The basic Italian social security benefit rarely provides the minimum income required
by Italian law. As a result, the basic Italian benefit is increased to this legal
minimum if the beneficiary has no other income. The amount of the increase is called
the integration. If Italy is paying a benefit based on a prorata fraction, the receipt
of a U.S. Social Security benefit, which is considered income, could decrease or eliminate
the integration. If an Italian beneficiary fails to tell INPS when U.S. benefits are
awarded, an Italian overpayment occurs.
Italian law makes it difficult for INPS to recover overpayments. Therefore, INTPSC
has agreed to control those cases identified by INPS as the source of potential overpayments
based on entitlement to U.S. benefits at a future date.
INPS identifies potential overpayment cases by forwarding the following forms to INTPSC:
When an individual files for old-age benefits from Italy and anticipates filing for
U.S. benefits at a date more than 6 months in the future, the INPS provincial office
will obtain a completed Form IT/USA 7. This form does not constitute “protective filing” for U.S. benefits; it does not protect the future rights of the individual. It merely
identifies for INPS those situations which might result in overpayments when, and
if, the individual receives U.S. benefits. INTPSC will never request a Form IT/USA
7 from INPS. The claimant selects one of the following dates for entitlement to RSDI
benefits:
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-
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Use the date the claimant selects to compute the diary date (see B.1. below).
Form IT/USA 9 is a transmittal/check sheet which is completed by INPS. It is used
by INPS in lieu of our Form SSA-2960-U5-IT. It is used by INTPSC to verify the receipt
of the forms which INPS listed as attachments.
For these cases, INPS should list:
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a.
A photocopy of the IT/USA 1; and
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b.
IT/USA 3 bis (an Italian earnings record).