The wait is (almost) over: starting from November 4th the crediting of the 500 euros relating to the card dedicated to you will begin. This is the contribution reserved for those with less economic means and intended for the purchase of basic food items (alcohol is excluded). From 19 November, however, the sums relating to the single and universal allowance will be credited. Let’s take stock.
The 500 euros for shopping
The families benefiting from the Card dedicated to you on a national scale are exactly 1,177,597. In fact, they are automatically identified by the INPS according to precise priority criteria: family units made up of at least 3 members, of which at least one is a minor, with an ISEE of less than 15,000 euros and without other tools for social inclusion or poverty support.
“It is a choice of transparency that enables families to have approximately one month of free spending”, explained the Minister of Agriculture Francesco Lollobrigida, to Rtl 1025. “For those who already have the card and maintain the requirements, there is an automatic credit of 500 euros on 4 November and a second credit of 500 euros in the month of April. This year we managed to obtain financial intervention which allowed us to give 1,000 euros in 6 months to the beneficiary families”. Those who access the measure for the first time will receive a communication, “they will have to go to the post office to collect the card and activate it by mid-December through a first purchase”, concluded the minister.
To avoid losing the aid, it is mandatory to make at least one first purchase by 16 December 2026.
Basic food items such as meat, fish, milk and derivatives, eggs, oils, vegetables, bakery products, pasta, honey, sugar, coffee and drinks can be purchased. There are also agreements with the main large-scale retail trade brands (Federdistribuzione, Ancc Coop, Ancd Conad and Lidl): card holders will be able to take advantage of a dedicated 15% discount, which can be combined with other ongoing promotions at participating stores. The aim is twofold: to help Italian families in greatest difficulty and at the same time promote quality national agri-food production.
The single check
The single and universal allowance for dependent children is instead the economic support for families with dependent children awarded for each child up to the age of 21 (if certain conditions are met), and without age limits for disabled children.
It is paid monthly by INPS according to two very specific time windows. On Thursday 19 and Friday 20 November 2026, those who have an already active application and have not undergone changes in the amount or composition of the family unit compared to previous months will receive the accreditation. From 24 to 30 November, those who have submitted a new application or have undergone a recalculation, for example due to a change in ISEE or the birth of a child, will receive the payment.