INPS has published the FAQ relating to the increase for the Single and Universal Allowance. L’Single and Universal Allowance (AUU) is a measure of economic support for families introduced from 1 March 2022 by Legislative Decree 230/2021 (and subsequent amendments) and attributed for each dependent child up to the age of 21 (in the event of certain conditions) and without age limits for disabled children.
The AUU is defined as unique as it is aimed at simplification and to the contextual strengthening of interventions aimed at supporting parenthood and birth rates, and universal as it is guaranteed to a minimum extent to all families with dependent children, even in the absence of ISEE or with ISEE higher than the maximum threshold established.
- Who is entitled to the increase in the Single and Universal Allowance
The law provides for different types of increases, which are due when certain requirements are met. The increase is due to:
– for each child following the second; for each child under one year of age;
– for families with three or more children for each child aged between one and three years, for ISEE levels up to 43,240.00 euros
– for each child with a disability, up to the age of twenty-one;
– for each child with a mother under 21 years of age;
– for each minor child of parents who both have income from work and, if certain conditions apply, to widowed families;
– for families with four or more children;
– for families with an ISEE not exceeding 25,000.00 who have received the Family Allowance in the presence of minor children during 2021, a compensatory increase of a transitory nature is foreseen if certain conditions are met.
– only in cases where the compensatory increase of a transitory nature is due and there is a disabled person in the family unit, a fixed increase in said increase is due. - How much is the surcharge?The increase in the amount of the Single and Universal Allowance varies according to the types of families and the type of increase. It should be noted that Legislative Decree 230/2021 provides that the amounts due and the related ISEE thresholds are adjusted annually to changes in the cost of living index, i.e. the consumer price index for families of workers and employees. For 2023 the amounts due as an AUU increase are as follows:
– for each child after the second there is an increase in the amount of 91.90 euros per month for an ISEE equal to or less than 16,215.00 euros. The amount is gradually reduced until it reaches a value of 16.20 euros corresponding to an ISEE equal to or greater than 43,240.00 euros (see Table attached to Circular no. 41 of 04.07.23);
– for each child under the age of one year the amount of the AUU, calculated on the basis of the ISEE value, is increased by 50% until the child reaches the first year of life;
— For families with three or more children, limited to children aged between one and three years, for ISEE levels up to 43,240.00 euros (threshold revalued for the year 2023), an increase in the amount of 50% for each child;
– for each disabled child, up to the age of 21, the amounts due as AUU (determined in accordance with the provisions of current legislation) are increased by a sum equal to 113.50 euros per month in the case of non-self-sufficiency, to 102.70 euros per month in the case of severe disability and 91.90 euros per month in the case of medium disability;
– for mothers under the age of 21 there is a fixed increase of €. 21.60 for each child;
– in the case of families benefiting from AUU with at least four children, the law provides for a flat rate increase of 150 euros per month per family;
– if both parents have an income from work, the increase foreseen for each minor child amounts to 32.40 euros per month for an ISEE equal to or less than 16,215.00 and then gradually reduces according to the amounts indicated in the table attached to Circular no. 41 of 04.07.23; for ISEE levels higher than 43,240.00 euros, this increase is not applicable;
– the amount of the compensatory increase of a transitory nature potentially due, foreseen in favor of families with ISEE not exceeding 25,000, who have actually received, during 2021, the ANF in the presence of minor children will be calculated by INPS, according to the methods established in the art. 5 of the Legislative Decree. 230/2021; this increase, if applicable, is calculated in full in the year 2022, 2/3 in the year 2023 and 1/3 in the year 2024 until February 2025. From 1 March 2025 the increase is no longer due . - Is it automatic or do I have to do something?
The increases in the amounts of the Single and Universal Allowance envisaged by the law are not all automatic, for some types it is necessary to complete and/or tick the appropriate field in the application. The cases in which, to obtain the relevant increase, it is necessary to make a specific declaration by filling in the appropriate fields are the following:
– presence of a disabled child in the family unit;
– have an ISEE not exceeding 25,000 euros and that during 2021 the family unit received the ANF in the presence of minor children;
– both parents have income from work;
– presence in the family unit, according to ISEE rules, of any additional dependent children who are not beneficiaries of AUU. - Changes to the Application for AUU and ArrearsThe change made, inserting the declaration relating to parents who both have income from work, does not have retroactive effect.
- Right to Increase for WidowersThe widower is entitled to all increases provided by law, where applicable. The increase for parents who both have an income from work is due to the widowed parent, starting from 1 June 2023, provided that at the time of submitting the application the other parent has been deceased for no more than 5 years and at the time of death was worker or pensioner, without prejudice to the presence of the other requirements to receive the AUU. Please note that the rule produces effects exclusively on installments accrued starting from 1 June 2023, without also providing for the possibility of recognizing “sums by way of arrears”.
- Surcharge for Single MothersThe single mother in possession of the requirements required by current legislation can request all the increases due, with the exception of the increase for parents who both have earned income.
- Increase for on-call work contractsThe increases, as well as the Single and Universal Allowance, where applicable, are generally paid regardless of the working condition and type of work (for example, public or private employee work, self-employment, etc.) of the beneficiaries’ parents. On-call work can be considered provided that the worker actually performs work for a prevalent period during the year. It should be noted that this increase is not applicable for ISEE equal to or greater than €. 43,240.00.
- Surcharge for separated couplesThe fact that the parents are separated, divorced or otherwise not cohabiting does not affect the right to receive the increase as long as they meet all the requirements established by law. The increase will follow the same distribution rules established for the AUU in agreement between the parents or, in the absence of agreement, according to the methods established by current legislation.
- Increase for employed parents in the public and private sectors
The increases, where applicable, as well as the Single and Universal Allowance, are generally paid regardless of the type of work of the beneficiaries’ parents. Furthermore, the fact that the parents are employees, regardless of the sector of employment, gives the right to the increase for working parents, in the presence of an ISEE lower than €. 43,240.00.