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With the extension of the Female Option, several female workers – even in 2021 – will be able to have access to pension treatment ahead of time. There early retirement, in this case, it is paid at the request of dependent and self-employed women, who opt for the contribution-based pension calculation system.
Woman option: the requirements
They can access the early retirement with the Woman Option female workers who have matured, by December 31st, a seniority of contributions equal to or greater than 35 years and an age equal to or greater than 58 years (for employees) and 59 years (for self-employed women).
Furthermore, in order to have the early retirement pension recognized, it is necessary having ceased any type of employment relationship, while the cessation of the activity carried out as a self-employed worker is not required.
For the purposes of completing the contribution requirement, the contribution paid or credited for any reason in favor of the insured, without prejudice to the contextual completion of the requirement of 35 years of contributions net of periods of illness, unemployment and / or equivalent benefits, where required by the management in charge of which the pension is paid.
Early retirement with the Woman Option: how it works
Depending on whether they are self-employed or employees, the right to pension treatment through the Female Option is acquired:
- after 12 months from the date of maturity of the requisites, in the event that the pension is paid at the expense of the employee pension schemes;
- after 18 months from the date of maturity of the requirements, in the event that the treatment is paid by the social security administrations of self-employed workers.
Woman option: how to apply for early retirement
There application for early retirement through the Female Option it must be submitted online to INPS, by accessing the portal and connecting to the dedicated section of the site. Alternatively, you can apply through the Contact Center at 803 164 (from a landline) or at 06 164 164 (from a mobile network).
It is also possible to access the measure by contacting a patronage institution or an intermediary of the Institute authorized to provide telematic services offered by INPS.
Women’s Option: the news for 2021
There budget law 2021 has extended the possibility of accessing the early retirement pension with the Woman Option to workers who have completed the requirements set by 31 December 2020. By doing so, in fact, the measure extended to 2021.
With message no. 217 of 19 January 2021, INPS then communicated that, taking into account the latest legislative innovations, workers who have accrued a seniority contribution by 31 December 2020 will be able to obtain pension treatment, according to the rules for calculating the contribution system minimum age of 35 and a minimum age of 58, if employed, and 59, if self-employed.
Taking into account the date of January 1, 2021, which coincides with the date of entry into force of law no. 178 of 2020, the starting date of the pension cannot in any case be:
- prior to February 1, 2021, for employees and self-employed workers whose pension is paid by the compulsory general insurance and the forms in place of the same;
- prior to January 2, 2021, for employees whose pension is paid by the exclusive forms of the aforementioned compulsory general insurance.
With reference to commencement of the pension treatment for female workers in the school and AFAM sectors, different provisions apply (referred to in article 59, paragraph 9, of law no. 449 of 27 December 1997). What changes in this case? Taking into account the aforementioned provisions, the workers in possession of the above requirements can obtain the pension treatment respectively starting from 1 September 2021 and from 1 November 2021.
The early retirement with the Donna Option, in relation to workers who have completed the prescribed requirements by 31 December 2020, it can in any case be achieved even after the first effective date.
As for the how to request, in 2021 they always remain the same. Applications can then be submitted online, through the INPS portal, or by contacting an authorized patronage / intermediary, or by calling the Contact Center at the numbers indicated above.
For general regulations, especially those not modified by the latest legislative interventions, INPS refers to the instructions issued with circular letters no. 11 of 2019 and no. 18 of 2020.
Early pensions: the alternatives to the Female Option
All female workers, especially those who wish to retire early from work, can still resort to other forms of early retirement. This year, for example, those who want to retire early can do so with:
- Quota 100, an economic service (expiring) provided, on request, to employees and self-employed workers who accrue, in the period between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2021, the requirements prescribed by law;
- Social EPA, an allowance paid by the State paid by INPS to persons who are in certain conditions (provided for by law), who are at least 63 years old and who are not already entitled to a direct pension in Italy or abroad. The allowance is paid, on request, until reaching the age set for the old-age pension, or until the early retirement or early retirement age is achieved. With the extension of the terms it is possible, in 2021, to apply for previous years.
Finally, workers and workers who have accrued the contribution requirement (41 years and 10 months for women, only 41 years if they are precocious workers), from 30 January 2019 onwards, they obtain the right to pension after three months from the maturity of the aforementioned requirement. They can resort to the cd. “window”, which, however, does not apply to those who have accrued the contribution requirement by 31 December 2018. According to current regulations, this requirement (in force since 1 January 2016) is expected until December 31, 2026.
The private or self-employed employees, receive the pension from the first day of the month following that of submission of the application, while female workers employed in the Public Administration – registered with the exclusive management of the AGO – from the day following their termination of service.
As for Option Woman, for these forms of early retirement it is an essential requirement is the termination of the employment relationship. However, the cessation of the activity carried out as a self-employed worker is not required. They are also identical how to submit the application early retirement, which can be sent electronically to INPS (by accessing the appropriate section of the portal) or by contacting a patronage institution or an intermediary authorized for services. The Contact Center service is also always active on number 803 164 (from a fixed network) or at 06 164 164 (from a mobile network).
