Nursery Bonus 2026: Requirements and How to Apply
Complete guide to the 2026 Nursery Bonus requirements: amounts based on minors' ISEE, INPS application procedures, and rules for single parents.
In brief: What is the Nursery Bonus and who is eligible?
The 2026 Nursery Bonus is a contribution provided by INPS to help families cover the costs of nursery fees for public and private licensed nurseries, or for home support services for children under three years of age with severe chronic illnesses. The bonus is available to all parents including single and foster parents regardless of income, but the annual amount varies based on the minor's ISEE Equivalent Economic Situation Indicator valid for 2026. If the ISEE is not submitted, the minimum предусмотрено amount will be paid.
Subjective requirements and 2026 ISEE
To access the benefit in 2026, the applicant parent must meet the following requirements: Residency: Be a resident of Italy. Citizenship: Be an Italian or EU citizen, or possess a valid long-term residence permit or one for work/research purposes. Parenthood: Be the parent who effectively bears the cost of the nursery fees. Cohabitation: For the home support bonus, the applicant must live with the child and have their habitual residence in the same municipality. For single parents, it is crucial that the minor's ISEE is correctly calculated, taking into account the potential presence of the other non-cohabiting parent in the family unit, except in specific exclusion cases. For more details on family unit composition, consult our guide on benefits for single parents 2026/guide/benefits-for-single-parents-2026.
Amounts and income thresholds 2026
The amount of the 2026 bonus depends on the family unit's economic situation as calculated by the ISEE: 1. ISEE up to €25,000: maximum contribution of €3,000 annually paid in 11 monthly installments. 2. ISEE between €25,001 and €40,000: maximum contribution of €2,500 annually. 3. ISEE over €40,000 or no ISEE: maximum contribution of €1,500 annually. There are also specific increases for families with at least one other child under 10 years old and a minor's ISEE not exceeding €40,000, introduced to encourage birth rates. To understand how these amounts combine with other subsidies, read our FAQ on the Single Allowance 2026/faq/single-allowance-requirements-2026.
How to apply and incompatibilities
The application must be submitted exclusively online through the INPS portal or via support centers patronati. Payment receipts for nursery fees, uploaded monthly to the portal, must be attached. Remember: The Nursery Bonus cannot be combined with the tax deduction for nursery expenses on your tax return. You will need to choose which of the two benefits is more advantageous for your situation. For a comparison of deductible expenses, consult our glossary of deductions/glossary/deductions.