INPS, with Message no. 128 of 14.01.2026, communicates the extension of the experimental period of the social APE until 31 December 2026, as well as the reopening of applications for recognition of the conditions for access to the benefit, as provided for by the 2026 Budget Law.
The measure concerns workers who, upon reaching the age of 63 years and 5 months, find themselves in one of the conditions provided for by article 1 of law 11 December 2016, n. 232. The extension is accompanied by a strengthening of financial resources, with an overall increase in appropriations until 2031.
- Workers who find themselves unemployed following: dismissal (including collective dismissal); resignation for just cause; consensual resolution within the procedure pursuant to art. 7 L. 604/1966; expiry of a fixed-term contract (with the additional condition of having carried out at least 18 months of employed work in the 36 months preceding the expiry). Furthermore, they must have fully completed the unemployment benefit due (e.g. NASpI) and have at least 30 years of contributions.
- Caregiver (assistance to family member with serious disability). They are workers (with at least 30 years of contributions) who assist (at the time of the application and for at least 6 months) the spouse or a cohabiting first degree relative with a serious handicap (art. 3, c.3, L. 104/1992), or, a cohabiting second degree relative or in-law, but only if the parents or the spouse of the person with a serious handicap have reached the age of 70, or are disabled (disabling pathologies), or deceased/missing.
- Civil invalids. Workers (with at least 30 years of contributions) with a reduction in working capacity equal to or greater than 74%, ascertained by the competent commissions for civil disability.
- Workers in “heavy” jobs (employees). Employees who, at the time the allowance starts, have at least 36 years of contributions, and have carried out one or more demanding professions for: at least 7 years in the last 10 or at least 6 years in the last 7.
In implementation of the new regulatory provisions, it is once again possible to submit the application for “Verification of the conditions of access to the social APE”, aimed at verifying possession of the requirements established by law.
Applications can be submitted through:
- on the inps.it institutional website (by accessing with level 2 SPID, CNS, CIE 3.0 or eIDAS), following the following path: “Pension and Social Security” > “Pension application” > “Thematic areas” > “Pension application, Reconstitution, Accruals, Certifications, Social APE and Early Benefit” > “Access the thematic area” > “Certificates” > “Verification of the access conditions to the social APE”;
- using the services offered by the charitable institutions recognized by law;
- by calling the Multichannel Contact Center (803 164 from a landline, 06 164164 from a mobile network).
The deadlines for submitting applications for recognition are 31 March 2026, 15 July 2026 and, in any case, no later than 30 November 2026.
Those who have met the requirements in previous years and who have not yet submitted the application can also apply, as long as the conditions still exist.
INPS also reminds you that, in order not to lose the treatment accruals, subjects who already meet all the requirements at the time of the verification request must also present the social APE application at the same time.