With the 2026 Budget Law, the working mothers bonus is confirmed and strengthened, a measure designed to support women with dependent children who participate in the world of work. Compared to the previous year, the amount grows and reaches 720 euros net, offering concrete support in a context marked by increasingly higher family costs. The objective remains to encourage female employment and lighten, at least in part, the economic burden of parenthood.
Who can access the working mothers bonus
The bonus is aimed at working mothers, both employed (with the exclusion of domestic work) and self-employed, provided they are enrolled in mandatory social security. Family requirements remain unchanged: you must have at least two dependent children. In this case, the youngest child must be under ten years old. However, if there are three or more children, the requirement changes and the youngest must be a minor. There is also an annual work income limit, which must not exceed 40 thousand euros.
Amount, duration and payment method
The value of the bonus is set at 60 euros for each month worked, even for fractions of a month. This means that those who work for the whole of 2026 will be able to receive the maximum amount of 720 euros. However, those who start working later or stop working will receive a sum proportionate to the months actually worked. The contribution is tax-free, does not contribute to the formation of taxable income and does not influence the calculation of the ISEE. Payment will take place in a single payment in December 2026, replicating the method already adopted in the latest edition of the bonus.
Beware of alternative measures
It is important to know that some working mothers will not be able to access this bonus because they already benefit from a more advantageous benefit. In fact, permanent employees with three or more children can take advantage of a total tax exemption of up to 3,000 euros per year, valid until the end of 2026. In these cases, the 720 euro bonus cannot be cumulated.
How and when to submit the application
For the operating methods it will be necessary to wait for a circular from the INPS, which will define times and procedures. Following the model of previous years, the request must be submitted via the INPS portal (whose dedicated page has not yet been updated for 2026), within a pre-established deadline from the publication of the official instructions. For now, therefore, it is not yet possible to send the application for 2026, but it is best to monitor the institutional channels so as not to miss the deadlines.
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