SEPE official sanctioned for attending to the most vulnerable without appointment

The SEPE has opened disciplinary proceedings against Juan Carlos Nieto, a civil servant at the Mérida office. The reason? He assisted citizens who came in without an appointment. Nieto, with nearly 40 years of service, decided to lend a hand to those who couldn’t get an appointment due to a lack of digital resources or because they didn’t know how to use them.

The SEPE’s decision comes at a time when online bureaucracy is leaving many people behind. Not everyone has internet access or knows how to use the online portal. Appointment requirements have become a barrier for those who need benefits the most: the long-term unemployed, the elderly, and immigrants without support networks. The office was empty, but the rule states that without an appointment, no one is served.

Nieto says he would first see those with appointments and then help the others. He provided them with basic documents to apply for benefits. The Ministry of Labor claims there are other grounds in the case file, but does not specify them. In Mérida, no one understands the punishment. The civil servant has become a symbol of the fight against the digital divide and administrative rigidity.

If you’re a foreigner with your papers in order, this case affects you directly. Many procedures with the SEPE or the Immigration Office require an online appointment. If you can’t get one, your benefits or permit could be delayed by weeks. Don’t give up. Try calling by phone, visit an information office, or seek help from immigrant associations. Sometimes, a sympathetic official can give you a hand, but that’s not the norm.

If you’re having trouble with your appointment or paperwork, message us on Telegram: https://t.me/cita_extranjeria