Separated parents bonus, deadline for applications postponed to 2 April: who is eligible

The deadline to apply for the new bonus for separated parents , divorced and/or non-cohabiting parents has been postponed to Tuesday 2 April. This was announced by the Inps, explaining that 31 March, the initially indicated deadline, falls on a public holiday. Hence the postponement. The application window opened on 12 February; 2 April will be the last day. The chronological order in which applications are submitted has no effect on the disbursement of the grant.

The application to receive the benefit must be submitted to the Inps, after authentication to the Institute's portal, through the special service 'Contribution for separated or divorced parents to guarantee the continuity of the payment of maintenance allowance', available in the section 'Point of access to non-pension benefits'.

The measure is aimed at guaranteeing a contribution to parents in need, i.e. with an income of no more than EUR 8,174, who, during the Covid emergency period, were cohabiting with minor children or severely disabled adults and who, during the same period, did not receive maintenance allowance due to non-compliance by the other parent (former spouse or former cohabiting partner).

The bonus is payable where the other parent, as a result of the epidemiological emergency, has ceased, reduced or suspended work as of 8 March 2020 for a minimum duration of ninety days or has suffered a reduction in income of at least 30 per cent compared to the income received in 2019.

The Bonus for separated, divorced and/or non-cohabiting parents is paid in a lump sum equal to the unpaid amount of the maintenance allowance and up to €800.00 per month. The contribution is payable for a maximum of twelve monthly payments taking into account the availability of the fund, which amounts to €10 million. The benefit will be paid by Inps after verification of the legal requirements by the Department for Family Policies.