NASpI 2026 in Italy: eligibility, application, amount and next steps

An ordinary resignation does not normally qualify you for NASpI. Exceptions include resignation for just cause and resignation during certain protected maternity or paternity periods. INPS Message no. 2540 of 3 August 2026 clarifies that, in certain circumstances, the resignation of a victim of stalking or gender-based violence may also be recognised as resignation for just cause. This is not automatic: INPS assesses each case using clear, objective and documented evidence showing that continuing employment is impossible or establishing a concrete link between the conduct and work-related routines. All other NASpI eligibility conditions still apply. An implied resignation recorded because of unjustified absence is instead treated as voluntary, but absence alone does not create an implied resignation automatically: the employer must activate the applicable procedure. Before applying, check the recorded reason for termination and the documents available.

Yes. The natural expiry of a fixed-term contract is normally an involuntary termination. You will qualify only if you also meet the contribution requirement and all other conditions set by INPS.

In general, you need at least 13 weeks of unemployment-insurance contributions in the four years before you became unemployed. The calculation may include or disregard certain periods and is not always a simple count of calendar weeks. Check your contribution record and request a review if necessary.

For involuntary unemployment starting on or after 1 January 2025, if you voluntarily ended permanent employment in the previous 12 months, you may also need at least 13 weeks of contributions between that voluntary termination and the later involuntary termination. There are exceptions, so have the sequence of jobs and the reasons for each termination checked.

The standard deadline is 68 days, but the date from which it is counted can change because of notice pay, sickness, injury, maternity, a dispute or dismissal for just cause. If you apply within eight days of termination, the standard benefit start date is the eighth day; if you apply later, it will generally be the day after your application. Do not wait until the last day.

No. NASpI is an insurance benefit based on involuntary job loss and contributions, not on your household’s ISEE value. An updated ISEE may, however, be useful for other benefits or concessions after a fall in income.

The amount depends on the earnings subject to social security contributions and the contribution weeks considered by INPS. In general, the duration is half the eligible contribution weeks in the previous four years, excluding weeks already used for earlier unemployment benefits. In 2026, the monthly reference earnings are €1,456.72 and the maximum gross monthly benefit is €1,584.70.

Open the NASpI service on the INPS website and access the application enquiry area. You can download the receipt and view the status, outcome letter, calculation statement and, when available, payment details. Also check your online INPS mailbox rather than relying only on a text message.

Your NASpI application also acts as your declaration of immediate availability for work. Follow the instructions from your local Centro per l’impiego, or employment centre, and access SIISL within 15 days of starting to receive the benefit to complete your CV, Digital Activation Agreement and service-agreement information. INPS has clarified that technical errors or failure to complete the CV and PAD do not, by themselves, cause sanctions, suspension or loss of entitlement. Your duty to take part in active employment measures still applies.

Use NASpI-COM to report events that may affect your benefit: a new job, self-employed or parasubordinate work, expected income, moving abroad, sickness, maternity, a hospital stay, a pension application, or a change of address or payment method. Many work-related reports are due within one month, so check the rule for your circumstances immediately.

Depending on the contract length, income and employment circumstances, your NASpI may be suspended, reduced while combined with income, or terminated. A contract of no more than six months may suspend NASpI automatically, but do not assume that your employer’s report always replaces your own obligations. Check before starting and report your income when required.

In some cases, yes, subject to income limits and a reduction in NASpI. The latest NASpI-specific figure published by INPS is €5,500 a year for self-employment, but you must recheck the threshold when the activity starts. Where combination is allowed, NASpI is reduced by 80% of the expected income attributable to the relevant period. You must report the activity and expected annual income by the applicable deadline. If you have an active Italian VAT number or are registered with the Gestione Separata, you may need to declare income even when it is zero. Do not confuse occasional self-employment with occasional work arrangements governed by separate rules.

Once your claim has been approved, you can request advance payment to start self-employment or a sole-trader business, or to join a cooperative in the qualifying cases. The application is subject to a 30-day deadline. For applications from 1 January 2026, INPS describes payment in two instalments of 70% and 30%. Starting employee work during the theoretical benefit period requires repayment of the advance, except for the qualifying cooperative-member relationship. Becoming entitled to a direct pension after the first instalment prevents payment of the remaining 30%, but the INPS service page does not state that this event alone requires repayment of the 70% already paid.

You can in certain circumstances, but travel, moving abroad and exporting the benefit are not the same thing. To look for work in the EU, EEA or Switzerland, make arrangements before leaving, request portable document U2 and register with the employment services in the destination country within seven days. Always report the move abroad and check your circumstances with INPS and your employment centre.