ITALY - CIVIL INCAPACITY AND LONG TERM CARE BENEFIT

​We continue the knowledge of the Italian welfare system.
What happens in Italy if you are a worker suffering from chronic physical and/or mental incapacity? What are the benefits provided by the Italian Government in this case?

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In cash and in-kind, the benefits are provided by the Italian welfare system to support workers suffering from chronic physical and/or mental incapacity, which prevents them from being self-sufficient and, therefore, makes it impossible to provide for themselves.
 What benefits?
 Civil incapacity and long-term care benefits are granted to entitled disabled persons, in the form of:
 

• cash benefits (provided in the form of pensions, allowances or compensation);
• benefits in kind or non-cash benefits are (healthcare and long-term care, home care or residential facilities, assistance with education, professional training or instruction, privileged recruitment with public or private bodies). They guarantee maintenance and social support of those unable to work and who do not have the necessary means to live.

 In what situation can you claim?
 You are entitled to civil incapacity and long-term care benefits if you meet the following conditions:
 

• you are an Italian citizen, not self-sufficient, and resident in Italy;
• you are a citizen of the EU and registered in your municipality of residence;
• you are a citizen of a Third Country and staying legally in the Country.

 
These benefits are granted to you based on your economic circumstances and are provided in-kind and/or cash benefits. Except for the constant attendance allowance (Assegno di accompagnamento), communication allowance for the deaf-mutes (Indennità di comunicazione per sordomuti) and special allowance for partially blind persons (Prestazioni per ciechi parziali),
 What conditions do you need to meet?
 Your entitlement to cash benefits as a disabled person, except for the carer allowance, communication for the deaf assistance and particular advantage for the partially blind, is based on your income.
 You are entitled to the total cash benefits if your income does not exceed certain limits.
 You must also meet the following requirements:
 

• inability to work without the permanent assistance of a carer;
• need of permanent aid to carry out everyday activities/tasks.

 
Entitlement to these benefits is subject to assess your degree of self-sufficiency by a mixed medical and legal board, made up of doctors representing both the local health authorities and the INPS, which may also carry out subsequent checks.
 
What are you entitled to, and how can you claim?
 You may be entitled to the following cash benefits depending on your case.
 The cash benefits provided if you are a disabled person are:
 

• constant attendance allowance;
• monthly allowance in relation to reduced work capacity and low income (known as “Assegno mensile di assistenza per invalidi con ridotta capacità lavorativa in stato di bisogno economico” in Italian);
• disability pension (known as “Pensione di inabilità per invalidi civili” in Italian).

The cash benefits provided if you are a deaf person are:
 

• the pension;
• communication allowance.

The cash benefits provided if you are a blind person are:
 

• the pension;
• special allowance.

The cash benefits provided if you are a partially blind person are:
 

• the pension,
• special allowance.

 
Cash benefits are also provided in the form of a VAT reduction on:
 

• purchases of prosthetics or other necessary medical equipment;
• purchases or adjustment of private means of transport;
• purchases of devices that allow independent activity to be carried out.

Payment of an annual allowance is also provided if you are a worker suffering from thalassemia (Cooley's anaemia) or Sickle cell disease (sickle cell anaemia).
 The law determines the amounts of cash benefits on an annual basis.
 Benefits in kind include:
 

• home assistance and care;
• stays in facilities offering board, medical and nursing care;
• support for education, professional training and instruction;
• preferential recruitment with public or private bodies;
• assistance from family members ('informal carers');
• hospital recovery;
• stay in an old persons' home.

 
From 1 January 2010, you must submit your claim for civil incapacity benefits and your medical certificate to the INPS, which shall proceed to forward it electronically to the competent LHA. Submission of the claim, on your behalf or by other authorised subjects (Patronati - Employees organisations or Disability Rights Associations) is made in 2 phases:
 

• compilation of a (digital) medical certificate evidencing the nature of the disabling infirmity (the certificate is valid for 90 days): 
• forwarding the claim to the INPS, electronically only.

 
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