What happened to the psychologist bonus?

It is 2023 and this year’s funding is available, albeit limited. There is also an implementation decree on how to apply. However, those who expect to receive psychologist bonuses are still waiting for a year for the measure to be implemented. This is a contribution of 50 euros for each psychotherapy session, introduced by decree law 228/2021 in December 2021 and implemented in July 2022. Given the success of the measure, the 2023 maneuver made it structural by allocating €5 million. euros for 2023, then with an increase of 5 to a total of 10 million, and in 2024 to 8 million euros. However, from 2023, the bonus is stopped even if the resource is available, and the methods for asking the question have also been published. Official diary. What is missing? A fundamental step to finally make it operational: INPS circular enabling the special purpose platform, including deadlines for submission of applications.

In fact, the methods of accessing the bonus in question appeared late. The decree signed by the Ministry of Health and MEF was approved only at the end of November and was published in the Official Gazette on January 10, 2024. One month after the decree on the implementation of the measure came into force, the social security institution applied to the social security institution. has not yet activated the platform with deadlines for submitting applications. So actually the benefit is still blocked.

News is expected in the coming days. Even if parole is required now, everything should be unlocked between March and April 2024. This estimate is based on the fact that districts have until March 10 to submit resources to INPS, and INPS can then initiate new practices.

How are psychologist bonus funds distributed?

The psychologist bonus is designed to provide support to people who need expert support to cope with anxiety and depression arising from the restrictions and the spread of the disease after the Covid-19 outbreak. The worthy goal is to spread the culture of mental health. It consists of the financial contribution to be paid for the sessions of private psychologists or psychotherapists registered in the professional registry. If the application is accepted, a contribution of up to 50 Euros will be recognized for each psychotherapy session and payment will be made up to the maximum amount determined depending on the ISEE values. Only once the recognized total is determined:

• Maximum 1,500 Euros for incomes with ISEE below 15 thousand Euros;
• 1,000 euros for those with ISEE income between 15 thousand and 30 thousand euros;
• 500 Euros for incomes with an ISEE above 30 thousand but below 50 thousand.

The task of INPS is to prepare rankings defined region by region, determining beneficiaries according to the amount of resources. According to the decree of the Ministry of Health dated November 24, 2023 and published in the Official Gazette dated January 10, 2024, the resources for 2023 and 2024 are distributed among the regions as follows:

• Piedmont: 366,545.79 euros;
• Valle d’Aosta: 10,541.66 euros;
• Lombardy: 839,712.77 euros;
• Autonomous Region of Bolzano: 44,084.71 euros;
• Autonomous Region of Trento: 45,408.43 euros;
• Veneto: 411,493.13 euros;
• Friuli Venezia Giulia: 103,464.50 euros;
• Liguria: 132,530.46 euros;
• Emilia Romagna: 376,629.52 euros;
• Tuscany: 316,306.45 euros;
• Umbria: 74,264.33 euros;
• Marche: 127,970.82 euros;
• Lazio: 481,585.89 euros;
• Abruzzo: 108.918,00 Euros;
• Molise: 25,194.69 euros;
• Campania: 462,730.76 euros;
• Puglia: 330,538.11 euros;
• Basilicata: 46,172.06 euros;
• Calabria: 156,020.96 euros;
• Sicily: 403,874.04 euros;
• Sardinia: 136,012.92 euros.