The rules change: multi-year request, excluding the single allowance from the ISEE calculation and amounts up to 3,600 euros. Questions not yet open
New rules for the 2026 nursery bonus. The main changes concern two central aspects: the duration of the applicationwhich becomes multi-year, and the ISEE calculationwhich excludes the universal single allowance. The indications have been clarified by INPS, but we will still have to wait to send the applications: the platform has not been activated and the official opening date has not yet been communicated. The nursery bonus is an economic contribution paid by the INPS to support families in paying the fees for nursery schools, public or privately authorized, or to finance forms of home care in the case of children under three years of age suffering from serious chronic pathologies. The benefit covers, within the limits of available resources, various expense items: from the monthly fee to the meal fee, up to stamp duty and reduced VAT.
What’s new for 2026: single application up to 3 years and ISEE without single allowance
The first big news concerns the duration of the application. From 2026 it will no longer be necessary to submit a request every year, but once made (and accepted) it will be valid until August of the year in which the child turns three. In practice, it is a “single” question that accompanies the entire cycle of use of the bonus. After the first sending, the parent will simply have to access the existing file on the INPS portal, indicate the monthly payments for which he intends to request the contribution and obviously report any substantial changes.
The other new feature concerns the calculation of the ISEE. With the 2026 Budget Law, a new specific indicator for family benefits is introduced, which neutralizes the impact of the universal single allowance. In essence, the amounts received with the single allowance are no longer considered in the calculation of the ISEE for the purposes of the nursery bonus. The amount of the single allowance is subtracted from the ISEE in proportion to the equivalence scale of the family unit. For example, with an ISEE of 41 thousand euros and a single annual allowance of 3,100 euros, the useful indicator drops to 40 thousand euros. This means, in practice, that more families could fall into the lower ISEE brackets and therefore obtain higher contributions.
How much is the 2026 nursery bonus worth
The amount of the bonus varies based on two factors: the date of birth of the child and the value of the ISEE. For children born from 1 January 2024, the contribution can reach up to 3,600 euros per year with ISEE up to 40 thousand euros, while it drops to 1,500 euros above 40 thousand euros or in the absence of ISEE. For children born before 2024, however, three bands remain: up to 3 thousand euros with ISEE under 25 thousand euros, 2,500 euros up to 40 thousand euros and 1,500 euros above this threshold. The bonus is paid in monthly installments, generally for a maximum of 11 months.
Which expenses and services are covered by the 2026 nursery bonus
The contribution covers the monthly nursery school fee, the fee for meals linked to attendance, the stamp duty and the reduced VAT. Payments can also be made by a person other than the person requesting the bonus, but in this case it is necessary to attach a declaration and the identity document of the person who paid. The system provides two alternative types of help: the bonus for attending nursery school and the contribution for home care. It is not possible to combine the two benefits in the same calendar year. In fact, even just one month’s nursery bonus prevents access to the contribution for home care in the same year. All recognized forms of educational services for early childhood are included among the structures that can be financed: nurseries and micro-nurseries, spring sections, play spaces and home-based educational services. However, recreational or ancillary services such as before-school, after-school or family centers are excluded.
Who can apply for the 2026 nursery bonus and how to do it
The bonus can be requested by Italian, European or non-EU citizens with a valid residence permit, resident in Italy. Also included are workers with specific permits, refugees, holders of international protection and stateless persons. The application can be submitted by biological or foster parents.
For 2026, applications are not yet open. INPS will shortly communicate the official launch date and at that point it will be necessary to enter the platform with SPID, electronic identity card or CNS, or contact a patronage. Applications can be submitted until 31 December 2026. Important: the chronological order in which requests arrive applies. The contribution is assigned until the end of the resources, so promptness in clicking is essential to avoid the risk of remaining on the waiting list.
