Italy opens applications for 2026 mothers bonus worth up to 720 euros

Working mothers across Italy can now submit applications for a newly available financial support package, with administrative portals opening to process claims for the annual grant. According to reporting from Il Sole 24 ORE, the service launched on Monday, 20 October 2026, following formal instructions issued by Adnkronos and the national social security institution, INPS.

The income support scheme offers 60 euros for each month of work performed throughout 2026, culminating in a maximum total of 720 euros. As detailed in official guidance, the initiative is aimed at female employees and self-employed workers who satisfy legal criteria, including an income from work of up to 40,000 euros. The contribution applies to each month or fraction of a month worked, up to a full year. The administrative foundation for the roll-out is established by the 2026 Budget Law, alongside INPS circular no. 106 and message no. 3343.

Eligibility rules vary depending on family composition and employment type. Female workers in both the private and public sectors are eligible, though the domestic sector is explicitly excluded. Mothers of two children must be employed on permanent or fixed-term contracts, or work as self-employed professionals, with the allowance remaining payable until the youngest child reaches the age of ten. Conversely, mothers of three children can apply for this specific cash support only if they are fixed-term employees or self-employed individuals who do not already possess a separate contribution exemption for the current year. For mothers whose third child turns 18 or whose second child reaches ten during the year, the bonus ceases proportionally.

Historical data from the previous year highlights the scale of participation across the country. According to figures reported by Il Sole 24 ORE, there were 650,098 recipients of the maternity bonus previously, representing six per cent of women in employment. Regionally, Lombardy recorded 111,161 recipients receiving the benefit from INPS, alongside 40,060 eligible for social security contribution relief for mothers of three children. While Lombardy accounted for high total numbers, Calabria registered the highest proportion of female workers receiving the monthly bonus at eleven percent, whereas the Autonomous Province of Bolzano led in contribution relief uptake at four percent.

Submitting a claim requires digital authentication. Applicants must access the INPS portal using approved credentials such as a Spid level at least 2, Electronic Identity Card level 3, National Service Card, or eIdas. Alternatively, individuals may seek assistance through a welfare organization or patronato, or contact the INPS Contact Center. For those preferring telephone assistance, the designated number is free from landlines, while mobile callers incur standard operator tariffs.

Payment timing depends heavily on submission dates. Applications filed in time will see the bonus paid in a single solution in December 2026. For claims processed subsequently, payments initiate in January 2027. Applications undergo examination in order of arrival, and users can track application statuses, view receipts, and update payment methods directly through the online portal. Applicants facing rejection or partial acceptance are permitted to submit an electronic review request accompanied by supporting documentation.

Uncertainty surrounds the long-term future of the benefit beyond the current calendar year. While rules for the current cycle remain fixed, the upcoming Budget Bill will dictate how maternity allowances and family supports are structured from 2027 onward. Previous legislative provisions had envisioned a partial reduction in social security contributions funded by an annual allocation, but implementation decrees shifted payments toward one-off cash disbursements for recent years. Discussions have also touched on potentially retaining the current structure while raising the monthly allocation to 80 euros, leaving beneficiaries and policymakers awaiting final legislative decisions.

What happens next depends entirely on upcoming parliamentary actions and administrative deadlines. Beneficiaries must complete their online submissions by December 31, 2026, or by January 31, 2027, for those who meet eligibility criteria late in December. Meanwhile, stakeholders across the labor sector await the final text of the forthcoming Budget Bill to see whether the cash bonus mechanism will be preserved, altered, or replaced by alternative contribution relief models.