After a long wait, the Ape social could finally reach the pockets of the (few) Italians who are entitled to it. Not only the monthly allowance, but also the arrears, given that the pension advance paid by the state was due to start last May.
Reassurances in this sense came from Tito Boeri, president of theINPS: "We are doing everything to be able to pay the arrears to a good part of those who are entitled to these treatments by 2017 - said Boeri in an interview with GR1 - So in December we should be able to pay a good part of the arrears to a large part of those who have the right to receive treatment for the Ape social. In the case of Ape sociale with effect from May, this would be a backlog of eight months. Those with more recent deadlines will find themselves in arrears for fewer months".
WHAT IS THE SOCIAL APE?
The Ape social is a social shock absorber designed to accompany a small number of people in economic difficulty until retirement. Its maximum duration is 3 years and 7 months. Starting next year, the retirement age will rise to 66 years and 7 months for everyone, therefore the minimum age to access the Ape social will be 63 years old.
HOW MUCH IS THE SOCIAL APE CHECK?
The check is not subject to revaluation and is disbursed by INPS over 12 months. Its amount is equal to the monthly installment of the pension calculated at the time of access to the Ape social, but it cannot in any case exceed the maximum gross limit of 1.500 euros per month.
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS TO ACCESS THE APE SOCIAL?
The Ape social shares two basic requirements with the voluntary one: at least 63 years of age and accrual of the requirements for old-age pension within 3 years and 7 months following the start of treatment.
In addition, you must fall into one of these four disadvantaged categories:
1) unemployed without social shock absorbers and with at least 30 years of contributions;
2) disabled people with a reduction in working capacity of at least 74% and with at least 30 years of contributions;
3) people with at least 30 years of contributions who have been assisting their spouse or a first-degree relative cohabiting with a disability for at least six months;
4) workers who have carried out "onerous activities" for at least 6 of the last 7 years and have at least 36 years of contributions.
The list of these "burdensome activities" (sometimes we speak of "weary jobs", but there is no difference) includes nursing and midwifery professions; kindergarten teachers; carers; porters; goods movers; ecological operators, waste collectors and separators, unqualified personnel assigned to cleaning services; mining, construction and building maintenance workers; operators of cranes and mobile construction drilling machines; truck and heavy vehicle drivers; train conductors and train crews; tanners of skins and furs).
CAN THE SOCIAL APE BE COMBINED WITH SUBSIDIES AND INCOME?
He cannot access the social Ape who already receives an unemployment benefit (Naspi, mini-Aspi, Asdi, and dis-col). On the other hand, it is possible to combine the pension advance with an income from work, provided it does not exceed 8 euros a year for income from employment or from coordinated and continuous collaboration or 4.800 euros a year for income from self-employment.
Read also:
Ape social and early retirement: the ranking starts, here's how it works.
