Pensions, What Changes in 2026: Key Clarifications from INPS Circular No. 19/2026

As is known, the 2026 Budget Law (Law No. 199/2025) introduced several updates to the pension system. One of the most anticipated measures concerns the increase in age and contribution requirements for accessing various pension schemes, in line with life‑expectancy adjustments periodically determined by ISTAT. Together with the Ministry of Economy and Finance decree of 19 December 2025, the Budget Law confirmed a three‑month increase in age requirements for accessing old‑age pensions (now set at 67), contributory old‑age pensions (71), early contributory pensions (64), and contribution requirements for early pensions (currently 42 years and 10 months for men and 41 years and 10 months for women). The increase will be phased in as follows:

• In 2027, the increase will be limited to one month,
• From 2028 onwards, the full three‑month increase will apply.

Accordingly, access to the main pension schemes will require the following age and contribution levels:

• Old‑age pension: 67 years and 1 month in 2027, and 67 years and 3 months from 2028 onwards, with the minimum contribution requirement remaining unchanged at 20 years.
• Contributory old‑age pension: 71 years and 1 month in 2027, and 71 years and 3 months from 2028 onwards, with at least 5 years of contributions required.
• Early contributory pension: 64 years and 1 month in 2027, and 64 years and 3 months from 2028 onwards, with at least 20 years of contributions and a minimum benefit amount—generally—of at least three times the social allowance.
• Early pension: 42 years and 11 months of contributions for men and 41 years and 11 months for women in 2027, and 43 years and 1 month for men and 42 years and 1 month for women from 2028 onwards.

In addition to these changes, the reform also affects other pension measures, which INPS summarised in Circular No. 19 of 25 February 2026, providing related operational guidance.

Social APE

The circular reviews the Social APE scheme, introduced on an experimental basis by Law No. 232/2016 and most recently extended by Article 1, paragraph 162, of the 2026 Budget Law for the year 2026. INPS clarifies that, since no changes have been made to the existing rules, eligibility requirements remain unchanged, including the minimum age of 63 years and 5 months, to be reached by 31 December 2026.

Social APE is available to:

• unemployed individuals who have fully exhausted their unemployment benefits
• caregivers who have been assisting a cohabiting family member with a severe disability for at least six months,individuals with a civil disability of at least 74%,
• workers performing strenuous jobs.

For the first three groups, at least 30 years of contributions are required, and for strenuous‑job workers, 36 years, subject to certain reductions for specific categories and for mothers based on the number of children.

The rule prohibiting combination of the benefit with employment income remains in force, except for occasional self‑employment earnings up to €5,000 gross per year.

Applications for certification of Social APE eligibility may be submitted by 31 March 2026, 15 July 2026 and no later than 30 November 2026, following the procedures already in place in 2025.

Social Increase under Article 38(1) of Law 448/2001

Regarding the social increase granted to INPS pensioners in economic hardship, Article 1, paragraph 179, of the 2026 Budget Law increases the benefit by an additional €20 per month starting 1 January 2026 and raises the maximum income threshold by €260 per year.

Eligible beneficiaries include:

• holders of social security or welfare pensions aged at least 70 (reducible to 65), as well as fully disabled civil invalids of legal age;
• those meeting the income limits for 2026: personal income not exceeding €9,981.92, or joint income (if married) not exceeding €16,984.89.

INPS clarifies that the increase will be granted automatically to those already receiving the social increase.

Incentive for Postponing Retirement

With regard to the incentive for postponing retirement introduced by Law No. 197/2022, INPS recalls that Article 1, paragraph 194, of the 2026 Budget Law extends the measure to employees who reach the requirements for early retirement in 2026. The incentive allows workers to waive the crediting of their share of IVS pension contributions (9.19% + possible additional 1%) in exchange for receiving the same amount net in their payslip, while employer‑paid contributions continue to be credited to their pension account.

Measures Repealed by the 2026 Budget Law

INPS notes that the following measures have been repealed:

1. The possibility of counting benefits from supplementary pension schemes to meet the minimum pension amount required for early retirement or old‑age pensions under the contributory system. This prohibition also applies where the request had already been submitted.
2. Opzione Donna early retirement, which remains available only to those who met the requirements by 31 December 2024 under the previous rules.
3. Flexible early retirement, which remains accessible solely to individuals meeting the pre‑2026 Budget Law requirements and eligibility conditions by 31 December 2025.