The Government extends the ‘social shield’ to protect the most vulnerable

The Central Government has extended the so-called "social shield" today (Tuesday), which is a set of measures that include the suspension of evictions and social housing rent payments, as well as the prohibition of cutting off basic supplies (water and electricity) to those classed as ‘vulnerable consumers’, the most punished by the economic effects of the pandemic.

Today's Council of Ministers in Madrid, the last one before the summer recess, will foreseeably approve the extension of the measures contained in Royal Decree 8/2021, which expires on August 9th, until October 31st.

For the "anti-eviction" decree, the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, will finally extend the prohibition to expel the most vulnerable from their homes in the current terms, although the Government considered the option of presenting a new decree that would provide "structural" protection to these groups, as announced by former Minister José Luis Ábalos.

In addition, the possibility of requesting the postponement of the payment of the rent of habitual residence to these families in vulnerable situations is maintained, as long as the tenants are large holders of houses (ten or more), and the term to request a moratorium of three months is extended in the payment of mortgages and loans.

The decree also prohibits the cutting of basic supplies (electricity, natural gas and water) of the primary homes of vulnerable people, and extends the validity of the social bonus, the direct discount on the bill aimed at vulnerable consumers.

The Government approved these measures for the first time on March 31^st last year, after the decree of the state of alarm to try to stop the spread of Covid-19 and since then it has approved successive extensions.