SOCIAL SECURITY
The term “social security” is intended to mean the total of all interventions for the disbursement of assistance to citizens in need. Such interventions range from free care for indigents, to the creation and integration of bodies and institutions intended to offer maintenance and social assistance to citizens unable to work and without means of subsistence, as well as adequate access to means of subsistence to workers in cases of injury, illness, disability, old-age and involuntary unemployment.
Social Security includes:
- social assistance, in fulfilment of the generic function of protecting indigents, which extends to all citizens in need;
- pensions, in fulfilment of the specific function of protecting workers.
For details and legal requirements please consult the INPS web site.
INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL SECURITY
The term “international social security” is intended to mean the social protection of the citizens of one country resident in another country, guaranteed by international regulation. In the European Union, social protection is accomplished through application of the EU regulation on social security, immediately and directly applicable in all of the Union’s current 27 Member States.
As from June 1st 2002 that law now extends to the Swiss Confederation thanks to a special agreement.
In non-UE countries, social protection is normally activated through bilateral conventions.
For details please consult the INPS web site.
PAYMENT ABROAD OF INPS PENSIONS
For the payment of pensions (over 141,000) to those eligible (in 131 countries) INPS uses the services of a bank awarded a subcontract that is renewed on a three-year basis, which, in turn, operates through various other local banks.
Pensions are paid out monthly to residents abroad. Pensions of an amount below a legally-established limit are paid on a biannual basis, as in the case of pensioners in Italy.
The bank assigned to payment has the task of annually verifying the pensioner’s living status, address and residence.
As from February 2012 the bank designated for payment of pensions abroad is Citibank.
The modalities agreed on by INPS and Citibank for proof of living status obliges the pensioner to complete a Certification of Living Status Form (which the bank will mail to the residence of the pensioner), sign the form and have the signature authenticated by the consular office or a public official legally recognized by country of residence and send it to the bank. All necessary information is available on the http://www.inps.citi.com/ website.
