How much is the social bonus on bills?

Varies by geographic area and season, but roughly: electricity bonus about €170-180/year for households up to 2 people, €220-230 for 3-4 people, €260-270 over 4; gas bonus €120-550/year based on climate zone and use (only cooking, cooking + water, or heating); water bonus €50 per person/year. Average total: €350-800/year.

Is the bonus automatic or do I need to apply?

Since 2021 it's automatic: just having a valid ISEE below threshold is enough. No application to the supplier or municipality needed. The only action is submitting or renewing the ISEE every year: the rest is done by INPS forwarding data to ARERA, which activates the bonus on the bill. Exception: the physical hardship bonus still requires an application to the municipality with a specific form.

Can I get the bonus if I'm a tenant?

Yes, provided the bill is in your name or in the name of an ISEE household member. If instead you pay utilities but the bill is in the owner's name (typical sublease case), the bonus goes to the owner if they're in your ISEE, otherwise you need to transfer the contract to the actual tenant's name.

Why doesn't the bonus appear on my bill yet?

Common reasons: 1) ISEE not yet issued or expired; 2) declarant tax code ≠ bill holder; 3) application rejected for POD mismatch; 4) supplier hasn't yet processed ARERA communication (time: 2-3 months). Check status on bonuselettricogas.it with SPID to understand the exact problem.

Does the bonus apply to past-due bills?

Yes, the bonus is retroactive from January 1 of the year you submit the ISEE. If you submit ISEE in November 2026, you receive bonus from January 2026 onwards. The retroactive discount is paid in a single solution on the first available bill or spread over subsequent bills, depending on the supplier.

What happens if I exceed the ISEE threshold?

The bonus stops from the following month. If you submit a new ISEE exceeding €9,530 (or €20,000 with 4+ children), the bonus ceases with no repayment obligation: you don't have to return amounts already received. If you then fall back below threshold, a new valid ISEE reactivates it automatically.

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Social bonus on bills: electricity, gas and water

The social bonus on bills is an automatic discount on electricity, gas and water granted to families in economic hardship. It's for those with ISEE under €9,530 (or €20,000 if the household has 4+ dependent children). There's also a bonus for physical hardship: for those with a patient at home using life-saving electromedical equipment. Since 2021 the bonus is automatic: just having a valid ISEE is enough; INPS forwards it to ARERA, which applies the discount directly on the bill without any application from the user.

Authority

ARERA

Time

10 min

Updated

Apr 2026

What you need

✓Valid ISEE under €9,530 (or €20,000 with 4+ dependent children)
✓Tax code of the utilities' holder
✓POD code (electricity) and PDR (gas) — visible on the bill
✓For physical hardship bonus: ASL certificate certifying use of life-saving equipment
✓SPID or CIE (only to check benefit status)

Step-by-step procedure

Request updated ISEE

The bonus is automatic ONLY if you have a valid ISEE. If you don't have one or it's expired, request it immediately on inps.it with SPID (pre-filled DSU, free) or via a CAF (also free). ISEE is valid until December 31 of the issuing year: renew it every year by January-February to avoid losing discount months.

Current ISEE takes 10-15 days. Warning: delay in submission means losing months of retroactive bonus.

Check that data match the supplier's

The bonus applies only if the tax code of the ISEE declarant matches the holder of the bill or a member of the household shown in the ISEE. Check on the bill that holder's name and tax code are correct. If there's an error, contact the supplier for correction: without match the bonus doesn't start.

If the bill is in the owner's name and not in the household's paying it, you need to change the holder or transfer the contract.

Wait for automatic application

After the ISEE is issued, INPS forwards it to ARERA (Regulatory Authority). ARERA cross-checks data with SII (Integrated Information System) and notifies suppliers of discount activation. Technical time: 2-3 months from obtaining valid ISEE. The bonus starts the month after notification and is applied bi-monthly as an instalment.

The discount is a fixed monthly amount deducted from the bill, not a percentage. On the bill you see "Social bonus" with negative sign.

Check bonus status online

To check if the bonus is active or discover issues, access the SII reserved area on bonuselettricogas.it with SPID or CIE. You can see: application status, coverage period, monthly amount, rejection reason. If ISEE is rejected due to tax code/POD mismatch, you can fix the application by re-contacting CAF and supplier.

If you change supplier, the bonus migrates automatically to the new contract: no need to re-apply.

Request the physical hardship bonus (if applicable)

The physical hardship bonus is separate and requires an explicit application to the municipality of residence with the ARERA form. It's for those with a person at home with serious illness using life-saving electromedical equipment (respirators, ventilators, electrostimulators, oxygen concentrators, etc.). No ISEE limit. Requires ASL certification proving clinical need and high electricity consumption.

The physical hardship bonus is cumulable with the ISEE social bonus: if eligible, request both.

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Frequently asked questions

Responsible authority

Authority

ARERA

Phone

800.166.654

Certified email

Website

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The information in this guide is for orientation only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Always verify on the official portal of the responsible authority.

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