Flexible Early Pension (Budget Law 2024 and Budget Law 2025)

Access to the benefit is not available to:

• staff belonging to the Armed Forces;
• staff of the Police Force and Prison Service;
• operations staff of the National Fire Brigade;
• staff of the Guardia di Finanza.

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Employed workers of employers other than public administrations and self-employed workers, who meet the requirements in 2024 and 2025, shall be entitled to start to obtain the pension benefit seven months after they have met the requirements (this is referred to as the so-called "window").

For these workers, in the event that the pension benefit is settled by a scheme that is not exclusive to the AGO, the next suitable effective date is set on the first day of the month following the start of the "window".
With reference to employed workers, the next suitable effective date is set on the first day following the start of the "window" in the event that the pension benefit is settled by an exclusive pension scheme of the AGO, for example:

• Civil Servants’ Separate Pension Scheme;
• Local Authority Employee Pension Fund (CPDEL);
• Judicial Officials' Pension Fund (CPUG).

Workers employed by public administrations shall be entitled to the benefit on the next suitable effective date nine months after meeting the requirements ("window").
In cases where the pension benefit is settled by:

• a scheme that is exclusive to the AGO: the next suitable effective date is set on the first day following the start of the "window";
• a scheme that is not exclusive to the AGO: the next suitable effective date is set on the first day of the month following the start of the "window".

The staff of the school sector and of Higher Education in Art, Music and Dance (AFAM) are entitled to the pension benefit, respectively, from 1 September and 1 November of the year in which they meet the requirements.

Entitlement to commencing the flexible early pension, by combining the insurance periods paid or credited, into two or more schemes, is determined in relation to the worker’s last position:

• worker employed by public administrations;
• worker employed by parties other than public administrations;
• self-employed worker.

For workers whose last employment was as a public administration employee, in the event that they are simultaneously enrolled in more than one pension scheme, the nine-monthly window shall apply.
In any case, the cumulative pension benefit shall commence on the first day of the month following the start of the relevant "window".

Workers who meet the requirements in 2024 and 2025 may be entitled to a pension benefit at any moment after the start of the "window".

WHAT AM I ENTITLED TO

For those who accrue the age requirement of at least 62 years and the contribution requirement of 41 years in 2024 and 2025, also under the cumulative system, the flexible early pension is determined according to the rules of the contributory system referred to in Legislative Decree no. 180 of 1997.

The pension benefit is granted for a maximum gross monthly value not exceeding four times the minimum benefit provided for by law, for the months of early pension with respect to the moment when this right would accrue upon meeting the access requirements for the old-age pension.

The amount of the flexible early pension cannot, in any case, exceed the maximum monthly amount corresponding to four times the minimum benefit established for each year.

Upon reaching the age requirement for the old-age pension, the full amount of the pension equalised over time is paid.

The age requirement for old-age pension, for the two-year periods 2023-2024 and 2025-2026, is 67 years of age, to be adjusted from 1 January 2027 for life expectancy.

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For the purposes of fulfilling the contribution requirement, any kind of contribution which has been paid or credited to the insured individual can be evaluated, without prejudice to the simultaneous requirement to reach 35 years of contributions, net of the period of illness, unemployment and/or equivalent benefits, if required by the social security scheme paying the pension benefit.

The contribution requirement can also be fulfilled, upon request by the interested party, by fully and completely combining the insurance periods paid for or credited to:

• the AGO (Compulsory General Insurance):
• the substitute and exclusive forms of the same, managed by INPS;
• the Separate Pension Scheme.

The entitlement to a direct pension under one of these forms of compulsory insurance precludes exercising the right to aggregate insurance periods.

No cumulation of pensions with income from employment

The flexible early pension cannot be combined with income from any work activity, including work abroad.

Exceptions are income from occasional self-employment up to a maximum of 5,000 euro (gross) per year.
This restriction applies for the period between the date on which the pension begins and the date on which the age requirement for old-age pension is met – adjusted for increases in life expectancy – provided for in the scheme by which the flexible early pension has been paid.

The generation of income from work other than occasional self-employment, or the generation of income from occasional self-employment beyond the limit of 5,000 euro (gross) per year, involves:

• the suspension of the payment of the pension benefit, in the year in which this income was generated;
• the possible recovery of unduly paid pension instalments. 

HOW CAN I CLAIM

The claim to the INPS can be submitted on-line using the dedicated service.

Alternatively, claims can be made by:

• Phoning the contact centre on +39 803 164 (free from Italian landlines) or +39 06 164 164 from mobile phones;
• On-line services offered by patronage institutes and intermediaries thereof.

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In addition to the terms for the issuance of the measure, the table (in Italian) also indicates the relevant manager.

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