Details
All domestic customers can obtain the benefit if they have an electricity supply contract belonging to:
- a household with an ISEE indicator not exceeding €8,265
- a household with more than 3 dependent children (large family) and ISEE indicator not exceeding €20,000
- a household holding Income or Pension of citizenship even if the ISEE threshold is higher than € 8,265.
Every eligible household can request the benefit for financial hardship, both for the electricity supply benefit and for the gas supply benefit.
If a person living at home with a serious health condition meets the requirements for the physical hardship benefit, the family can also apply for this benefit.
To submit the application, you need:
- Identity card
- Possibly Annex D of delegation (if the request is submitted by a delegate and not by the holder of the supply)
- Form A completed. Even if only one benefit is requested, it is sufficient to fill in the boxes relating only to the supply (electricity or gas) for which you are applying
- Valid ISEE certificate
- Annex CF with the components of the ISEE core
- Annex FN for the recognition of large family, if the ISEE is higher than €8,265 (but within €20,000).
Holders of Income or Citizenship Pension must also indicate:
- Protocol number assigned to the Income / Pension of citizenship or certificate useful to document the ownership of the applicant of the Income / Pension of citizenship
It is also necessary to have the following information, which is available in the bill or in the supply contract:
- POD code (identification of the electricity delivery point). This is a 14-character alphanumeric code, which starts with IT and identifies the physical point where the electricity is delivered by the supplier and consumed by the end customer. The code does not change even if you switch to another supplier
- The committed or available power of the supply.
The forms are documents which constitute a notarial certificate, therefore their content must be truthful.
The forms can be found at SGAte (the information system through which operations are managed and benefit requirements are verified) and in the municipalities.
You can use a single form (Form A) to request both the electricity and gas benefit for economic hardship. From July 1, 2018 you can also request the water benefit again by filling out Form A in the appropriate section. In this way, the application is completed only once, attaching the necessary documents to be handed in to the Municipality or the CAF.
The application must be submitted to the Municipality of residence or to another body designated by the Municipality (Tax Advice Centre [CAF], Mountain Community) using the appropriate forms.
Yes, by filling in the appropriate form in Annex D for proxies.
The value of the electricity social benefit depends on the number of family members and is updated annually by the Authority. At the following link, you can find the summary table of the amounts from 2008 to 2019.
The amount of the benefit is discounted directly from the electricity bill, spread across the various utility bills in the 12 months following submission of the application.
Each bill carries a portion of the benefit proportional to the period to which the bill refers.
When the benefit is granted, a special notice is inserted in the bill. When the benefit is in the process of being paid, both the acceptance to receive the benefit and the detail of the amount relating to the benefit applied are highlighted in the bill under "total network services - fixed fee".
The status of your electricity benefit request can be verified:
- At the Body where the application was submitted (the Municipality of residence, the CAF, the Mountain Community, etc.) with the receipt issued on delivery of the application
- By calling the toll-free number 800166654 providing the tax identification number or the request identification number
- By calling +39 0664511012 if you are abroad.
On the website www.bonusenergia.anci.it, in the reserved section "Check your file online" which you can access with your tax code and access credentials.
The credentials (User ID and password) are issued by the Municipality or CAF where the request for the benefit has been submitted.
Answer: The application for a benefit, before it is discounted from the bill, must pass a series of verification steps that are carried out by the Municipality and SGAte (Energy Rate Discount Management System), the online information system that manages the entire process necessary to activate the benefit for citizens meeting the requirements.
By visiting www.bonusenergia.anci.it, in the reserved section "Check your file online" you can check the status of your request.
The credentials (User ID and password) are issued by the Municipality or CAF where the request for the benefit has been submitted.
For economic hardship, the benefit is granted for 12 months. At the end of this period, to obtain a new benefit, the citizen must renew the application to be accepted by submitting the correct application.
For economic hardship, the electricity social benefit is granted for 12 months. At the end of this period, to obtain a new benefit, the citizen must renew the application by submitting the correct application.
Renewal can be made only if the conditions for acceptance (ISEE [Italian financial situation index ], residence, etc.) are met and is requested by submitting an application to the municipal offices or CAF, about one month before the expiry of the current benefit (for example, if the benefit period runs from 1-1-2018 to 31-12-2018, the renewal must be submitted in November 2018 to ensure continuity of disbursement).
The SGAte system sends a special notice to all customers who are already receiving the benefit near the expiry date, reminding them of the renewal date.
The forms to be used are, alternatively:
- Form A if there are variations from the application already submitted (e.g. the composition of the family has changed)
- Form RS (simplified renewal form) if the conditions have not changed from the previous application
At the time of renewal, the customer must submit an ISEE certificate valid for the period during which the benefit starts (approximately 1 -2 months after submission of the application).
Therefore, when applying for renewal, your ISEE certificate must have an expiry date of not less than 1-2 months.
Changes may be made known to the system upon renewal.
Therefore, if during the 12 months of benefit, the number of family members or the income and wealth situation of the citizen changes for instance, these can only be considered by SGAte upon renewal of the application to be accepted for the electricity social benefit.
Only in case of a change of supply address during the period in which the electricity benefit is already active must the citizen go to the Municipality (CAF) of residence, presenting the Form VF (supply change). The benefit is thus transferred continuously to the new electricity supply contract (which must be active) until the original expiry of the right.
For example, if certain citizens had an electricity benefit for the period from 1 September 2018 to 31 August 2019 and in January 2019 they move their electricity supply to another city, they must then apply for a change in supply in the new municipality and the benefit months that are missing at the end of the benefit period are automatically discounted from the electricity bills for the newly activated supply.
Nothing. In the event of a change of supplier or contract type, the benefit continues to be paid without interruption until the end of the right.
Yes, in some cases, when the municipality or the competent distributor finds that one of the conditions for the right to the benefit is missing or has changed.
If, for instance:
- The personal data declared is incorrect
- The ISEE declaration is untrue or does not comply with the limits set
- The electricity contract is registered in the name of another party (transfer registration or takeover)
- The tariff from "domestic use" to "non-domestic use".
Customers receive a notification from SGAte in which they are informed of the interruption (or withdrawal) of the compensation and the reasons why this is done.
WARNING: If a customer no longer qualifies for the benefit (e.g. the person who is the owner of the supply changes), the supplier must be notified thereof. Otherwise, if customers continue to receive the benefit without being entitled to it, a procedure will be activated to recover the sums paid out, for which they were no longer entitled.
Electricity benefit for physical hardship
The electricity benefit can be obtained by all domestic customers suffering from a serious illness or domestic customers who have an electrical supply with a person suffering from a serious illness, forced to use electrical medical equipment necessary for the maintenance of life.
The list of life-saving electrical medical equipment entitling people to the electricity social benefit was identified by the Decree of the Ministry of Health, 13 January 2011.
The physical hardship benefit can be accumulated with the economic hardship benefit (both electricity and gas) if the respective eligibility requirements are met.
To have access to the benefit, the customer must be in possession of:
- An ASL [Local Health Authority] certificate attesting:
- The situation of a serious health condition
- The need to use electrical medical life support equipment
- The type of equipment used and the hours of daily use
- The address where the equipment is installed
- The identity document and the tax code of the applicant and the sick person if different from the applicant
- Form B completed
It is also necessary to have the following information, which is available in the bill or in the supply contract:
- POD code (identification of the electricity delivery point). This is a 14-character alphanumeric code, which starts with IT and identifies the physical point where the electricity is delivered by the supplier and consumed by the end customer. The code does not change even if you switch to another supplier
- The committed or available power of the supply.
When applying for the benefit, other forms of certification of disabling situations, such as civil invalidity certificates, may not be used.
The application must be submitted to the Municipality of residence of the holder of the electrical supply (also if different from the sick person), using the appropriate forms, or to another body designated by the Municipality (CAF, Mountain Community).
No, no ISEE submission is required. The benefit for these situations is granted regardless of the applicant's income bracket.
Yes, by filling in the appropriate form in Annex D for proxies.
- The value of the benefit for physical hardship is spread across 3 levels that depend on:
Power contracted
- Life-saving electrical medical equipment used
- Daily usage time
At the following link, you can find the summary table of the amounts from 2008 to 2019.
No, there are three levels. The allocation to one of the three levels is calculated by the computer system that manages the benefits based on what is certified by the ASL. In case the ASL does not score out the boxes relating to used machinery and hours of use, the system assigns the minimum level.
To know and estimate the benefit level to which the sick person is entitled, you can perform a simulation on the SGAte web page.
The amount of the electricity social benefit is discounted directly from the electricity bill, not in a single amount but spread across the various utility bills in the 12 months following submission of the application.
Each bill carries a portion of the benefit proportional to the period to which the bill refers.
When the benefit is granted, a special notice is inserted in the bill. When the benefit is in the process of being paid, both the acceptance to receive the benefit and the detail of the amount relating to the benefit applied are highlighted in the bill under "total network services - fixed fee".
The status of your request for an electricity benefit can be verified:
- At the Body where the application was submitted (the Municipality of residence, the CAF, the Mountain Community, etc.) with the receipt issued on delivery of the application
- By calling the toll-free number 800166654 providing the tax identification number or the request identification number
- By visiting the website www.bonusenergia.anci.it and entering the reserved section "Check your file online" then entering your tax code and access credentials.
The credentials (User ID and password) are issued by the Municipality or CAF where the request for the benefit has been submitted.
The application for a benefit before it becomes a bill discount must pass a series of verification steps to meet the requirements of the Municipality and SGAte, as well as communication between them and the competent operators.
Only at the end of these steps and if the application meets all requirements will the customer receive the electricity benefit in the bill.
The benefit for physical hardship is granted without interruption as long as the equipment is in use. The cessation of use of such equipment must be reported promptly to your electricity supplier.
There may be situations in which the supply of the electricity benefit is interrupted following a check by the Municipality or the competent distributor that detects the lack or variation of one of the conditions necessary to be entitled to the benefit (for instance, if the electricity supply is stopped due to customer transfer or if the equipment is no longer used).
In such cases, customers receive a notice from SGAte informing them of the interruption (or withdrawal) of the compensation and the reasons for it.
The physical hardship benefit does not have to be renewed but is granted until the end of use of the electrical medical equipment.
Yes, you can request an adjustment. Individuals who had already applied for and obtained the benefit prior to 2013 can check whether they are entitled to a higher benefit amount under the new benefit levels. If, using the simulation application, a level greater than the minimum is assigned, it is possible to apply for a variation using the new form (Form B and attachments), ticking the appropriate box "equipment variation". The change shall take effect from the moment the application is submitted.
Yes, you can require an adjustment either if you install new equipment or if you have to use existing equipment for more hours per day.
You must present the Form B by ticking the item "equipment variation". It is always advisable, before applying for a variation, to check with the simulator because it may happen that, despite the increase in equipment or hours of use, the amount of the benefit does not change. In this situation, the SGAte system does not accept the variation request and the current concession does not change. If a different level of electricity social benefit is awarded, the variation starts from the moment the application is submitted.
Customers are obliged to promptly inform their electricity supplier, as the cessation of the use of the equipment will result in the termination of the benefit.
If customers do not inform their supplier that the equipment has ceased to be in use and continue to receive the electrical benefit without being entitled to it, they may be required to return the unduly received sums.
In the event of a change of supplier or the economic contract conditions, the benefit continues to be paid without interruption until the equipment is no longer in use.
If the contract initially in the name of a person other than the sick person is made out to the sick person (contractual transfer registration), the electricity social benefit is continuously provided.
If, on the other hand, the contract is made out to another person who does not live where the customer is in serious health conditions, the benefit ceases.
