Istituto nazionale della previdenza sociale (INPS)

The Italian National Institute of Social Security (INPS) is Italy's public agency responsible for managing the national social security system. It administers contributory pensions for workers in the private and public sectors. The institute also handles unemployment benefits, family allowances, sickness and maternity benefits, and other social welfare programs. Services are provided to employees, self‑employed individuals, and employers who are required to remit contributions. Citizens can access INPS services through a network of local offices and an online portal.

INPS operates throughout Italy, covering the entire resident population and labor market. Its mandate extends to all sectors of the economy, ensuring that social security coverage is universal. The institute processes contributions and benefit payments on a continuous basis throughout the year. While specific figures on the number of beneficiaries are not provided in the source material, its reach is nationwide.

INPS functions under the supervision of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies, giving it a regulatory role in the collection of contributions and the distribution of benefits. It is the sole national entity responsible for the Italian state pension system, distinguishing it from private pension providers. The organisation is recognised for its central position within Italy’s social protection framework. In September 2018, INPS suffered a major cyber attack that compromised the personal data of millions of users. The breach exposed names, dates of birth, and social security numbers, raising concerns about identity theft and data misuse. This incident underscored the challenges faced by large public institutions in safeguarding sensitive information against evolving cyber threats.