Citizenship pension, INPS writes dead: “Decayed, but can go to our offices”

“Dear Sir, we inform you that you have forfeited your right to the citizenship pension for the following reasons: you are deceased”. However, “you can go to our offices to receive further clarifications and moreover, within 30 days of receiving this letter, you can propose a motivated request for re-examination”. It sounds like a joke but it’s not. The letter was written a few days ago by INPS and sent to Mr. Franco O., who died in Rome on 17 March last. Alberto Di Majo tells it about Time. Mr. Franco, an engineer who had worked for many years abroad, saving only a few contributions, had had a citizenship pension from 2019 (he had requested it, as the INPS itself recalls in the letter, in April of that year) and every twelve months he had to submit the necessary tax documentation. Almost two months ago the institute led by Pasquale Tridico took note of the death but wrote the same to the holder of the check to warn him that he will no longer be entitled to it. In the communication, signed by the director Angelo Franchitti, it is also specified that «against this provision you can propose legal action in the formalities and within the terms of the law, notifying this office». Let’s recap: the institute writes to a dead person to tell him that he will no longer take the citizenship pension because he is, in fact, dead, but also reminds him that, if he does not agree, he can appeal. That INPS also has offices in Paradise? Moreover, in this case the letter is the last joke for the relatives of Mr. Franco, who died more than two months ago in Rome but still awaiting a burial (as has already happened to many other citizens). The cremation took place after two months and for three weeks the relatives have been waiting for the ashes to be delivered. Yesterday the last surprise in the mailbox of the building where Franco O. lived, also in Rome. The INPS letter clarifies the time limits for the stop to the contribution (from April 2021). At the end of the letter, the social security institution did not forget to send him “best regards”. After all, he also reminded him that “the INPS offices are available for any further information”, suggesting that he go to the website to find all the offices of the institute. Alternatively, the letter suggested “contacting the Contact Center, calling the free number 803164 from the landline or calling 06164164 from a mobile phone”. Obviously “an operator will be available for information and news”. Lastly, INPS advised Mr. Franco to keep the tax code and the registration number of the application at hand “to save time and obtain information quickly”.