Sole custody of a child does not automatically qualify a household for Valencian single-parent family status. In that situation, the regional government also applies an income test: annual household income, including child maintenance and divided by weighted consumption units, must be below 150% of the twelve-month IPREM index.
The distinction matters because the rules recognise both direct single-parent families and families deemed to be in a single-parent situation. The title covers the household, with individual cards issued to its members.
Status extends beyond a single parent on the birth record
Direct cases include a family with only one parent recorded at the civil registry, a widow or widower with children from the deceased partner, specified single foster-carer households and a person holding exclusive parental authority.
Recognition can also cover a woman who has experienced gender-based violence and has custody, or a household where the other parent has been imprisoned or in hospital continuously for at least a year. Certain cases involving level 3 dependency, absolute permanent incapacity or severe disability are included. The 150% IPREM test applies in several of these situations.
Each descendant must be under 26 or have recognised disability of at least 33%, absolute permanent incapacity or severe disability. They must also live with and remain economically dependent on the family unit. Temporary absence for study, work or treatment can be documented.
Twelve months’ residence before applying
Family members must show effective residence in a Valencian municipality for the twelve uninterrupted months immediately before the application. Every case requires the signed form, family book or birth certificates and historical municipal registration certificates. The specific evidence then depends on the circumstances: a judgment and agreement for sole custody, a fostering decision, evidence of gender-based violence, or documents establishing imprisonment, hospitalisation, dependency or incapacity.
Applications are accepted throughout the year, carry no fee and can be filed online with a digital certificate or Cl@ve, or in person through an authorised registry. If documents are missing, the provincial office gives ten days to correct the file before treating the application as withdrawn.
Special category is not based only on the number of children
Families with two or more descendants qualify for the special category, as do women who have experienced gender-based violence and their children. A one-child household can also qualify where income per consumption unit is no more than 100% of IPREM, the child has disability of at least 33%, or the head of the family has disability of at least 65%, alongside other specified incapacity and dependency cases.
The title must be renewed or cancelled when it expires, the category changes, a qualifying condition is lost or a descendant ceases to meet the rules. Marriage or forming a registered partnership ends the recognised status. This article should be updated if Decree 19/2018, IPREM, the required documents or renewal system changes.