Compared to the European average, Italy allocates an important share of GDP to social protection (34.3% against 31.7% of the EU average), even if expenditure in per capita terms (9,316 euros in 2020) is slightly lower than the European figure (9,536 euros).
This was noted by Istat in the report 'The expenditure of municipalities for social services.
Year 2020'.
In particular,
the resources for the disabled are lower than the EU average (476 euros per year, against 669), as are those for families and minors (339 euros per year, against 753)," highlighting a lack of services, for example of a
social -welfare and socio-educational", reads the text.
In general, in Italy, cash benefits absorb a larger share of social protection expenditure than the European average, to the detriment of care service costs (77.3% cash benefits, against 66% on average across the European, 65% from France, 61.7% from Germany).
"For the 'old age' function - continues the text - where social security expenditure is predominant, Italy allocates public expenditure higher than the European average and in line with other countries, such as France and the Netherlands (4,200 euros per capita the year)".
In the South, per capita spending on territorial welfare (66 Euros) is half the national average (132 Euros) and just over a third of that in the North-East (184 Euros)
.
according to the Istat report 'The expenditure of municipalities for social services.
Year 2020'.
The North-West and the Center stand at 145 and 141 euros, while the Islands are in line with the national average, "Almost 30% of the Municipalities of the South do not offer home care services for the elderly in frail conditions, which provides support for personal and home care", reads a note.
In the Center they are less than 15% and less than 10% in the North.
Istat points out that the average per capita expenditure in the South is below the national figure for almost all types of users.
"This translates into 155 euros less on average for each resident minor, 917 euros less for a person with a disability (child or adult up to 64), 49 euros less for assistance to the elderly, 14 euros less for people of working age, used in cases of poverty and social exclusion. Only in relation to resident foreigners do the Municipalities of the South allocate on average more resources to services for immigrants (15 euros a year) than the national average", reads in the report 'Municipal expenditure on social services.
Year 2020'.
With the pandemic, spending in the area of poverty, adult hardship and homeless people explodes, with an increase of 72.9% in 2020 compared to 2019, according to the Istat report 'The expenditure of municipalities for social services'.
"The health emergency has changed the social expenditure of the municipalities with a peak for the fight against poverty: spending for the area of poverty, adult hardship and homeless people has increased by 72.9% (from 555 to 959 million) ( from 7.4% to 12.2% of the total expenditure)," reads the press release.
Contributions to support income are growing strongly with 377,000 beneficiaries in 2020. And there are 743,000 beneficiaries of food emergency shopping vouchers (21,500 in 2019).
On the other hand, expenditure for assistance to the disabled is down by 5.9% and is reduced (-1,
