NASpI – The New Social Insurance for Employment

What is NASpI

NASpI (Nuova Assicurazione Sociale per l’Impiego), also known as the “unemployment benefit,” is a monthly financial allowance granted to employees who have lost their job due to dismissal or the expiration of a fixed-term employment contract. This means that workers who resign are not entitled to NASpI, although there are few exceptions, such as resignations for a just cause or resignations submitted by female workers during their maternity period. NASpI is not granted only to Italian citizens, but also to non-EU citizens who hold a valid permesso di soggiorno.

Employees who can apply for NASpI include: workers with subordinate employment contracts, apprentices, artistic personnel with subordinate employment contracts, and fixed-term employees of public administrations. On the other hand, self-employed workers with a VAT number, entrepreneurs, and workers with other types of quasi-subordinate contracts cannot apply for NASpI. There are additional specific cases regulated by law, which are listed on the INPS website.

Requirements to apply for NASpI

To be entitled to NASpI, you must have worked for at least 13 weeks in the four years preceding the period of unemployment. This is known as “contribuzione utile” (eligible contributions) which must exceed minimum thresholds established by law.

Eligible contributions also include periods in which the worker did not actually work but still paid the taxes and contributions to the State. For example these are:

• compulsory maternity leave contributions;
• periods during which a parent did not work due to a child’s illness up to the age of eight (for a maximum of five working days per year);
• periods of work abroad in EU countries or in countries that have an employment agreement with Italy.

At the same time, the following are not considered eligible contributions: periods of illness, wage supplementation schemes (cassa integrazione, ordinary or extraordinary, at zero hours), absences for permits and leave, solidarity contracts, unpaid leave for elective offices or trade union roles. Periods of work abroad in countries with which Italy has no employment agreements are also not considered eligible contributions.

The INPS Unemployment Portal (Portale Disoccupazione) allows you to check whether you meet the requirements and to submit your application.

How and when to apply for NASpI

The NASpI application must be submitted online through the INPS website. To log in, you can use SPID or CIE. The INPS website also provides useful guides. Alternatively, if you have difficulties, you can call the call center at 803 164 from a landline or 06 164 164 from a mobile phone. There are also many Tax Assistance Offices, known as CAF offices, and patronage services that can assist you with the application for a fee. You can find the nearest CAF or patronage service by searching on Google for “CAF” and the name of your city or region (for example: CAF Genova or CAF Liguria).

You can submit the application starting from the day after your last working day, although you will receive the NASpI payment starting from the eighth day. If you submit the application after 68 days, you will be entitled to NASpI starting from the day after you submit the application.

After submitting the application, INPS will notify you whether your application has been accepted by mail sent to your residence address. You will also receive an SMS informing you that you can view the outcome of the application in your personal MyINPS area. This usually takes about 30 days.

When you submit the application, you automatically obtain the Dichiarazione immediata disponibilità al lavoro (Immediate Availability Declaration for Work – DID). You then have 15 days to register with the employment center (Centro per l’Impiego); if you do not do so, you will lose your right to NASpI.

What documents do I need to apply?

The required documents are:

• last employment contract or dismissal letter;
• IBAN for receiving NASpI payments;
• identity card or passport;
• Codice Fiscale;
• valid permesso di soggiorno;
• declaration of your residenza residence;
• most recent payslip;
• any documents proving eligible contributions (e.g. maternity).
  

How much will you receive per month?

NASpI is paid monthly for a period equal to half of the weeks of eligible contributions accrued in the last four years, up to a maximum of 24 months. For example, if you worked for 20 weeks, you are entitled to 10 weeks of NASpI.

The amount corresponds to 75% of the average monthly salary over the last four years, and the law sets an annual maximum amount (as of 2025, this is equal to €1,550.42). After the first sixth month of NASpI, the benefit is reduced by 3% each month (for workers over 55 years of age, the reduction starts from the eighth month).

There are certain cases in which the NASpI amount is reduced. All such cases are explained on the INPS website.

When do you lose the right to NASpI?

It is very important to inform INPS of any change in employment status or in the worker’s requirements (e.g. residence or change of IBAN). Failure to do so may result in the loss of the right to NASpI.

In addition, you will no longer be entitled to NASpI if you:

• find dependent employment lasting more than 6 months (if the contract is shorter than 6 months, NASpI is suspended);
• do not comply with the Immediate Availability Declaration for Work (DID), refuse suitable job offers, or fail to attend interviews proposed by the Centro per l’impiego;
• exceed the maximum NASpI entitlement period of 24 months;
• provide false declarations. INPS verifies the information you provide and may suspend NASpI if errors or false statements are found;
• retire.

Can I receive other income and still receive NASpI?

It depends. Here are the main cases in which you can continue to receive NASpI:

• occasional self-employment: you may work, but the amount will be reduced based on your earnings. Remember that you must always report income changes to INPS through the NASpI-COM service;
• severance pay (TFR) or salary arrears;
• other limited income such as scholarships or small allowances;
• Universal Civil Service (Servizio Civile Universale). In this case, you do not need to notify INPS of the start of civil service.