Some stories feel so outrageous that they would sound fictional if they were not painfully real. This is the case for Sergi, a 14 year old from Catalonia who has spent more time in hospital wards than in classrooms. After nine years of fighting leukemia, his family believed the hardest chapter was finally behind them. Instead, a new ordeal arrived in the form of a letter — a letter demanding €5,000 in so called “incorrectly received” social aid, addressed directly to the boy who had already survived more than most adults ever will.
A long fight against illness — and a new one against bureaucracy
Sergi’s childhood has been marked by chemotherapy sessions, medical tests and the exhausting routines that accompany a long term illness. His mother, Mar, raised him alone, juggling emotional strain with the heavy financial load that comes with caring for a sick child. While Spain’s public health system covers treatment, the extras quickly pile up: nutritional supplements, vitamins, transport, car park fees, overnight stays.
Back in 2016, a social worker directed Mar toward a monthly benefit of €263 to help soften these unavoidable expenses. For a family carrying so much on their shoulders, it was more than financial help — it was relief.
That sense of security shattered in May 2025 when Mar received a registered letter from the Generalitat. The letter, sent in Sergi’s name, stated that this aid had been granted “in error” and had to be repaid. To make matters worse, previous letters had been posted to the wrong address for a full year, allowing late fees to accumulate.
Dozens of families caught in the same trap
In disbelief, Mar went to the tax office for answers. What she learned only deepened her anxiety: if the sum was not settled, her son would legally inherit the debt upon turning 18. “When he starts his first job, they will seize his wages,” she was told.
It turned out Sergi was far from alone. More than 60 families in Catalonia were facing the exact same situation. Desperate for clarity, Mar contacted the Síndic de Greuges — Catalonia’s equivalent of an ombudsman. There, she discovered the root of the issue: a decade old miscalculation.
In 2012, a reform changed how social assistance should be calculated. The problem? The new formula was never fully implemented. Families continued receiving the previous amounts without being told anything had changed. Now, over ten years later, the administration had decided to reclaim the difference, with arrears sometimes reaching €25,000.
The Síndic de Greuges condemned the situation, insisting that families could not be held responsible for administrative failures and urging the government to intervene.
A decree that brings relief — but cannot erase the damage
Following public outcry, interviews in the Catalan press and mounting pressure from affected families, the Generalitat finally responded. On 30 September, a decree was published stating that these “undue payments” would no longer be reclaimed.
For families like Sergi’s, it was an immense relief — not triumph, but relief. A bureaucratic error that had stretched over a decade would not be allowed to dictate a child’s financial future.
Organisations dedicated to defending citizens’ rights, such as ombudsman institutions across Europe, often warn about the consequences of administrative oversight. When mistakes meet vulnerable households, the impact can be devastating. Sergi’s story is a stark illustration of how fragile the line can be between support and harm.
A reminder of what families should never have to endure
While this decree finally closes the chapter, it does not erase the stress, fear and uncertainty the families lived through. For Mar, the experience was a cruel twist added to years already overshadowed by illness. For Sergi, it became yet another reminder that life can be unfair even after you’ve done everything right.
But their story also highlights a powerful message: when families speak up and institutions are pushed to act, change can follow. And sometimes, amidst the absurdity of bureaucracy, common sense eventually prevails.
