The government is working on changing the single child benefit, introduced by the Draghi administration in 2021. Reported by Repubblica, the measure is worth about 20 billion and affects over six million families and 10 million children annually. The plan to revise it will be included in the next budget, as reported by the newspaper, and is entrusted to the Minister for Family, Birthrate, and Equal Opportunities, Eugenia Roccella, who will then pass the dossier to the Ministry of Economy.
According to the newspaper, the idea is to cut the basic allowance of 57 euros per child that currently goes to families without an Isee or with a high one, above 45,000 euros. This is to shift more resources to large families, families with disabled members, and those with a longstanding work history in Italy. Similar to what happened with the citizenship income, the name is also expected to change, no longer called a single allowance.
With the removal of family allowances, deductions, and old bonuses amounting to 14 billion, and the addition of a fresh 6 billion – as highlighted by the newspaper – the allowance weighs around 20 billion structurally on the State budget and is adjusted for inflation. This year it is 5.4% higher than the previous year, ranging from a minimum of 57 euros to a maximum of 200 euros per month per child, with additional benefits for non-self-sufficient and disabled children, working mothers, and children beyond the second. It also applies to children between 18 and 21 years old, albeit at a reduced amount. In 2022, the first year of disbursement, the expenditure was 13 billion, which increased to 18 billion last year. This year is expected to be around 20 billion, with INPS already recording 10 billion in the first six months.
Political reactions: opposition rises
“Far from being family-oriented, as the sovereigntist mantra repeats. The government is preparing to dismantle the single child benefit, once again showing only interest in making propaganda,” says the president of the deputies of Italia Viva, Davide Faraone.
“We would like to understand better if hitting the weakest and families is the hallmark of the ‘Christian’ government of Meloni,” attacks the president of the senators of the Pd, Francesco Boccia.
Osnato: “Revision but no cancellation”
“The tones of Repubblica seem, as always, apocalyptic. Certainly, it is an important measure on which the Meloni government has also increased the allocation to 20 billion euros over the years,” says Marco Osnato, President of the Finance Committee of the Chamber, as cited by Affaritaliani.it.
“That said, there is an infringement procedure on which the European Commission will decide, if I remember correctly, by 2025. Certainly, there is a reduced primacy for birth rate and for large families, on cumulability with ISEE, so this also needs to be considered. It seems to me that a review of the rule can be hypothesized, but from there to saying that everything will be canceled seems to me, as usual, a preventive attitude towards the government of those who should instead provide information,” concludes Osnato.
“It is a fake news debunked even by Minister Giorgetti,” says Paolo Barelli, group leader of Forza Italia in the Chamber, as cited by Affaritaliani.it. “Only from tomorrow, with the first meeting of the government majority leaders, will we start talking about the Budget Law for 2025 in a general sense and the commitments towards the European Commission. This cancellation of the single allowance seems like a complete fake news,” concludes Barelli.
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