Within the budget, which became law a few days ago, the Government has decided to refinance the Social Cardalso known as the Shopping Savings Card. This is an economic aid worth 500 euros intended for families with an ISEE less than 15 thousand eurosselected by the Municipalities according to specific criteria. The card can be used to purchase basic necessities, fuel and public transport passes. But let’s see in detail how it works, who is responsible for it and how it is obtained.
What it is and who is entitled to it
The Social Card “Dedicated to you” was created to support families who find themselves in one difficult economic situationallowing them to purchase essential goods. To be able to access this measure, families must have a maximum ISEE income of 15 thousand euros and be registered in the municipal registry office.
Each Municipality receives from INPS the list of families which, based on the DSU presented, fall within the required parameters. Subsequently, a ranking is drawn up that respects this order of priority: families of at least three people, with at least one member born before 31 December 2010; families of at least three people, with at least one member born before 31 December 2006; families of at least three people; Within each group, priority is given to those who have theLowest ISEE.
Who is excluded
Not all families will be able to benefit from the Social Card. In fact, they are excluded those who receive: Citizenship Income; Inclusion allowance or other measures to support poverty; Shopping card for over 65s or parents with children under three years of age; Unemployment allowance Naspi or Dis-Coll; Mobility allowance; Solidarity funds for income integration; Earnings redundancy fund (CIG); any other form of wage supplement or support in the event of involuntary unemployment.
How it works
The amount of the Social Card for 2025 amounts, as mentioned, to 500 euros, paid on a one-off basis for each family unit. However, the availability of the card is not guaranteed to all applicants, since the funds available allow the issuing of a maximum of 1 million and 330 thousand cards at a national level. Distribution occurs following two criteria: 50% of the cards are assigned based on the resident population in each Municipality; the remaining 50% is distributed considering the distance between the average per capita income of the Municipality and the national one, weighted by the resident population.
What can you buy
The “Dedicated to you” Social Card can be used exclusively for the purchase of basic food items, fuel and public transport season tickets. Alcoholic drinks are excluded and, furthermore, the card can only be used in shops that participate in the Cost containment plans established by the Ministry of Agriculture. To purchase fuel, you can use the card at participating service stations price control plan.
But here’s a detailed list of the purchasable goods: meat (swine, beef, poultry, sheep, goats, rabbits), fresh fish, milk and derivatives, eggs, olive and seed oils, baked goods (bread, biscuits, pastries), pasta, rice, barley , spelled, oats, corn and other cereals, cereal flours, fresh and processed vegetables, peeled tomatoes and tomato preserves, legumes, seeds and oil fruits, fruit of all kinds, baby food, including formula milk, natural yeasts, honey, sugars, cocoa powder, chocolate, mineral waters, wine vinegar, coffee, tea and chamomile.
How to request the Social Card
Good news for citizens is that, for this edition of the Social Card, it is not necessary to submit any application. INPS directly identifies potential beneficiaries and provides the Municipalities with lists of names. Each Municipality then has the obligation to publish the list of recipients on its website and to send an official communication to the selected families, specifying the methods for collecting the prepaid card at the post offices.
Waiting for further details
on the 2025 edition, those who wish to know more about this instrument can contact the post offices and to INPS counters or consult the website of Ministry of Agriculture.