I just sent this letter to the Minister Giovanardi. Who knows if I will respond!
Dear Mr. Minister Giovanardi
my name is Valerio Melandri, have been married for 12 years, father of three children, and teach at the University of Bologna. Even my wife Elizabeth works (part time) and is dependent public. I am writing because a few days ago I received notification of repayment of the Baby Bonus for improper collection, the 1000 euros in 2006.
Nothing to complain. Mine was actually an undue collection.
In asking for the bonus (which you could obtain only if the family - or the amount of income of husband and wife - was less than 50,000 euros), I considered the NET income of the household (the one after paying taxes, which is well below the threshold), while he was considered the GROSS income of the household (which is rather above the threshold of 50,000).
As soon as I found out, I returned the stolen goods, and made my apologies to the government. I certainly do not $ 1000 I do not belong.
But that's not why I write. I want it to reflect on some things short:
1 - A friend of mine, who has two children, NOT married, but only to cohabiting (perfectly legitimate choice, mind you!), And my income has the same (does exactly my job), has received the Baby Bonus and do not return NOT because being married is not income with his wife and therefore he is well below the threshold of 50,000.
2 - NOT married to the same colleague, is before me on the list of kindergartens in my town. It is not before me because it earns less, but only because he is married and has NOT given "parental rights" of children to his wife. He, in a perfectly legal, is living with her mother .... and so live as I live, but has all the advantages that I married, I did not.
3 - Also, always staying on the Baby Bonus, all immigrants who have received the Baby Bonus NOT have returned, because there 'was an amnesty. So the Italians that they are wrong you are asking for money back (with an incredibly violent, threatening criminal charges and penalties unusual), while the immigrants they say "well hold on everything, and sorry if we made mistakes." I do not have with the immigrants! But why two such different treatment? Because the Department is so arrogant with us Italians and so pliant and reasonable with the immigrants?
It does so much to talk about family policy, but it seems to me that here there are only policies for partners (who complain of being discriminated against, when the opposite is true!) And high tolerance (for charity, in some cases more than right! !) for our non-EU citizens.
But I do not pay taxes? Why me, just because I'm married, I have less rights than those who are not married and living in my same situation?
I know that in September my wife and I split up ... so we will have childcare, scholarships, baby bonus, and maybe even public housing ...
I do not know, you see, definitely Italy needs to eliminate these injustices.
Mr. Minister do something! His is the Ministry of the Family or the Family But Only If Not Married?
Thank you for listening.
Kindness vivid,
Valerio Melandri