Moving to another region after a care grade is recognised

Key rules

• Care grade: Your recognised grade stays valid when you move to another region.
• New region: The new region takes over your file and may issue a new care plan under its own rules.
• Residence: You must be registered as living in the new region before it will process your file.
• Benefit: Your former region keeps paying until the new region starts, though interruptions happen.

Your grade survives the move, but your file must be transferred

Moving to another region does not cancel your recognised care grade. It is valid across Spain. What changes is who handles your file. You have to ask the new region to take it over, and the new region sets the services you receive.

What to do

1. Register your address (empadronamiento) at the town hall of your new home. The new region requires you to live there.
2. Keep your existing grade resolution and your care plan (PIA) to hand.
3. Apply to the social services of the new region. Present your existing resolution.
4. Ask whether they will review your situation and issue a new PIA.

The new region may review your situation and issue a new PIA under its own rules. The services you get there can differ from those in your old region. The procedure is set by each region, so ask the social services office what forms and documents it wants.

Your benefit while you wait

Your former region keeps paying your benefit until the new region starts. The new region has a maximum time to resolve the transfer, set in an agreement between the regions. That time is about three months.

In practice, delays are common and some people have their benefit interrupted. Ask the new social services office for a date, and keep proof of your application.

If you are returning to Spain

The same steps apply. Register your residence first, then apply to the social services of the region where you will live, with your existing resolution.

The timeline, checklist and questions below go through the same steps in order.

Timeline and deadlines

• Register your new address (empadronamiento) in the new region: as soon as you arrive, before you apply

• Apply to the social services of the new region with your existing resolution: right after you register your residence

• The new region resolves the transfer of your file and issues the care plan (PIA): within about three months of the transfer

Checklist

• Apply to the social services of the new region and present your existing resolution.

• Ask whether the new region will review your situation and issue a new care plan.

Frequently asked questions

Do I lose my care grade if I move to another region?

No, your recognised care grade stays valid across Spain when you move to another region. The new region may review your situation and issue a new care plan (PIA) under its own rules, so services can change even though the grade does not.

Will I still get my benefit while the new region processes my file?

Yes, your former region keeps paying your benefit until the new region starts paying. In practice delays are common, and some people see their benefit interrupted, so ask the new region's social services how long your transfer will take.

How long does the new region have to resolve my transfer?

The new region has a maximum of about three months to resolve the transfer of your file and issue the care plan. You must be registered as resident in the new region first, so register your address (empadronamiento) as soon as you arrive.