With over 620 billion euros allocated in 2022, equal to 30.5% of GDP, Italy is the second country in Europe for social spending. Nonetheless, figures suggest that the welfare system continues to struggle to meet the population's actual needs. This is indicated by a recent report that, in addition to providing a snapshot of public expenditure, also examines the increasing significance of private commitment among Italian families. Families spent a total of approximately 138 billion euros on services related to health and assistance for the elderly and disabled in 2024, with an average of nearly 5,400 euros per family. A figure that shows the frequency with which citizens are required to complete the voids left by the public system. Despite massive investments, poverty and inequality continue to grow. Almost half of the national wealth is held by 5% of households, while 10% of the population is experiencing severe economic hardship. The situation of families with disabled individuals is even more concerning: 28.4% are at risk of poverty or social exclusion. The research also identifies territorial disparities in resource allocation, with a rising divide between North and South, urban and peripheral areas, and internal and central areas. Over 67% of individuals who sought help in the last three years faced barriers to accessing resources in the area. Lastly, a substantial figure is revealed in terms of public perception: only 38% of Italians support the policies implemented to combat poverty and social hardship. A strong indicator of the need to examine and improve the entire national welfare system, particularly in view of the future challenges faced by aging and declining birth rates.