Italy (IT)
Italy is a parliamentary republic of 20 regions stretching from the Alpine peaks of the Dolomites to the sun-baked coasts of Sicily and Sardinia, celebrated worldwide for its unparalleled Renaissance art and architecture, UNESCO-laden historic cities from Rome to Florence and Venice, world-defining cuisine and wines, passionate football culture, and a relaxed Mediterranean lifestyle that has drawn expats, artists, and retirees for centuries.
Social Security in Italy
Benefits, contributions, and how the system works for expats.
Italy's social security system is administered by INPS (Istituto Nazionale della Previdenza Sociale), the largest public institution in Italy managing pensions, unemployment, maternity/paternity benefits, sick pay top-ups, disability allowances, and social assistance. INAIL (Istituto Nazionale per l'Assicurazione contro gli Infortuni sul Lavoro) covers workplace accidents and occupational diseases separately. The system is contributory and Bismarckian in origin — rights are generally tied to prior contributions — but includes universal elements (Assegno Unico, RdC/ADI social income). EU/EEA residents contribute and accrue rights on the same basis as Italian citizens. Non-EU workers with a Permesso di Soggiorno are covered on equal terms. Italy has totalization agreements with the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, and other countries preventing double contributions.
Social Security Number / Contribution Position
Posizione Contributiva INPS / Codice Fiscale
Italy does not have a separate "social security number" distinct from the Codice Fiscale. For INPS purposes, your identifier is your Codice Fiscale (tax code). When starting employment, your employer registers you with INPS under your Codice Fiscale — you can view your contribution record (estratto conto contributivo) immediately at inps.it using SPID or CIE. Freelancers on Partita IVA register with INPS Gestione Separata when they obtain their Partita IVA. Self-employed in trades (artigiani, commercianti) register with INPS Gestione Artigiani/Commercianti.
- State pension (pensione INPS) — accrual of contributory pension rights
- Unemployment benefit (NASPI) eligibility
- Maternity and paternity benefits (indennità di maternità/paternità)
- Sick leave top-up payments (indennità malattia)
- CIG (Cassa Integrazione Guadagni) — short-time work scheme
- ISEE (means-testing for all income-related benefits)
- Assegno Unico e Universale (child benefit) application
- Disability benefits (assegno di invalidità, pensione di inabilità)
- Survivor pension (pensione ai superstiti)
Benefits & Support Payments
NASPI (Unemployment Benefit)
Nuova Assicurazione Sociale per l'Impiego (NASPI)
Monthly unemployment benefit for employees who have involuntarily lost their job. Amount: 75% of average monthly salary in the preceding 4 years for the first €1,352.19/month; 25% of the excess above that threshold. From month 6: benefit decreases by 3% per month.
At least 13 weeks of contributions in the preceding 4 years + at least 30 days of actual work in the preceding 12 months. Only for involuntary job loss (licenziamento) — not for voluntary resignation (dimissioni), except for giusta causa (constructive dismissal). Available to apprentices (apprendisti) and some other categories since 2022 reforms.
Online at inps.it within 68 days of job loss (peremptory deadline). Via SPID or CAF. Application: Modello DS22. Payments begin after 8-day waiting period, retroactive from date of application.
CIG — Cassa Integrazione Guadagni (Short-Time Work)
Cassa Integrazione Guadagni
Wage supplementation scheme allowing employers facing temporary difficulties to reduce or suspend working hours while the government pays a significant portion of wages. Prevents mass layoffs during economic downturns. CIGO (ordinaria) for sudden events; CIGS (straordinaria) for structural restructuring; CIGD (deroga) for small businesses.
Employees of companies in difficulty — eligibility by employer application, not individual. All employees enrolled in CIG-covered sectors. Minimum 90 days of employment with current employer.
Employer applies for CIG authorisation at INPS. Worker does not apply individually. Worker receives CIG automatically from INPS once employer application is approved.
ADI (Assegno di Inclusione — Social Inclusion Allowance)
Assegno di Inclusione (ADI)
Italy's minimum income guarantee, replacing the Reddito di Cittadinanza (RdC) from January 2024 under DL 48/2023. Monthly cash transfer for low-income families with at least one member who is a minor, disabled, over 60, or in a situation of social vulnerability.
ISEE under €9,360/year. Household income under €6,000/year (multiplied by household equivalence scale). Resident in Italy for at least 5 years (last 2 continuously). Italian citizen, EU citizen, or non-EU citizen with EC long-term residence permit (CE).
Online at inps.it/ADI with SPID. Via CAF or Patronato. Activation also requires signing a patto di attivazione digitale (digital commitment agreement) and participation in social support pathway through social services.
Assegno Unico e Universale (Child Benefit)
Assegno Unico e Universale
Universal monthly benefit for each dependent child from the 7th month of pregnancy until age 21 (if studying/apprenticeship) or indefinitely for severely disabled children. Replaced 8 fragmented child benefits in March 2022.
All residents with dependent children: Italian citizens, EU residents, non-EU with long-term CE permit. Employees, self-employed, unemployed, and inactive all eligible.
Online at inps.it with SPID or via CAF. Submit ISEE declaration for above-minimum amounts. Payment: monthly bank transfer.
Invalidità Civile (Disability Allowance)
Pensione/Assegno di Invalidità Civile
Monthly benefit for Italian residents with civil disability (invalidità civile) assessed by INPS medical commission. Different from contributory disability (INPS assegno di invalidità). Covers partial disability (74–99% reduction in working capacity) and total disability (100%).
Italian or EU citizens; non-EU citizens with EC long-term permit or humanitarian protection. Must be under 65 (over 65: pensione di anzianità). ISEE income limit for assegno: under €5,360/year.
Via medico di base referral to INPS disability commission. Online at inps.it or via Patronato. Process: 6–12 months.
Indennità di Maternità / Paternità
Congedo Obbligatorio e Facoltativo di Maternità e Paternità
See FamilyRights for full details. Maternity: 5 months at 80% salary. Compulsory paternity: 10 working days at 100%. Parental leave: up to 11 months per couple, first month at 80%, additional months at 30%.
All employed workers registered with INPS. Self-employed on Gestione Separata: maternity indemnity available.
Online at inps.it with SPID. Employer must be notified at least 1 month before leave start.
Pensione Anticipata / Vecchiaia (State Pension)
Pensione INPS
See RetirementAndPension for full details. Contributory pension at retirement age (67 years, 2026) or early retirement options (Quota 103, Opzione Donna, Ape Sociale). Calculated via the contributivo (contributions-based) method for post-1996 workers.
20 years of contributions + age 67 for vecchiaia. Quota 103: age 62 + 41 years contributions (2026).
Online at inps.it (Pensionamento — Richiesta pensione) or via CAF/Patronato.
Contribution Overview
Employee contributions (2026): 9.19% of gross salary for employees in the general category (IVS — Invalidità, Vecchiaia, Superstiti). Employer contribution: 23.81% on top of gross salary. Self-employed (Gestione Artigiani/Commercianti): fixed minimum contribution of ~€3,900/year (2026) regardless of income + variable contributions above the minimale. Gestione Separata (freelancers/co.co.co): 26.23% of gross income (for those without other pension scheme); 24% for those already enrolled in another compulsory pension fund. Agricultural and building sector workers: different rates under special CCNL. Contributions are the basis for all INPS benefit entitlements. Totalization: contributions paid in another EU/EEA country or bilateral agreement country (USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, others) count toward qualifying periods.
International Social Security Agreements
Italy has bilateral social security agreements with: USA, Canada, Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, San Marino, Monaco, Vatican, Japan, South Korea, Cape Verde, Australia, New Zealand, and others. EU Regulation 883/2004 coordinates social security for EU/EEA workers. Under totalization: contribution periods in both countries are combined to determine eligibility; each country pays benefits proportional to contributions made in that country. Key practical use: if you worked 5 years in Italy and 15 in the USA, you can combine periods to qualify for both Italian and US pensions simultaneously.
INPS MyINPS portal (inps.it — SPID login): view your complete contributory history (estratto conto previdenziale), run pension simulations, manage benefit applications. CAF centres and Patronati (ACLI, INCA-CGIL, INAS-CISL, ENACAL, EPASA-ITACO) provide free assistance with all INPS applications — essential for complex cases like disability assessments, late contribution regularisation, and international pension coordination.
Social Security
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