Foreign nationals in Italy: social security and welfare

Social security for foreign nationals in Italy

Foreign workers with a regular employment relationship in Italy are entitled to the same pension and insurance treatment as Italian workers. To protect those who have worked partly in Italy and partly in their own country, there are international social security agreements.

Non-EU workers hired after 1 January 1996 can, if they return to their country, obtain an old-age pension calculated with the contribution-based system on reaching the age set by law, even if they have not reached the minimum number of years of contributions required of Italian workers.

Social welfare for foreign nationals in Italy

Foreign nationals with an EU long-term residence permit can obtain welfare benefits such as the maternity allowance and the social allowance, which require legal residence in Italy.

For civil invalidity, all foreign nationals holding a residence permit of at least one year are entitled to:

• attendance allowance (indennità di accompagnamento);
• incapacity pension;
• monthly invalidity allowance;
• attendance allowance for minors (indennità di frequenza);
• pension and communication allowance for deaf people;
• pension and attendance allowance for totally blind people;
• pension and allowance for partially blind people.

The single universal allowance for dependent children is available to foreign nationals under certain residence and stay conditions, including the EU long-term residence permit, the residence card for family members of EU citizens, a residence permit that allows work for at least six months, refugee status or subsidiary protection. The birth bonus («bonus mamma domani») is available to legally resident foreign women, whatever the type of permit. The Inclusion allowance has specific citizenship and residence requirements.

For more information and assistance, contact your nearest CCL office.