Unemployment benefit (disoccupazione)

Unemployment benefit (disoccupazione) is governed by Decreto legislativo 22 del 04.03.2015 (Legislative Decree no. 22 of 4 March 2015)

NASpI (Nuova Assicurazione Sociale per l’Impiego)
This is a benefit for people who have lost their job through no choice of their own while working under an employment contract. The exceptions are resignations per giusta causa (for just cause) or to protect maternity (dimissioni protette per maternità).

NASpI does not cover agricultural workers (agricoli), holders of a Partita IVA (VAT number, i.e. the self-employed), or citizens of non-EU countries who have done seasonal work. These categories of workers are entitled to other types of unemployment benefit (Disoccupazione).

Disoccupazione covers various support schemes for people who have lost their job. Besides NASpI, there are other forms of benefit, such as Disoccupazione Agricola (for workers in agriculture) and a benefit for seasonal workers.

NASpI is paid monthly by INPS (National Social Security Institute) and depends on the social security contributions paid over the 4 years before dismissal. The benefit is paid for half the length of the contribution period.

Conditions for receiving NASpI

• You must have worked at least 13 weeks in the last 4 years with social security contributions (contributi) paid.
• If you have worked continuously for 4 years, you will receive the benefit for 2 years.

How to apply

You can apply:

• through a CAF (tax assistance centre) or a Patronato (welfare advice office)
• yourself, on the INPS website

The application must be made online on the INPS platform by the 68th day after the date of dismissal.

• If you apply by the 8th day after dismissal, payments start from the 8th day.
• If you apply after the 8th day, payments start from the day you apply.

How the amount is calculated

The calculation takes your average monthly income over the 4 years before dismissal, and the benefit is roughly 75% of that amount.
The formula is:
contributions over the last 4 years / number of weeks × 4.33

• If your average income is below €1,425.21, the benefit is 75% of that amount.
• If it is higher, an extra 25% of the difference between your actual income and €1,425.21 is added.

The benefit cannot exceed €1,550.42 a month (as of 2024).

For the first 5 months the amount stays the same. From the 6th month onwards, it is reduced by 3% each month.

Documents needed to apply

1. Your employment contract and latest busta paga (payslip)
2. The document ending the employment relationship (Cessazione del rapporto di lavoro)
3. IBAN code and BIC/SWIFT
4. Permesso di soggiorno (residence permit)
5. Carta di identità (identity card)
6. Codice fiscale (tax code)

You must also complete the declaration of availability for work (Dichiarazione di immediata disponibilità al lavoro) through the Centro per l’impiego (job centre).

Note that to receive the benefit you must have a registered place of residence (residenza).