The Italian government partially eliminated monthly unemployment benefits for citizens who are able to work and decide to reject a maximum of two job offers. The measure will be effective as of January 1, 2024.
The decision has its exceptions. That is to say, affected families with a particular situation or that include at least one minor member, a disabled member, or a person over 65 years of age may continue to apply for and receive the monetary assistance, even if they reject job offers.
These grants are part of the "Reddito di cittadinanza" (Citizen's Income) which provides for a payment of more than 780 euros per month (more than $850) of federal funds to any Italian, or resident of the country who meets minimum requirements, including earning an annual salary of less than 9,360 euros (more than $10,200).
169,000 able-bodied Italians were benefiting from the aid
A total of 169,000 Italians (able-bodied) benefiting from the program received a text message on their phones notifying them that as of next year they would no longer receive assistance.
The unemployed will have the option of registering in a registry created by the government to send them job offers. Those who reject the opportunity more than twice will no longer benefit from the assistance, unless they can demonstrate a valid reason for not taking the job.
Those who manage to justify the reason why they cannot accept the job offer will receive for a maximum of one year a special assistance of 350 euros (over $380) and will be required to attend training and counseling projects to find employment.
"We want to transform assistance into work"
The Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, argued that the plan is a way of encouraging people to look for work: "We want to transform assistance into work. There are people who have been receiving the subsidy for three years, the State must help these people to find a job."
Moreover, the decision to cut aid is taken in a scenario in which the Italian government is seeking to reduce the public deficit (which reached 8.2% of GDP in the first quarter of 2023). Meloni, in particular, pledged to reduce the deficit to 4.5% of GDP by the end of this year.
