Over 1.1 million families to receive €1,000 from November
Italy has re-launched the "Carta Dedicata a te" for a two-year run, with €500 arriving on cards from 4 November 2026 and a second instalment following in April 2027. The Ministry of Labour and Social Policies confirmed that 1,177,597 households will benefit, selected automatically by the National Social Security Institute (Istituto Nazionale della Previdenza Sociale - INPS) using tax-return data.
Who qualifies and how it works
Eligibility hinges on three conditions: an ISEE below €15,000, a household of at least three people including one minor, and no receipt of other income-support measures such as the Inclusion Allowance (Assegno di Inclusione) or redundancy payments. Those already holding a card from previous editions and who still meet the criteria will receive an automatic top-up.
New beneficiaries will be contacted by their municipal offices to collect the prepaid card from post offices. There is no application to submit — INPS cross-references ISEE and registry data to identify eligible families, then transmits lists to councils for verification.
Deadlines and spending rules
To keep the benefit active, the first purchase must be made by 16 December 2026. The full balance of each tranche must be spent by 10 October 2027. The card is intended for essential food items, and the government estimates that 90% of the funds return to Italian producers through purchases of quality goods, including PDO and PGI products.
Extra 15% discount at partner supermarkets
Cardholders can access an additional 15% discount, cumulative with existing promotions, at supermarkets belonging to Federdistribuzione, ANCC Coop, ANCD Conad and Lidl. Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida said private-sector agreements have stretched the scheme's reach, adding retailer contributions to public funds.
A shift toward automatic welfare
INPS president Gabriele Fava described the approach as "a new model of proximity" — the state now identifies entitlements through data rather than waiting for citizens to apply. Labour minister Marina Calderone framed the measure as part of a "dynamic protection network" that pairs income support with pathways to employment, particularly for under-35s, those who have lost work, and workers with vulnerabilities.
Calls to expand to single-person households
The National Association of Italian Municipalities (Associazione Nazionale Comuni Italiani - ANCI) welcomed the support but urged an extension to single-person households and the elderly. Naples mayor Gaetano Manfredi, speaking as ANCI president, said local feedback shows that singles and seniors also face significant hardship.
ISTAT data support the concern: in 2024, some 918,000 people over 65 live in absolute poverty, while more than one in ten single-parent families fall below the poverty line. The current eligibility rules exclude these groups unless they live in a household of three or more.
