Although Italy invests 28.9% of its GDP in public social policies, over a third of Italians are unaware of the incentives to which they are entitled. The WIZBII Observatory reveals this: among young people, the share of those who do not know they can receive a subsidy rises to 45%
But do Italians know what bonus they are entitled to? We are a country that invests almost a third of its GDP in public welfare (28.9% Eurostat data), but 37% of Italians do not know about bonuses and therefore do not ask for them and do not use them. This was revealed by the WIZBII observatory, a free service used by millions of users in France, Germany and Spain and now also active in Italy. The issue is not only operational, but also economic-structural. If on the one hand the State continues to invest huge resources in social policies, on the other the failure to use support instruments reduces the redistributive effectiveness of public spending. More accessible welfare is not just a social policy issue, but a central issue of the country’s economic competitiveness.
The Italian welfare paradox: many bonuses, but 37% of Italians don’t know about them
We are a country that spends a lot on welfare. Italy, with 28.9% of GDP allocated to the social protection system, is among the top countries in Europe for public spending in the sector. Yet, according to the latest WIZBII study, 37% of Italians do not know the bonuses and incentives available, and consequently do not request them. A figure that becomes even more significant if cross-referenced with INAPP statistics: among young people looking for their first job, the percentage of those who are unaware of the existence of public subsidies rises to 45%. The result is that billions of euros remain stuck in public funds, while thousands of citizens give up benefits for housing, mobility or health. The reasons? The administrative complexity, the long lead times and the weight of the social stigma that still accompanies, in some cases, the request for a subsidy
Bonuses: which are the most requested in Italy
According to the WIZBII Observatory, nine out of ten users are eligible for at least one bonus, for an average value of around 2 thousand euros per year. In France, Germany and Spain, the platform has already facilitated the disbursement of over 205 million euros in subsidies, and now aims to achieve the same impact in our country too. In Italy, the most requested bonuses during the platform’s testing phase concern the National Youth Card (17% of simulations), the Furniture and Appliances Bonus (10.3%) and the Celiac Disease Bonus (9.7%). This is followed by the Single Universal Allowance (8.4%) and the Inclusion Allowance (6.2%), confirming the primacy of measures linked to the family and income support. “Despite the large amount of aid available to citizens, many give up accessing it due to the complexity of the Italian bureaucracy, third last in the OECD ranking”, comments Julien Lhoste, CEO of WIZBII. The platform “simply” allows you to fill out a short questionnaire with your data and ISEE and the algorithm immediately shows the bonuses compatible with your profile and allows you to start the request directly.
