Social Bonus for Gas

To access the bonus for economic hardship, one of the members of the ISEE household must be the holder of a supply of electricity contract with a rate for domestic use; it must also belong to one of the following categories:

• household with indicator ISEE not exceeding 8,265 euros;
• family unit with at least 4 dependent children (large family) and ISEE indicator not exceeding 20,000 euros;
• household with "Reddito di Cittadinanza" or "Pensione di Cittadinanza".

Households with an ISEE 2022 indicator higher than 8,265 euros and up to 12,000 euros (with less than 4 dependent children and who are not earners of income / citizenship pension) are entitled to the bonus for economic hardship starting from 1 April 2022 if the subsidized electricity supply was active on that date (or from the date activation, if later) and if none of the members of the household is the beneficiary of an electricity bonus for the year 2021 still being paid out. The term of this facility is set at 31 December 2022 (decree-law 21 March 2022, n. 21, as converted by law 20 May 2022, n.51).

The direct customer is owner of a natural gas supply contract for the home (individual supply). Instead, the indirect customer uses a condominium-type natural gas system for his home (centralized supply).

The gas social bonus is also recognized for mixed supplies (e.g. individual supply for hot water and food cooking and centralized supply for heating), provided that the requirements for access are met.

From 1 January 2021 to obtain the bonus for economic hardship it is sufficient to present it every year (for example at the Municipality, CAF, INPS site) the Single Substitute Declaration (DSU) in order to certify the income situation (ISEE).

The value of the gas social bonus depends on the number of family members ISEE indicated in the DSU, on the category of use associated with the subsidized supply (only use of domestic hot water and/or cooking food, heating use only, both types of use) and the climatic zone in which the supply is located.

It is periodically updated by the Arera. See the summary table of the amounts.

The supply takes place in different ways depending on whether the request concerns an individual system (direct customer) or a centralized system (indirect customer).

Direct customer

The bonus is discounted directly in the gas bill, divided into the various bills corresponding to the 12-month consumption. Each bill shows a part of the bonus proportional to the period to which the bill refers. The bonus amounts are shown on the bill under the item “Social bonus”.

Indirect customer

The bonus is recognized in a single solution through the issuance of a domiciled bank transfer which remains in payment until the end of the relative facilitation period (indicated in the communication of recognition of the bonus) and it can be collected by the beneficiary at any post office in Italy.

The bonus for economic hardship is recognized for 12 months, with the exception of families with fewer than 4 dependent children, which in 2022 presented a DSU of 8,265 euros and 12,000 euros, who are entitled to a bonus for economic hardship for the period April-December 2022. For households that have an ISEE indicator below 8,265 euros and who did not benefit from bonuses in 2021, the 2022 bonus will be recognized from January to December 2022.

The payment of the bonus depends on the date of presentation of the DSU it can be presented at any time of the year and, for 2022, any accrued portions will be recovered retroactively.

The bonus for economic hardship is recognized from one year to the next, provided that those entitled submit every year (for example at the Municipality, CAF, INPS site) the Single Substitute Declaration (DSU), in order to certify the income situation (ISEE).

The disbursement of the bonus without interruption from one year to the next depends on the date on which the DSU is presented in the different years.
To maintain the continuity of the benefit, it is necessary to present the DSU at least one month before the expiry of the previous bonus (the start date of the facility will in any case be established by the SII).

EXAMPLE CASES

In year 1, the citizen submits the DSU in March (bonus effective from May of year 1 to April of year 2) and in the following year (year 2) submits it by March, the system is normally able to continue the application of the bonus in continuity (from May of year 2).

If, on the other hand, in year 1 the citizen presents the DSU in March and in the following year (year 2) he presents it in June (or in any month after March), the system will not be able to recognize the bonus continuously, since, in the absence of presentation of the new DSU, he does not have the necessary elements to verify whether the citizen is still in a condition of economic hardship for admission to the economic bonus. For the year 2022 alone, it is expected that any accrued shares will be recovered retroactively.

Yes, when the lack or variation of one of the indispensable conditions to qualify for the benefit is detected.

ATTENTION: if the customer no longer qualifies for the bonus must inform your seller. Otherwise, if the customer continues to receive the bonus without being entitled to it, a recovery procedure is activated for the sums paid to which he is no longer entitled.

No, the bonus is recognized only for supplies served by natural gas transported by distribution networks.