Under the regulations in force, students must submit every year a self-certification (Dichiarazione Sostitutiva Unica) at a CAF (tax office) or at INPS (Italy’s Social Security Agency), in order to obtain their ISEE indicator (an index measuring their economic situation) and apply for student aid (restaurant services, student accommodation, tax waivers, other student benefits).
The agreement will make audits more efficient, will help identify students who submit false information and will make sure that students who receive aid truly need to be helped, so that they can start their academic studies on the right foot.
The audits will search for anomalies in the ISEE indicator of individuals and households.
Those who have provided false information will have to return the benefits they have already received (grants and scholarships and any other advantage). Their case may be referred to a court for further action.
By joining forces with Guardia di Finanza, the University’s strategy aims at social equality to protect the weak.
In doing so, it achieves two goals: on the prevention side, it informs applicants of the audit procedure on the statements they submit and, on the equality side, it underlines the right to education irrespective of one’s financial status.
The memorandum of understanding that the University of Trento and Guardia di Finanza signed today demonstrates that both institutions are committed to ensure access to education to those in need, and to detect false statements to prevent any abuse.
It is the continuation of a fruitful relationship that started years ago to combat illegal leases, with which Guardia di Finanza has already obtained excellent results in Trentino Alto Adige.
To help students find a suitable accommodation, the University, Unione degli Universitari, Opera Universitaria and Guardia di Finanza prepared a Student housing guide (“Guida affitti: guida di sopravvivenza al mondo degli affitti per studenti universitari”).
The guide provides useful information on how to find accommodation, how to rent an apartment, how to apply for a place in a hall of residence and to obtain student aid, and includes advice on how to report irregularities to Guardia di Finanza.