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Aggregation of insurance periods contributions from any social security scheme toward private employee retirement plans

Publication: 31/01/2022

The aggregation of insurance periods allows the transfer of existing contributions from at multiple institutes to a single institute in order to obtain a unified pension. The aggregation of insurance periods can be carried out free of charge or for payment.

The free aggregation of insurance periods is intended for dependent workers of institutes terminated by regional or state law placed with another body registered with the Civil Servants’ Pension Scheme (article 6, Law no. 29 of 7 February 1979, and article 2, Law no. 482 of 27 October 1988).

Specifically, Law 482/1988 allows, in regard to the aggregation of insurance periods, the application of Article 6, Law 29/1979 to the staff of institutes, schemes and services concerned by termination, spin-off or reform provisions, transferred or assigned to regions, local authorities and state administrations.

The aggregation of insurance periods for payment is intended for all dependent workers and survivors who are entitled to an indirect pension. This type of aggregation of insurance periods allows to combine for payment all the mandatory, voluntary and imputed contribution periods in a unified pension. Contributions can refer to the Compulsory General Insurance, to other alternative forms or to the self-employed workers special pension scheme managed by INPS (article 2, Law 29/1979). Partial aggregation of insurance periods is not permitted.

Concerning freelance professionals, the aggregation of insurance periods for payment allows to combine all the contribution periods accrued at social security institutes of freelance professionals and vice versa (Law no. 45 of 5 March 1990). Partial aggregation of insurance periods is not permitted.

This type of aggregation of insurance periods can be carried out by:

  • those enrolled in the Civil Servants’ Pension Scheme at any time during employment;
  • freelance professionals who wish to merge in their social security scheme the insurance periods recognised at the Civil Servants’ Pension Scheme;
  • the survivors of these two categories within two years from the date of death of the member or the freelance professional, if it occurred after 9 March 1990.

Requirements

For free aggregation of insurance periods, the contribution period to be transferred must have accrued at a body terminated by state or regional law and the worker must have been placed ex officio at another body enrolled in the Civil Servants’ Pension Scheme after the termination of the membership institution. In case of aggregation of insurance periods for payment, it is not sufficient that the personnel enrolled in the State Fund be a member. At least one year of enrolment, even if not continuous, is required for non-permanent staff enrolled in the remaining public funds.

If the contribution periods to be merged have accrued in the self-employed workers special pension scheme (independent farmers, artisans and commercial operators), at least five years of mandatory contribution subsequent to the autonomous periods to be merged are required. Partial aggregation of insurance periods and reimbursements in favour of the interested party are not allowed.

As of 31 July 2010, the right to apply for totalisation of insurance periods for payment has been extended to “insured” parties, i.e. individuals able to claim a contribution credited at the Civil Servants’ Pension Scheme who have not already been granted entitlement to a pension, even if they are no longer working.

WHEN CAN I CLAIM?

The free aggregation of insurance periods can be performed ex officio. The claim for aggregation of insurance periods submitted by the member pursuant to art. 6, Law 29/1979 and Law 482/1988 is considered to be a statement and does not affect any rights.

Dependent workers may apply for the aggregation of insurance periods for payment only once. A second claim can be submitted only if they can claim a contribution of at least ten years, of which at least five of actual work activity. If filing to meet these requirements, the dependent worker may submit a second claim for aggregation of insurance periods only at the time of retirement and only at the same scheme where the previous aggregation of insurance periods took place.

The claim for the aggregation of insurance periods for payment can also be submitted by those who have been authorised to voluntary payment of contributions, provided that the actual payment of the voluntary contribution at the date of the claim is made on a continuous basis.

From 31 July 2010, the claim for aggregation of insurance periods for payment can be submitted even after termination of service, provided the right to a pension has not been acquired.

HOW CAN I CLAIM?

The claim for aggregation of insurance periods contributions must be submitted online to INPS via the dedicated service.
For more information, please see INPS circular no. 46 of 22 march 2021.