A Spanish court has ruled that a woman receiving invalidity benefits must repay β¬32,857 after traveling to Morocco without prior notification. The Superior Court of Justice of Catalonia (TSJC) upheld the retroactive cancellation of her benefits dating back to June 2018, according to a ruling reported by Spanish media on May 30, 2026.
The beneficiary, whose identity has not been disclosed, had been receiving a non-contributory invalidity pension from the Catalan government. The court found that she failed to inform authorities about her trip to Morocco, which violated residency requirements for the benefit. The TSJC confirmed that the benefits were correctly annulled from the time of the trip, leading to the repayment demand.
Under Spanish law, recipients of non-contributory pensions must reside in Spain and notify authorities of any absence exceeding 90 days. The woman's trip to Morocco exceeded this limit without proper notification, the court determined. The ruling was issued on May 28, 2026, and has been widely reported in Spanish and Catalan media.
The case highlights strict enforcement of residency rules for social benefits in Spain. Legal experts note that beneficiaries must comply with notification requirements to avoid retroactive cancellations and repayment orders. The woman's legal options for appeal remain unclear.
