The Shopping Card and the Savings Card are not the same thing, on the contrary, there are big differences between these two measures. In fact, several are causing confusion between the Purchasing Card, already active for several years, and the most recent Spending Savings Card, introduced by the 2023 budget law and also confirmed in 2024. The two cards have different amounts, requirements and recipients
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In this detailed guide, let’s clarify the differences between the two social cards that the state makes available to less well-off families for basic expenses.
Table of Contents:
What are the Shopping Card and the Savings Card
The Shopping Card is a rechargeable and free prepaid electronic payment card that can be used by people who have reached 65 years of age or have children under the age of 3 who are in a particularly disadvantaged economic situation. It can be used to shop at supermarkets, grocery stores, pharmacies and affiliated parapharmacies, to pay for electricity and gas utilities, but also to take advantage of discounts at participating stores. It was introduced by Decree-Law no. 112 of 25 June 2008.
The Grocery Savings Card is a prepaid electronic payment card assigned at the municipal level to buy basic necessities. It is issued, for this year, starting from September 2024, to families with an ISEE not exceeding 15,000 euros and is also called a solidarity shopping card or savings card “dedicated to you”. It was introduced by the 2023 Budget Law and confirmed by the 2024 Budget Law
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Different amount Shopping Card and Savings Card
The Purchase Card has an amount of 40 euros per month and is recharged every two months with 80 euros provided by the state. It has been valid since 2008 and is structural, that is, it does not need to be renewed from year to year
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The 2024 Spending Savings Card has an amount of 500 euros (in 2023 the amount was 382.5 euros), one-time, that is, it is disbursed only once per family unit.
What can you buy: the differences between the two cards
With the Shopping Card you can make purchases at supermarkets, grocery stores, pharmacies and affiliated parapharmacies, but it can also be used to pay for electricity and gas utilities or take advantage of discounts at participating stores.
With the Shopping Savings Card you can buy basic food items with the exception of any type of alcoholic beverage. Since 2024, it has also been possible to buy gasoline, as well as public transport subscriptions because the so-called 2024 gas bonus has been added to the measure
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Beneficiaries Shopping Card and Savings Card
There are huge differences in the access requirements for the two social cards.
The Shopping Card is for people over or equal to 65 years old and to children under 3 years old (in this case the card holder would be one of the parents). The ISEE of the family unit to which the minor or the elderly belong must not exceed 6,966.54 euros per year. In addition to these, additional requirements are required.
The Spending Savings Card is for families with an ISEE equal to or less than 15,000 euros per year, resident in the Italian territory. In order to have access to the measure, these families must be registered (this applies to all members) in the Resident Population Registry (municipal registry). In addition, they must present an ordinary, valid ISEE certification with an indicator not exceeding 15,000 euros per year
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Differences in application methods
The Purchasing Card must be requested by submitting an application to the Post Office (any post office is fine) by filling out appropriate forms.
To obtain the Savings Card, you do not need to submit any request. It is the municipalities that identify the beneficiary citizens and communicate them to the INPS. After the necessary checks, communications are sent to the beneficiaries of the contribution, containing instructions for collecting the cards at the post offices
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Differences in the mode of delivery
There are also slight differences in the methods of dispensing the two cards.
If the application for the Purchase Card is accepted, you will receive a communication at your home address to go and collect the electronic shopping card, already charged with the amount for the current two-month period (80 euro=40 euros x 2 monthly payments), at the authorized post office. After two months, the beneficiary receives the recharge again
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The one-time contribution of the Spending Savings Card is paid through Postepay electronic payment cards, prepaid and rechargeable, made available by Poste Italiane.
When are the two social cards available
The Purchasing Card has been operational since 2008 and it is always possible to apply because it is a structural measure (i.e. it does not expire and does not have to be renewed from year to year).
The Spending Savings Card has been distributed since September 2024 and it is not yet known if it will be extended for next year.
Are savings card and shopping card cumulative?
The Shopping Savings Card “dedicated to you” and the Shopping Card are compatible and cumulative.
