Italian Government Benefits 2026: Which Are Active and How to Apply
From the Psychology Bonus to the Social Card: an up-to-date guide to state financial support available in 2026, including benefits open to foreigners with Italian residency.
In a nutshell
In 2026 there are several active state financial support programs: discounts on utility bills, a contribution toward a professional driving licence, a prepaid card for elderly people and families with young children, reimbursement for psychotherapy sessions, and culture vouchers for new 18-year-olds. The Transport Bonus has been suspended. Foreigners with a valid residence permit and registered residency in Italy can access most of these.
At a glance
| Cost | All benefits are free to apply for |
| Timeline | ISEE: 10–15 days. Utility Bill Bonus: automatic. Social Card: 30–60 days. Psychology Bonus: 1–3 months (ranked list) |
| Where | CAF (free tax-assistance offices) and Patronato (free union-run welfare offices) for the ISEE; Poste Italiane post offices for the Social Card; INPS website for everything else |
| Documents | A current ISEE (income indicator, required for almost all benefits), SPID or CIE for online applications |
Start here: the ISEE
Most benefits require a current ISEE (Indicatore della Situazione Economica Equivalente — Italy's means-test indicator that measures your household income and assets). You can get one for free at a CAF (Centro di Assistenza Fiscale — free tax-assistance office) or a Patronato, or online at inps.it using SPID (Italy's digital identity system for public services) or CIE (Italy's electronic ID card). The 2026 ISEE is calculated on your 2024 income.
Bring: ID and Codice Fiscale (Italian tax ID — your personal 16-character code) for every household member, details of any property and bank accounts, and proof of employment income or pension. The ISEE is valid until 31 December of the year it was issued.
If your financial situation has recently worsened — you lost your job or your hours were cut — ask for an ISEE corrente: it is recalculated using the past 12 months of income and is valid for six months.
Transport Bonus — Suspended in 2026
The Transport Bonus (€60 toward a public-transport season pass) was active in 2022 and 2023 but was not renewed for 2024, 2025 or 2026. It is not currently available.
In Rome, local alternatives are still in place: discounted Metrebus season passes (up to 50% off with an ISEE below €15,000), free Metrebus travel for residents over 70 and for people with disabilities, and reduced fares for university students. Details at atac.roma.it and romamobilita.it.
Social Utility Bill Bonus — Active
This is the one benefit you do not have to actively claim: it is automatically applied to your bill once you submit an ISEE and tick the "Bonus Sociale" box on the DSU declaration form. It covers electricity, gas and water.
To qualify you need an ISEE of €9,530 or less (or up to €20,000 if you have at least four dependent children). If you receive the Assegno di Inclusione (Italy's income-support allowance) or the Social Card (see below), you qualify automatically.
Indicative 2026 amounts (updated quarterly by ARERA, Italy's energy regulator):
| Household size | Electricity bonus/year | Gas bonus/year |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 people | approx. €167 | approx. €117 |
| 3–4 people | approx. €219 | approx. €152 |
| 5 or more | approx. €240 | approx. €188 |
For the water bonus (50 litres per person per day free of charge), you must be the named account holder. For electricity and gas it is enough that any household member holds the contract. More details: arera.it/bonus-sociale.
Young Drivers Professional Licence Bonus — Active
A contribution of up to €2,500 (maximum 80% of the cost) to obtain professional driving licences C, CE, D or DE with a CQC qualification (goods or passenger transport).
You can apply if you are between 18 and 35 years old, do not already hold a professional licence, and commit to working for a haulage or transport company within 3 months of passing for at least 2 years.
How to apply: go to bonuspatentigiovani.it, log in with SPID or CIE, pick an approved driving school from the list and receive a voucher to hand over to the school. The 2026 funding pot is limited (around €5.4 million), so act early in the year.
Social Card (Carta Acquisti) — Active
A prepaid Poste Italiane card loaded with €80 every two months (€480 a year) to spend on groceries, utility bills and medicines.
Eligible groups are children under three (the parent applies) and adults over 65 on a low income. The 2026 ISEE threshold is €8,117.17 (for over-70s: gross income below €10,822.90).
Italian citizens, EU citizens and non-EU foreigners with a long-term EU residence permit (EU Blue Card) can all apply. EU citizens need at least five years of registered Italian residency.
How to apply: walk into any Poste Italiane branch with your ID, Codice Fiscale and current ISEE. Non-Italian applicants over 65 must also bring their long-term residence permit. The card is issued within 30–60 days and reloaded automatically every two months. More: INPS — Carta Acquisti.
Psychology Bonus — Active (ranked allocation)
A reimbursement for psychotherapy sessions with a licensed psychologist registered with INPS. The cap is €50 per session.
2026 amounts by ISEE:
- ISEE below €15,000: up to €1,500/year
- ISEE between €15,000 and €30,000: up to €1,000/year
- ISEE between €30,000 and €50,000: up to €500/year
Anyone resident in Italy (Italian, EU or non-EU) with an ISEE below €50,000 can apply. INPS (Italy's social-security agency — pensions, unemployment, family benefits) opens the annual call usually between February and March. Apply online at inps.it using SPID or CIE. Funding is limited (€9.5 million in 2025) and applications are processed in order from the lowest ISEE upward — apply as soon as the call opens. If approved, you receive a unique code valid for 270 days to use with a registered psychologist. More: INPS — Bonus Psicologo.
Carta Cultura Giovani and Carta del Merito — Active
These two cards replaced the old 18App from 2024 onward. Both target young people turning 18.
Carta Cultura Giovani: €500 for anyone who turned 18 the previous year and whose household ISEE is below €35,000.
Carta del Merito: €500 for anyone who graduated from the Italian liceo (upper secondary school) with a perfect score of 100/100. No ISEE requirement.
If you qualify for both, you can stack them and receive €1,000 in total.
The cards can be spent on books and e-books, newspaper and magazine subscriptions, tickets for cinema, theatre, museums, exhibitions, concerts and festivals, as well as language, music, dance, acting and theatre courses. Video games and general streaming subscriptions are not eligible.
How to apply: go to cartagiovani.cultura.gov.it, log in with SPID or CIE, verify your eligibility and generate digital vouchers to spend at approved retailers. The spending window is 12–18 months.
Mistakes to avoid
- Never pay anyone. All these benefits are free. Your ISEE is free at a CAF or Patronato. Be suspicious of SMS or emails asking for your personal details to "credit your bonus": official INPS communications only appear inside your INPS reserved area.
- Do not delegate strangers. Never sign a power of attorney for someone you do not know to claim a benefit in your name.
- Do not wait for the Psychology Bonus or the Licence Bonus. Funds run out fast. Apply the moment the call opens.
Special cases
Separated parents: if you are separated or divorced, your former spouse who no longer lives with you is not part of your ISEE household. Bring your separation papers to the CAF.
Students living away from home: you may be treated as a separate household if you have a different registered address and have not been a tax dependent of your parents for at least two years.
Carer or co-habitant with a disabled family member: the ISEE can be calculated differently, with the disabled person treated as an additional household component. Ask the CAF to compute the socio-health ISEE (ISEE socio-sanitario).
Seasonal workers or recently reduced income: if your situation has worsened compared with two years ago, use the ISEE corrente (based on the last 12 months, valid for six months).
Official sources
- INPS — Utility Bill Bonus
- ARERA — Social Bonus
- INPS — Social Card
- INPS — Psychology Bonus
- Carta Cultura Giovani and Carta del Merito
- Young Drivers Professional Licence Bonus
- MEF — Ministry of Economy and Finance
Legal references: DL 50/2022 conv. L. 91/2022, L. 197/2022, DL 144/2022 conv. L. 175/2022, DL 11/2023, DPCM 159/2013 (ISEE regulations).