A) Regulatory classification and the right to the benefit.

Recognition of the six salary steps is governed by Article 6 bis of Decree-Law No. 387/1987, converted into Law No. 232/1990.
This is an economic benefit that allows personnel placed in retirement to obtain an increase on the amount of their pension, through the allocation of six additional salary steps, with direct effects on the calculation of severance pay.

The rate applied for the calculation of this increment is 2.50 percent on the last salary received at the time of termination of service, thus resulting in an average increase of approximately Euro 10,000.00 in one's Severance Pay.

The right to obtain the six salary increments is provided for personnel belonging to the following categories:

• Civil and Military Order State Police;
• Prison Police;
• Guardia di Finanza;
• Carabinieri Corps.

According to current regulations, the benefit is automatically applied in the following cases:

• retirement due to age limit;
• reform due to inability to serve.

However, those who have left the service early through voluntary resignation have often been wrongly excluded from the said benefit or received an incorrect calculation of their T.F.S.

To be eligible for the six salary increments, the recipient must necessarily:

• have attained at least 55 years of age at the time of retirement;
• have accrued at least 35 years of useful service for retirement purposes.

B) Regulatory and jurisprudential developments

The introduction of Article 6 bis of Decree Law No. 387/1987 is aimed at guaranteeing the proper recognition of the End-of-Service Allowance with respect to the personnel of the Police Forces and the Carabinieri Corps, given the specificity of the service rendered to the State.

Jurisprudence has thus consolidated the interpretation of the rule, reaffirming in several rulings the right of beneficiaries to obtain said salary increase upon retirement, recently extending it to civilian and military personnel of the State Police as well.

Among the many rulings are: no. 1231/2019 issued by the Council of State; no. 8243/2024 issued by the Council of State - Section II; no. 124/2021 issued by the Friuli-Venezia Giulia Regional Administrative Court; no. 1184/2021 issued by the Regional Administrative Court. Lombardy; no. 9011/2022 issued by the T.A.R. Lazio Section V; no. 1568/2022 issued by the T.A.R. Catania; no. 4844/2023 issued by the Council of State - Section II; no. 3909/2023 issued by the Council of State - Section II; no. 3910/2023 issued by the Council of State - Section II; no. 3912/2023 issued by the Council of State - Section II; no. 3914/2023 issued by the Council of State - Section II; no. 2490/2024 issued by the Campania Regional Administrative Court; no. 416/2025 T.A.R. Palermo.

C) How to obtain the benefit

In order to obtain recognition of the six salary increments, the personnel concerned must;

verify that they meet the above-mentioned requirements;
submit an application toI.N.P.S. - Gestione Dipendenti Pubblici - together with documentation certifying their length of service and personal age, for the purpose of stopping the statute of limitations.

Q) Why seek the services of a lawyer experienced in administrative military law?

This is because it is a specialized area that requires in-depth regulatory knowledge, established administrative practice and continuing education in the field.

Attorney Benedetta De Paola, with offices in Rome, assists military and civilian personnel:

• in the drafting and submission of petitions;
• in administrative litigation against unlawful rejections;
• in the protection of pension and compensatory rights.

The firm is available for in-person or remote counseling throughout the country.

E) The centrality of legal assistance in case of critical issues in obtaining the benefit

Despite the clarity of the regulations, the I.N.P.S. has often denied the benefit on the basis of misinterpretations of the legal provisions, especially with regard to civilian and military personnel of the State Police, forcing retired personnel to turn to a law firm to assert their rights and interests before the relevant courts.

In fact, litigation on the matter that followed before the various Regional Administrative Tribunals enabled them to have their End-of-Service Severance Pay reimbursed.

This shows that specific legal expertise can guarantee full recognition of the economic rights accrued during one's working career.

If you, too, believe you can benefit from this, rely on an experienced law firm in this area, such as that of Lawyer Benedetta De Paola, this can make all the difference in the outcome.