The estimated increase in the INPS minimum payment could bring the income limit from 19,885 to around 20,462 euros per year. Here’s who could get a benefit increase to 30% and how to apply
From 2027, some more families could be entitled to parental leave benefits, the financial assistance that accompanies a parent who remains at home with their children. What pushes the income limit up is inflation, which increases minimum pensions and, in turn, this threshold. The official figures are not yet available: for now we are working on estimates.
Parental leave: how many months are due and how much it is worth
Parental leave is an optional time off from work to care for children and comes after compulsory maternity and paternity leave. The couple can dedicate a total of 10 months to employees, which becomes 11 if the father uses at least three. From 1 January 2026, with the Budget Law, the age limit for children for employees rose from 12 to 14 years. Those who are registered with the INPS Separate Management remain stuck at 12 years, while for the self-employed the window is narrower: it only applies for the first year of life or entry into a family. Not every month is paid the same. Three are compensated at 80% of the salary and must be used within the child’s 6th birthday. Another six are worth 30% and can be requested up to the age of 14. The last one or two months usually do not include any compensation. And it is precisely in these months without a check that income comes into play.
Parental leave 2027: how the income threshold changes
For periods that go beyond the months already paid, the employee can still receive 30% of the salary, but only if he earns less than a certain amount: two and a half times the minimum pension. In 2026 the minimum is 7,954.05 euros, therefore the limit is 19,885.13 euros per year. With a revaluation of 2.9%, equal to the acquired inflation estimated by Istat, the minimum would rise to around 8,185 euros and the ceiling to around 20,462 euros, almost 577 euros more. The definitive value will depend on the price trend between now and the end of the year and on the INPS indications.
Parental leave 2027: who could have the extra allowance
The beneficiaries would be employees with an income between approximately 19,885 and 20,462 euros a year, currently excluded by a whisker. It is not possible to say how many there will be, because it depends on how the parents’ incomes are distributed. The change does not affect the percentage of the allowance, which remains at 30%, nor the other rules: all the other requirements are needed and the available months must still be respected. Those who have already used part of their leave would do well to check how many months they have left, especially those at the 80% mark.
Parental leave: how to apply to INPS
Parental leave does not start automatically e the request must be submitted to INPS before the start of the period. Anyone who sends it late loses compensation for the days already passed. The application is made online, from the “Maternity and paternity applications” service on the INPS website. For those who prefer the telephone, there is the Contact Center: 803 164 from landline, 06 164 164 from mobile. Alternatively you can contact a patronage.
