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Publication: 1 April 2020 Latest update: 24 July 2026
What is it?
It is a pension granted to surviving family members in the event of:
- death of the pensioner (reversibility pension);
- death of the insured person (indirect pension).
The reversibility pension is equal to a percentage of the pension of the assignor.
The indirect pension is granted if the claimant has:
- 15 years of insurance and contributory seniority;
- 5 years of insurance and contributory seniority (of which at least three years in the five years prior to the date of death).
Who is it aimed at?
It is designed for:
- the spouse, or party to a civil partnership. The spouse who remarries:
- loses the right to a reversibility pension;
- is entitled, pursuant to Article 3 of Legislative Decree No. 39 of 1945, to a one-off lump-sum payment equal to two years’ worth of the pension share in payment (the so-called “double annual payment”), including the thirteenth monthly instalment, at the rate payable on the date of remarriage;
- the separated spouse;
- the divorced spouse, provided that:
- they have been granted a divorce allowance;
- they have not remarried;
- the deceased became insured before the date of the judgment dissolving the marriage or terminating its civil effects.
Where the pensioner remarried after the divorce, the shares payable to the surviving spouse and the divorced spouse shall be determined by a Court;
- children and equivalent beneficiaries:
- children who were minors on the date of death of the insured person/pensioner;
- children unable to work and dependent on the parent at the time of death, regardless of age;
- adult children who are students dependent on the parent at the time of death, who are not working and who attend schools or vocational training courses comparable to school courses, within the age of 21.
- children of legal age who are students, dependent on the parent at the time of death, who are not working and who attend university, within the limits of the legal duration of the course of study and no later than the age of 26.
The survivor is considered to be dependent on the deceased insured person or pensioner if:
- they were not financially independent and were habitually supported by the deceased;
- they lived with the deceased.
Student children are entitled to a survivor’s pension even if they are employed, provided that their annual income does not exceed the minimum annual pension amount payable under the Employees’ Pension Fund (increased by 30% and adjusted to the period of employment).
If there is no surviving spouse or children, or if they are not entitled to the benefit, the reversibility pension may be paid to the following persons, provided that they were dependent on the deceased worker and are not in receipt of a pension:
- the parents of the insured person or pensioner who at the time of death were 65 years of age;
- the unmarried brothers and sisters of the insured person or pensioner who at the time of the latter's death were unfit for work.
How does it work?
WHAT AM I ENTITLED TO?
The amount of the reversibility pension is equal to a percentage of the pension already paid or due to the deceased insured person.
The reversibility pension rates are as follows:
- spouse only: 60%;
- spouse and one child: 80%;
- spouse and two or more children: 100%.
If the only eligible beneficiaries are children, parents, brothers or sisters, the reversibility pension is payable at the following rates:
- one child: 70%;
- two children: 80%;
- three or more children: 100%;
- one parent: 15%;
- two parents: 30%;
- a brother or sister: 15%;
- two brothers or sisters: 30%;
- three brothers or sisters: 45%;
- four brothers or sisters: 60%;
- five brothers or sisters: 75%;
- six brothers or sisters: 90%;
- seven or more brothers or sisters: 100%.
The amounts of pension benefits to survivors can be combined with the income of the beneficiary (spouse, parents, brothers and sisters), within the limits set out in Table F, Law no. 335 of 8 August 1995.
The income limits applied in the last five years according to the legislation in force are set out below.
| YEAR | Income limit | % reduction | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Up to | € 20.489,82 | None | ||
| Over | € 20.489,82 | Up to | € 27.319,76 | 25% | |
| Over | € 27.319,76 | Up to | € 34.149,70 | 40% | |
| Over | € 34.149,70 | 50% | |||
| 2021 | Up to | € 20.107,62 | None | ||
| Over | € 20.107,62 | Up to | € 26.810,16 | 25% | |
| Over | € 26.810,16 | Up to | € 33.512,70 | 40% | |
| Over | € 33.512,70 | 50% | |||
| 2020 | Up to | € 20.107,62 | None | ||
| Over | € 20.107,62 | Up to | € 26.810,16 | 25% | |
| Over | € 26.810,16 | Up to | € 33.512,70 | 40% | |
| Over | € 33.512,70 | 50% | |||
| 2019 | Up to | € 20.007,39 | None | ||
| Over | € 20.007,39 | Up to | € 26.676,52 | 25% | |
| Over | € 26.676,52 | Up to | € 33.345,65 | 40% | |
| Over | € 33.345,65 | 50% | |||
| 2018 | Up to | € 19.789,38 | None | ||
| Over | € 19.789,38 | Up to | € 26.385,84 | 25% | |
| Over | € 26.385,84 | Up to | € 32.982,30 | 40% | |
| Over | € 32.982,30 | 50% | |||
Cumulation limits do not apply if the beneficiary is part of a family with minor children, students or disabled persons, identified in accordance with the regulations of the Compulsory General Insurance.
In Judgment No. 162/2022, the Constitutional Court held that the effective reduction of the pension may not exceed the amount of income.
START DATE
The survivor’s pension is payable from the first day of the month following the month in which the pensioner or insured person died.
Claim
HOW CAN I CLAIM?
The claim to INPS must be submitted on-line using the dedicated service.
Alternatively, the claim can be submitted:
- Calling the contact centre on +39 803 164 (free from Italian landlines) or +39 06 164 164 from mobile phones
- By telematics services offered by patronage institutes and intermediaries thereof.
Processing Times of the Measure
The ordinary time limit for issuing measures is set by Law No. 241/1990 at 30 days. In some cases the law may set different deadlines.
The table (in Italian) shows the deadlines exceeding 30 days, established by the Institute by means of Regulations.
In addition to the deadlines for issuing the measure, the table (in Italian) also indicates the person responsible for it.