Members of families with an ISEE of less than 10 thousand euros can now obtain a one-off contribution of 50 euros for the purchase of glasses or contact lenses. The measure provides a reimbursement for those who have already made the purchase (starting from January 1, 2021) and a voucher to be used for purchases until the end of 2023.
More than two years after its institution, the glasses bonus finally sees the light with the publication of the portal to request it on the Ministry of Health website. The bonus was introduced with the Budget Law passed at the end of 2020, providing for a "fund for the protection of sight" with an endowment of 5 million euros for each of the years from 2021 to 2023. Let's see together how to obtain the voucher for the purchase or reimbursement for those who have already purchased prescription glasses.
Who can claim the bonus
The vision bonus is reserved for the purchase of eyeglasses or corrective contact lenses, by members of families who have an ISEE of less than 10,000 euros. The bonus is guaranteed to each member of the family unit indicated in the ISEE, even if in the period of validity, i.e. from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2023, it can be requested only once each.
How to get the glasses bonus
The procedures for obtaining the glasses bonus are different depending on whether the bonus is a refund of what has been spent so far or concerns purchases made by the end of 2023.
How to get a voucher for purchase
The Ministry of Health has published a platform on its website through which it is possible, after registration via Spid, Cie or Cns, to request the provision of the 50 euro voucher. Once registered on the portal, the applicant must self-certify the ISEE data and after the ministerial checks, will receive in the same section of the website the 50 euro voucher that can be used within 30 days of its generation at the accredited suppliers of corrective glasses or contact lenses whose list is found in a special section of the platform.
How to get a refund for purchases already made
For purchases made from January 1, 2021 and up to the day before the publication of the Ministry of Health platform, which issues vouchers for new purchases, it will be possible to obtain a refund.
To receive the glasses bonus on purchases made, you must authenticate on the platform via Spid, Cie or Cns where possible, self-certify compliance with the Isee requirements and enter the Iban code of the current account on which to credit the reimbursement bonus. In this case, you must upload a copy of the receipt or invoice proving the purchase that gives you the right to the glasses bonus to the platform.
Beware of deductions
But let's be careful, in fact, like any contribution, the glasses bonus cannot be paid for expenses that enjoy other benefits. For this reason, if tax deductions for medical expenses have been requested for the expenses incurred through the tax return, it is necessary to verify that it is possible to request the bonus.
In fact, depending on the total amount of medical expenses incurred and consequently on the portion of the 129.11 euro deductible applied to the expense for glasses or lenses, on your income situation, the bonus may not be due in full.
For those who incurred the expense in 2022 or will incur it in 2023, we recommend noting the receipt or invoice that you received the bonus, so that you remember, when filing your tax return, to separate the bonus from the total expense incurred and not include the 50 euros among the medical expenses on which to calculate the deduction.
Funded by MiSE. Law 388/2000 - YEAR 2021