CCOO Retirees Slam La Seu d'Urgell Social Security Closure Amid Staffing Crisis

CCOO retirees in Alt Urgell have joined a growing chorus of criticism over the ongoing closure of the Social Security office in La Seu d'Urgell, accusing authorities of prolonged disinterest in resolving chronic staffing shortages.

In a public statement, the group described the shutdown as "intolerable," pointing to severe impacts on people and businesses across Alt Urgell, Cerdanya, and Spanish residents in Andorra. They must now travel to remote locations like Balaguer or Lleida, which lack reliable public transport links, for essential procedures related to the National Social Security Institute and the General Treasury of Social Security.

The retirees' frustration extends beyond the closure itself to years of inadequate public-facing staff and a lack of transparency from provincial and national officials. They demanded the office's immediate reopening with stable personnel capable of handling local needs.

The group called the situation "doubly painful," noting its contradiction with public administrations' frequent rhetoric about supporting rural areas. Numerous local residents have echoed these complaints in recent days.

The protest highlights wider service cuts affecting cross-border communities dependent on the La Seu d'Urgell facility. No response from Social Security officials was available at the time of reporting.