Italy launches ‘Carta Dedicata a te’ food assistance for 2026-2027

The Italian government has launched the 2026-2027 edition of the ‘Carta Dedicata a te’, a welfare measure designed to support low-income families with food purchases. Managed by the Ministry of Agriculture (MASAF) in collaboration with INPS, ANCI, and Poste Italiane, the initiative provides a total of 1,000 euros per beneficiary family, split into two 500-euro installments. The first tranche is scheduled for disbursement starting November 4, 2026, while the second will arrive in April 2027.

Beneficiaries are identified automatically by INPS based on specific criteria, including an ISEE below 15,000 euros and residency in Italy. Priority is given to families with at least three members, particularly those with children born before December 31, 2012. No application is required. To maintain the benefit, the first purchase must be made by December 16, 2026. The cards offer a 15% discount at participating retailers.

While local officials in cities like Messina, Genzano, and various Tuscan provinces have welcomed the measure as concrete support, labor unions such as CGIL have criticized it as a ‘spot measure’ that fails to address structural poverty. Additionally, separate updates regarding social welfare include the reopening of the ‘Reddito di libertà’ for women victims of violence in Sicily and specific payment schedules for the ‘Assegno di Inclusione’ (ADI) through September 2026.