Of the total sum provided for by the 2026 Budget Law, 1.6 billion euros are allocated to support families and the birth rate, for a total of approximately 3.5 billion in the three-year period 2026-2028. The declared objective is to strengthen existing measures and introduce new ones, in favor of parents, workers and families in economic difficulty.
The main innovations concern bonuses, leaves, tax deductions and welfare tools. Here, in summary, what changes.
Working mothers bonus
The working mothers bonus increases from 40 to 60 euros per month, for an annual total of 720 euros. It is available to mothers with an employed or self-employed contract and ISEE of up to 40 thousand euros, provided they have at least two children. The contribution, tax-free, is recognized until the youngest child reaches the age of 10, or until the age of 18 if there are three or more children. The application is submitted online on the INPS website via Spid, Cie or Cns.
Parental leave and sick leave for children
Optional parental leave is strengthened, with pay at 80% up to three months after the mandatory leave period. Sick leave for minor children is also expanded, from 5 to 10 days a year. The age threshold for the child within which to benefit from the measure rises from 8 to 14 years, to facilitate family management during periods of illness.
Support for separated parents
Among the measures introduced there is housing help for separated parents who find themselves in financial difficulty. The contribution, still being defined, aims to support those who have problems maintaining their home after separation. The precise criteria for access and the amount of the benefit have not yet been indicated.
Tax exemptions and deductions
For workers with at least three children, the measure provides for exemptions from contributions in the event of transformation of the contract from full time to part time, with the aim of facilitating the conciliation between work and family life. On the tax deduction front, a more favorable coefficient (0.85) is introduced even for those who have only one child.
The deductible spending ceiling rises to 11,900 euros, compared to the previous 9,800.
“Dedicated to you” card
The refinancing for two years of the “Dedicated to you” card has been approved, with 500 million euros in funds.
This is a prepaid card managed by the Municipalities, intended for families with low incomes for the purchase of basic necessities.
It is not yet clear whether the formula will remain that of a one-off bonus of 500 euros or whether more continuous methods will be envisaged.
Family caregiver reform
The maneuver also allocates resources to recognizing the role of family caregivers, people who assist a non-self-sufficient family member. This is a first step towards a structural reform, but the amounts and operating methods have not yet been communicated.
Main house and Isee
Another novelty concerns the exclusion of the main residence from the ISEE calculation, up to a cadastral value between 92 thousand and 100 thousand euros.
The measure aims to make income-related benefits more accessible, especially for families who own their first home.
Measurements not confirmed
However, at the moment, the bonus for school books, which should have helped families with student children, has not been included. The Ministry of Economy explained that, for now, there is no necessary coverage, but the measure could be resumed in the future.
For updated information and to submit applications, it is always advisable to consult the official INPS and Ministry of Labor channels.
