Application for the care allowance

The care allowance is a financial measure, supplementary to the carer’s allowance, designed to encourage and support people who are not self-sufficient to remain in their own homes and to assist their families with the burden of care. 

The benefit is determined by the level of care required by the person who is not self-sufficient, to be provided in a home or semi-residential setting.

How to use the care allowance

The care allowance is intended for the purchase of care and/or rehabilitation services provided at home, on an outpatient basis or in a semi-residential setting.

These services may be provided by:

•  home helpers (so-called ‘carers’) employed on a formal contract;
•  authorised and accredited organisations;
•  family members such as a spouse, cohabiting partner, relatives up to the third degree of kinship, and relatives by marriage of the first and second degrees;
•  co-payment towards the cost of public care services supporting home-based care.

Assessment of the condition of lack of self-sufficiency

The assessment of a person’s lack of self-sufficiency is carried out by the Multidisciplinary Assessment Unit (UVM) of the local health district with jurisdiction over the area.

The UVM, supported by a medical examiner or a person performing medical examination duties, assesses the person’s lack of self-sufficiency and draws up a report, and develops the care plan after consulting the person and their family members. The care plan contains the following elements: assessment of needs; definition of objectives; active services (health, social-health and social care); benefits available; procedures for using the care allowance; and monitoring of outcomes. It must be signed by the beneficiary or a family member.

Amount of the care allowance

The amount of the care allowance depends on the applicant’s degree of lack of self-sufficiency and on the family economic condition requirement (ICEF), as follows:

In the event of a change in the severity level, the amount of the allowance is recalculated with effect from the 1st day of the month following that in which the application was submitted.

Reassessment of financial circumstances

From 1 October to 28 February of each year following the year in which the application was submitted, the applicant must submit an application for reassessment of their financial circumstances, failing which the care allowance will be withdrawn with effect from 1 January of the following year.

Suspension of the allowance

The care allowance is suspended in the following cases:

• admission to hospital, a hospice or any other residential social-health or social-care facility for a continuous period exceeding 30 days, with effect from the 31st day;
• a family member of the beneficiary taking the two-year leave of absence with 100 per cent pay referred to in Article 42(5) of Legislative Decree No. 151/2001 for the care of persons in serious circumstances, as certified in accordance with Article 3(3) of Law No. 104/1992.

People who are not self-sufficient and who meet the following criteria may apply for the care allowance:

1. uninterrupted residence in the province of Trento for at least two years, except in the case of minors, for whom this requirement must be met either by the child or by one of their parents;
2. already be in receipt of the carer’s allowance provided for under Provincial Law No. 7/1998 (Regulations governing welfare measures for civilians with disabilities, the blind and the deaf and dumb) or a similar benefit granted for continuous personal care, or have submitted the relevant application, including at the same time; 
3. an economic status of the relevant household (ICEF) equal to or less than 0.32;
4. a condition of non-self-sufficiency ascertained by the UVM (Multidisciplinary Assessment Unit) of the relevant local health district.

The application may be submitted:

by the person who is not self-sufficient;

if the applicant is a minor, by one of the parents with whom the applicant resides, or by the person exercising parental authority;

if the applicant is under a legal restriction or has been declared legally incapable, by their guardian or curator;

in the event of the appointment of a support administrator, by that person, provided they have been granted the relevant authority.

Applications must be submitted viasocial welfare organisations orthe provincial branch offices.

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