5,000 Euro Bonus for the First Child: Here’s Where and Who

Extending the 5,000 Euro Bonus for the First Child: A New Proposal

The 5,000 euro bonus for the birth of a child already exists and has been established by the autonomous province of Trento, but the contribution is currently recognized for the third child onwards.
Now, a proposal has emerged to extend the benefit to the first child as well.

This contribution is currently granted for the birth or adoption of the third child or subsequent ones, occurring between January 1 and December 31, 2023, amounting to 5,000 euros.
In the case of twins (or multiple children adopted during the same period), the bonus is granted for each child.

For those already receiving the provincial single allowance, the 5,000 euro contribution has been paid in a single installment between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024.

Eligibility Conditions for the Bonus

For those not benefiting from the provincial single allowance, the following conditions needed to be met at the time of application:

• Reside in Trentino for at least 2 years.
• Have at least two other dependent children.
• Have a total income (referring to 2021) not exceeding 50,000 euros (the income relates to the entire family unit).

The Proposal for a 5,000 Euro Bonus for the First Child

The issue of birth rate represents not only a national emergency but also a local one, which is why the proposal to extend the 5,000 euro bonus from the third to the first child has been put forward.

In Italy, deaths now exceed births, with a negative balance of 281,000 people in 2023 alone (379,000 births versus 660,000 deaths).

Given this scenario, policies are being reconsidered at both national and local levels to encourage couples to have children.
The Trentino region has been proactive in family policies, and the 5,000 euro bonus was introduced to financially support families with multiple children, albeit as an experimental measure planned only for 2023.

The proposal by councilor Francesca Gerosa aims to address the declining birth rate by meeting the immediate needs of families wishing to have children, especially young couples requiring financial and long-term support.

While extending the bonus to the first child could be a starting point, it is essential to acknowledge that financial support alone is not sufficient to ensure a couple’s peace of mind in the decision to have a child, particularly when other essential needs like housing come into play.

A Step Towards a Better Future

The 5,000 euro bonus, reminiscent of previous baby bonuses granted as one-time payments at a child’s birth, could represent a first step.
However, structural interventions in various aspects of life (transport, healthcare, education, work-family balance, etc.) are needed to ensure that having a child is no longer an insurmountable challenge for couples.