Tax consultancy

What is Social Allowance?

The Social Allowance represents an important instrument of economic support that the Italian State provides to citizens in conditions of poverty or economic hardship. Recently, the INPS (National Institute of Social Security) provided a series of clarifications regarding the requirements and controls necessary to obtain the subsidy, with a focus on foreign citizens resident in Italy. These clarifications aim to provide greater clarity and transparency regarding the criteria for access to the Social Allowance and the verification procedures.

Foreigners who can receive the Social Security Allowance

In order to benefit from the Social Security Allowance, you must meet a series of requirements, including a minimum age of 67 and an income below the thresholds established by law. Residency in Italy is another fundamental requirement. However, it is not necessary to be an Italian citizen. In fact, citizens of the European Union and their non-EU family members, and non-EU citizens and stateless persons with international protection or an EU long-term residence permit can also apply for the Social Security Allowance. However, for foreign citizens, additional requirements are added regarding citizenship and length of residence. Specifically, it is necessary to have resided legally, continuously, for at least ten years within the national territory.

INPS circular no. 13 of 12 December 2022 provides details and clarifications regarding the requirement of ten years of continuous residence. According to the circular, absences from Italian territory of less than six consecutive months or less than ten months in total for five years do not interrupt the counting of length of residence. However, it is important to note that the control of length of residence may vary depending on the territorial structures where the request is made and the documents presented. To avoid mistakes, it is essential to follow the specific instructions provided by the assistance organizations.