Tuesday a new Council of Ministers was held in which a royal decree was approved by which the Government grants a subsidy of 100 million euros to the Red Cross for the delivery […] January 24, 2024 Source : chaindial.com |
| This is the new Government wallet card for vulnerable people: The new Government wallet card is an aid program that will try to cover the needs of vulnerable families January 23, 2024 Source: okdiario.com |
| The Government changes the food aid system: wallet cards to end the "hunger queues": Avoid "hunger queues" and allow beneficiaries to decide what they prefer to consume. This is the objective of the new food aid model that the Government will launch starting in April, which provides for the delivery of the so-called 'January 23, 2024 Source: rtve.es |
| This is how the new wallet card works for vulnerable families that will come into force in April: The new wallet card for vulnerable families will come into force next April 2024 and is intended to reach a total of 70.000 families January 23, 2024 Source: Vozpopuli.com |
| Wallet cards with between 130 and 220 euros per month in food for vulnerable families with dependent children: The Government launches the wallet card, with money to purchase food and basic hygiene products for families in poverty January 23, 2024 Source: lavanguardia.com |
| Starting in April, the Government will provide wallet cards for vulnerable families: The Government will provide wallet cards from April until the end of the year through the Red Cross to vulnerable families with children that can be redeemed in… January 23, 2024 Source: elmundo.es |
| Food banks, outraged with the Government's idea to hide hunger queues: According to Fesbal, "more than 7.000 social entities" will be seriously affected by Bustinduy's new plan. January 23, 2024 Source: freemarket.com |
| The wallet card, the new form of payment in supermarkets subsidized by the Government: Minister Pablo Bustinduy explains how the wallet card will work to buy at the supermarket. Fountain: freedomdigital.com |
| The Government changes the food aid model…: Fountain: elconfidencial.com |
| The Government announces monthly aid so that the most vulnerable families can make purchases: The Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption and Agenda 2030 of Pablo Bustinduy is the instigator of this measure, which will be carried out with the Spanish Red Cross January 23, 2024 Source: infobae.com |
| No, the new wallet cards will not end the hunger queues and these are the reasons: The system will only be available for families with minors in their care and will leave out the majority of the current beneficiaries of the Food Banks January 23, 2024 Source: abc.es |
| The Food Bank considers the decision to establish a wallet card that discriminates against rural areas hasty: They assure that they will continue to assist the families that will be left out of this aid in Castilla y León | Cadena SER January 24, 2024 Source: chainser.com |
| Bustinduy plagiarizes Almeida the wallet cards that Madrid released in 2020 for vulnerable families: The Minister of Social Rights, Consumption and Agenda 2030 announced this Tuesday the granting of wallet cards for vulnerable families January 23, 2024 Source: okdiario.com |
| The Strategic Connectivity Proposal 2023-2025 proposes recovering markets for the Jerez Airport: María José García Pelayo defends in Madrid the Jerez airport for which it is proposed to recover routes with Italy and France in addition to previous destinations such as Berlin, Manchester, Cologne or London; Jerez, very present on the opening day of Fitur January 24, 2024 Source: Diariodejerez.es |
| Households with severe poverty will have a card to buy food from May: The monthly amount will range from 130 to 220 euros, depending on the number of members, and the program aims to help 70.000 families with dependent children January 23, 2024 Source: ideal.es |
| How to get government aid wallet cards in La Axarquía: New wallet cards will replace food baskets for families in severe poverty Start of the wallet card program in La Axarquía The Spanish Government begins a new stage in its fight against severe poverty, with the implementation of wallet cards starting in April 2024. This measure, which will reach almost 70.000 families... January 23, 2024 Source: newsaxarquia.com |
| Bustinduy hides the hunger queues with its new model of wallet cards: The Government has promoted this Tuesday, at the proposal of the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption and Agenda 2030 led by Bustinduy, a new model from January 23, 2024 Source: moncloa.com |
| Households with severe poverty will have a card to buy food from May: The monthly amount will range from 130 to 220 euros, depending on the number of members, and the program aims to help 70.000 families with dependent children January 23, 2024 Source: newspapersur.es |
| The Government wants to cover the hunger queues by giving away cards to buy at the supermarket: "We are taking a decisive step to dignify social protection so that families do not have to go to the hunger lines," said Bustinduy. January 23, 2024 Source: freemarket.com |
| How to get government aid wallet cards in Marbella: New wallet cards will replace food baskets for families in severe poverty Start of the wallet card program in Marbella The Spanish Government begins a new stage in its fight against severe poverty, with the implementation of wallet cards starting in April 2024. This measure, which will reach almost 70.000 families with… January 23, 2024 Source: marbellanews.com |
| The Balearic Islands consider the Ministry's wallet card "insufficient" and regret that it does not take into account insularity: The Minister of Families and Social Affairs, Catalina Cirer, has considered the wallet card system implemented by the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption and Agenda 2030 for families with children in situations of severe poverty "insufficient" and has criticized that this initiative " "does not take into account" insularity. January 24, 2024 Source: teleprensa.com |
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