In August 1, 2024, the National Social Security Institute (INPS) issued circular no. 87 providing guidance on the possibility of aggregating insurance periods accrued with international organizations, aimed at early retirement. This guidance builds upon previous circulars, INPS no. 71/2017 and no. 50 of April 21, 2022, which outlined the procedures for aggregating insurance periods accrued with international organizations as well as those outlined in Article 18 of Law no. 115 of July 29, 2015.
Starting January 1, 2016, citizens of the European Union, third-party nationals residing in the EU, and beneficiaries of international protection who have worked in the EU or Swiss Confederation under international organizations are permitted to aggregate insurance periods with various Italian pension schemes. This aggregation can be done for the purpose of old-age, disability, survivors’ pensions, provided that the total duration of insurance periods under Italian legislation is at least 52 weeks and there is no overlap between the periods to be aggregated.
With the introduction of the Decree-Law no. 69/2023, converted into Law no. 103/2023 on June 14, 2023, the ability to aggregate insurance periods also extended to early retirement benefits. This means that individuals who have been enrolled in one or more of the specified pension schemes outlined in Article 18, paragraph 1 of Law no. 115/2015, can now claim early retirement benefits through the aggregation of insurance periods accrued with both international organizations and the respective pension schemes.
The right to early retirement benefits can be pro-rated based on the aggregated insurance periods, allowing individuals to access these benefits in accordance with current regulations on the aggregation and totalization of insurance periods in the pension scheme that pays out the benefits. According to Article 18, paragraph 6 of the aforementioned law, pension payments resulting from the aggregation of insurance periods start from the first day of the month following the submission of the pension application under the aggregation system. This means that the start date of pension payments in Italy, through the aggregation of international insurance periods, cannot be earlier than July 1, 2023, considering the effective date of Decree-Law no. 69/2023 on June 14, 2023. The rules regarding the deferral of early retirement benefits, as stipulated in relevant legislation, remain applicable.
Overall, the guidance provided by INPS allows for the seamless aggregation of insurance periods accrued with international organizations with those under Italian pension schemes, enabling individuals to access benefits such as old-age, disability, survivors’ pensions, and now early retirement benefits. This flexibility in aggregating insurance periods ensures that individuals who have worked with international organizations can benefit from their contributions towards various pension schemes for a secure retirement.
