More than 1 million Italian low-income families will receive an extra one-off government payment of €100 ($107), following a decree published on Wednesday from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing government.
The money, which will not be disbursed until next year, will go to families with at least one dependent child who only have a single income of less than €28,000 annually.
The special benefit's total cost to the heavily cash-strapped Italian government is estimated by the government at around €100 million.
Originally, the bonus was to have been paid in December, but it will not be sent until January 2025. Critics see a connection with the European elections next month, when Meloni will be the lead candidate for her far-right Brothers of Italy party.
Regardless of the outcome of the election, Meloni does not want to move to the European Parliament, but wants to remain the Italian head of government.
With a mountain of debt totalling almost €3 trillion, Italy is one of the most indebted countries in Europe. According to the latest figures from the national statistics office, Italy's budget deficit last year was 7.4% of gross domestic product (GDP) - higher than in any other EU country.
Last week, the members of the right-wing coalition refused to approve the reform of the European debt rules in the parliament in Rome.