Citizenship Income 2.0: here are the eligibility criteria and benefits of the new benefit approved by the M5S grassroots
Tridico: companies that take on income support recipients will receive 12 months’ worth of the Citizenship Income (Rdc) in the form of social security contribution relief
Key points
At the Nova event in Milan, which took place on 19 and 20 September the M5S voted on the pillars of the programme to be put forward to its allies in the ‘Campo Largo’ coalition, Conte’s Movement presented the version 2.0 of the Citizenship Income, which will be one of the defining measures of the Five Star Movement in the 2027 general election.
Income support
The M5S is focusing on reinstating a universal measure to poverty alleviation as embodied by the Citizenship Income, particularly in light of the effects that artificial intelligence will have on the labour market. The basic income threshold will be €6,500 per year plus a maximum of €3,640 for rent or a mortgage.
Those who are fit for work – currently excluded from the Inclusion Allowance – will also receive the Rdc
The Movement also intends to grant those deemed ‘employable’ (580,000 individuals) the same financial support as the current Inclusion Allowance, but with the obligation to undertake two programmes: 1. Community-benefiting projects (PUC) organised by local councils, for at least 8 hours a week (abolished by ADI/SFL); 2. Pact for Work and Training, in partnership with businesses and job centres/employment agencies. At these organisations, the beneficiary must sign an agreement with a company which, if it takes them on permanently after a short trial period, will receive 12 months’ worth of Reddito 2.0 in the form of a reduction in social security contributions. “This is a new measure we have introduced to encourage companies to hire benefit recipients following a trial period,” explains M5S MEP and former INPS president Pasquale Tridico.
Admission
There is also a requirement for all beneficiaries to be taken on by local authorities, job centres or employment agencies.
Active labour market policies
To improve active labour market policies relating to benefits, plans are in place to finalise the Plan to Strengthen Jobcentres, launched in 2019, which has not yet been completed by the regions despite the allocation of 1 billion euros. Efforts are also being made to strengthen the Siisl platform, which is integrated with data from local authorities, job centres/employment agencies, businesses and recipients of all income support benefits (Naspi, Cig, etc.).
