en
NOMECOGNOME

You are in

Flexible early pension

The service allows employed and self-employed workers, who reach at least 62 years of age in 2023 and accrue a minimum contributory seniority of 41 years, to apply for a flexible early pension.
Addressed to:
Categories
Private employees - Civil Servants- Workers enrolled in Separate Pension Scheme- Patronage Institutes
Fund of membership
-
Age
-
This service is also available in

Publication: 26 July 2023

What is it?

The flexible early pension is an economic benefit disbursed, following a claim, to employed and self-employed workers who accrue, in 2023:

  • at least 62 years of age;
  • a minimum contributory seniority of 41 years.

Who is it aimed at?

The benefit is payable to workers registered:

  • with the Compulsory General Insurance (AGO), which includes:
    • the Employees’ Pension Fund (FPLD);
    • special schemes for self-employed workers (artisans, traders, independent farmers, tenant farmers and sharecroppers);
  • with the substitute and exclusive forms of the same, managed by INPS;
  • with the Separate Pension Scheme.

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.

How does it work?

START DATE AND DURATION

The effective date varies according to:

  • the employer, whether they are public or private;
  • the social security scheme paying the pension benefit.

Employed workers of employers other than public administrations and self-employed workers, who meet the requirements from 1 January 2023, shall be entitled to start to obtain the pension benefit three 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 six 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" and in any case not before 1 August 2023.

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 six-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 2023 may be entitled to a pension benefit at any moment after the start of the "window".

WHAT AM I ENTITLED TO?

The flexible early pension benefit is granted for a maximum gross monthly value not exceeding five 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 five times the minimum benefit established for each year.

For 2023 the ceiling is 2,839.70 euro (gross) per month.

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 period 2023-2024, is 67 years of age, to be adjusted from 1 January 2025 for life expectancy.

Claim

REQUIREMENTS

Termination of the employment relationship is required for entitlement to flexible early pension.

It is necessary to have accrued, by 31 December 2023:

  • at least 62 years of age;
  • a contributory seniority of at least 41 years.

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 management scheme responsible for paying the pension.

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:

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

Processing times of the decision

Il termine ordinario per l’emanazione dei provvedimenti è stabilito dalla legge n. 241/1990 in 30 giorni. In alcuni casi la legge può fissare termini diversi.

The tabel shows the deadlines exceeding thirty days, set by the Institute with a Regulation.

In addition to the terms for the issuance of the decision, the tabel also indicates the relevant manager.