In the year 2016, 1496 complaints procedures were opened, representing a slight decrease compared to the number (1636) registered in the previous year. However, it should be noted that the number of complaints exceeded the number of procedures effectively opened, not only because a number of complaints (325) were incorporated into proceedings that had already been opened and dealing with similar issues, but also because other complaints (185) were rejected without further consideration. As in previous years, the matters relating to social rights were those which most frequently substantiated complaints to the Ombudsman, representing 22% of the total number of cases procedures received. 1574 procedures were concluded in 2016 (more 78 than the previous year). Among the 1574(15), 1083 procedures were completed in the same year, which means that 72% of complaints opened in 2016 were concluded in less than a year. More than 90% of procedures related to social rights were concluded within less than one year It is important to highlight that 92% of the grounded procedures were successfully concluded following the intervention of the Ombudsman. This result shows a greater swiftness and efficiency on the Ombudsman’s performance, which is of particular relevance when – as is the case – the subject complaints concern fundamental protection social rights. With regard the complaints subject, the most frequent issues were: unemployment benefits, family benefits (child benefit to children and young people) benefits for people with disabilities, sickness benefit, parental allowance, old-age and invalidity pensions, benefits in the event of death, solidarity benefits (insertion social income, solidarity supplement for the elderly and other subsidies within the scope of social action). Several complaints regarding debts and social security contributions were also received. Merely as an example, below are reported some of the Ombudsman interventions in the social protection affairs. In the first place, it must be reported the developments achieved by former Ombudsman’s decisions. Therefore, it is worth to refer that the Recommendation No. 15-B/2012, December 28, 2012(16) - which purpose was the revision of the special education allowance legal (15)  Within 1574 concluded cases in 2016, it is noted that 970 (61,6%) have succeeded in repairing the illegality or injustice, following of the Ombudsman intervention; 507 (32,2%) were considered groundless, after instruction. Several of the remaining cases were concluded with remark or suggestion call addressed to the public entities. (16)  After critical remarks issued to the Government, on April 11, 2014. 46 |