With the maxi-amendment to the 2026 Budget, the Government intervenes on the redemption of the degree for the purposes of early retirement, progressively modifying its contribution value. The declared objective is to make the social security system more sustainable in the long term, without affecting already consolidated positions. The new rules, in fact, will not be retroactive and will apply exclusively to the requirements accrued in future years.
Because the redemption of the degree will be worth less
The redemption of university years today allows you to transform the study period into social security contributions, also useful for reaching an early retirement earlier. With the new regulations, however, a part of these contributions will no longer contribute fully to the achievement of the required requirements. The measure concerns in particular the redemption of the short degree, i.e. the one relating to three-year courses, and applies only “for the purposes of accruing the right” to early retirement.
The progressive reductions from 2031 to 2035
Starting from 2031, the contribution value of the redeemed years will be gradually reduced. In concrete terms, six months of redeemed contributions will not be considered useful in 2031. The penalty will increase in subsequent years: 12 months in 2032, 18 months in 2033, 24 months in 2034 and up to 30 months in 2035. This means that, despite having paid the redemption, a portion of the study period can no longer be used to anticipate leaving work.
No effect on redemption cost
It is important to clarify that the reform does not change the economic cost of obtaining a degree. Those who choose to redeem their university years will continue to pay the same amounts required by current legislation. Instead, the social security weight recognized to those contributions changes, limited to access to early retirement based on seniority of contributions.
Because the measure is not retroactive
The Government has clarified that the new rules will not affect those who have already completed their degree and have accrued, or will soon accrue, the pension requirements according to the current rules. The changes will only apply to the requirements that will be achieved in future years, thus guaranteeing legal certainty and stability of the choices already made by workers.
What younger workers need to know
For those at the beginning of their career, the degree redemption remains a useful tool, but it will need to be evaluated more carefully. Looking ahead, the main benefit will remain on the calculation of the pension allowance, while the effect on the early retirement age will be progressively reduced.
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