Early Retirement at 57 Now a Distant Memory as Pension Rules Tighten
ROME – A path to retirement at age 57 with just five years of contributions and a pension 1.2 times the social allowance – once a reality under the Dini reform – is now firmly closed off, a stark illustration of Italy’s evolving and increasingly stringent pension system. Recent and upcoming changes to retirement requirements are dramatically raising both the age and contribution thresholds, leaving future retirees facing a considerably longer and more financially demanding path to secure thier pensions.
The Dini reform, implemented years ago, allowed individuals to retire with limited contributions and a relatively modest pension, offering an early exit for some. However, the Fornero law and subsequent adjustments have steadily increased these requirements. Today, accessing a pension requires 64 years of age and an amount equal to at least three times the social allowance. These escalating demands are driven by demographic shifts and economic pressures, forcing successive governments to tighten the system to ensure its long-term sustainability.
Under the Dini reform, qualifying for early retirement hinged on meeting specific criteria: 5 years of contributions, reaching 57 years of age, and securing a pension at least 1.2 times the social allowance. The Fornero law dramatically altered this landscape, raising the minimum age to 63 and increasing the required pension amount to 2.8 times the social allowance. Further increases followed – +3 months from 2013-2015, +4 months from 2016-2018, and +5 months from 2019 – culminating in the current requirements.
Looking ahead,the situation is set to worsen.In 2027, a new adaptation to Istat data will trigger further increases, pushing the retirement age to 67 years and 3 months for a standard old-age pension. Early retirement will require 43 years and 1 month of contributions for men and 42 years and 1 month for women. the early contribution pension age will rise to 64 years and 3 months.
Beyond 2027, further tightening is already legislated for 2030, mandating at least 30 years of effective contributions (excluding figurative contributions) and a pension no less than 3.2 times the social allowance. These ongoing adjustments underscore a clear trend: accessing retirement in Italy is becoming increasingly difficult, demanding longer working lives and greater financial resources.
