Much like any other country with a welfare state, Italian unemployment benefits (indennità di disoccupazione) aim to prevent people who lose their jobs from completely lacking an income whilst looking for a new position to take up.
Two key schemes listed under Italy’s National Institute for Social Security (INPS), include New Social Insurance for Employment (NASpI) and DIS-COLL, with the former available to ex-employees including apprentices and fixed-term workers in public office and the latter available to “coordinated and continuous collaborators” including research fellows.
However, there are strict rules on who is eligible for these benefits, with one of the conditions being how your previous employment ended .
If you quit your job then claiming benefits is not impossible, but it is hard.
So if you're at your wits end with your boss and/or despise your current job, take a minute, breathe deeply, and read this article first.
Are you left in the lurch financially if you quit your job?
There is arguably not much in the way of information on INPS’ website about entitlement to benefits if you voluntarily leave your position. In fact, NASpI’s information page even goes as far as to embolden the words “workers who have involuntarily lost their jobs” to highlight who can apply for benefits.
However, a little digging suggests otherwise.
Under INPS’ 2015 and 2023 circular, those who quit their jobs may be eligible for NASpI if the following reasons apply:
Resignation for just cause - voluntary resignation was the decision of the worker but was induced by workplace violations. Under INPS' circular such breaches include: missed payments, sexual harrassament in the workplace, change in work tasks for the worse, and 'mobbing' or bullying by superiors and colleagues. The law on just cause was set out in Civil Code 2119.
Resignation due to transfer - the voluntary resignation was made following the worker's refusal to move to another office of the same company more than 50 kilometres away from the worker's residence and/or reachable in 80 minutes or more by public transport.
Resignation occurring during the protected maternity period - mothers who quit their jobs from the start of pregnancy up to the child's first year of life may be eligible for NASpI too as are fathers who have taken maternity leave and left their jobs.
DIS-COLL has the same exceptions for workers, particularly for those who voluntarily leave their positions for just cause and maternity, meaning those who are registered under separate management (Gestione Separata) with INPS and are not freelancers may be eligible for benefits too.
READ ALSO: What maternity benefits are you entitled to as a freelancer in Italy?
Am entitled to benefits?
To be entitled to NASpl workers must have paid at least 13 weeks of contributions in the last four years prior to becoming unemployed. To be eligible for DIS-COLL you must have accrued at least 1 month's worth of contributions in the calendar year prior to the year of ending employment.
The deadline for applying for benefits is within 68 days from resignation.
How much can you get?
The calculations for how much benefits you are entitled to under the NASpl and DIS-COLL schemes are complicated and depend on your previous salary and the so-called monthly reference amount. However, the maximum payable amount in 2024 is €1,550.42 (gross) per month.
From the sixth month of the receipt of the benefit, the amount for both unemployment benefit schemes are reduced by 3 percent for every month which follows. This reduction begins on eighth month for people over the age of 55.
You may need a Public Digital Identity System (SPID) or a form of Italian identification to access the INPS form online. If you find the application form lengthy, ask the CAF or Patronato (whose services are often combined to CAF Patronato) to help you. The service is usually free of charge.
READ ALSO: How many years do I have to work in Italy to be entitled to a pension?
Terminology
INPS - Italy’s National Institute for Social Security.
NASpI - an unemployment benefit available to former employees including apprentices and fixed-term workers in public office
DIS-COLL - an unemployment benefit available to “coordinated and continuous collaborators” including research fellows.
CAF Patronato - authorised tax and employee centres, which may assist people with government paperwork including applying for government benefits.
Indennità di disoccupazione - unemployment benefits.
Please note that The Local is unable to advise on individual cases. For more information on how benefits after voluntary resignation may apply in your situation, consult your local CAF Patronato or a legal professional. See further details on the INPS website.
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