INPS: Disability Reform to Impact 70,000 People Annually in Milan
Milan, February 18, 2026 – The new disability reform, set to be piloted in Milan, is expected to directly involve approximately 70,000 people annually in the city, according to Mauro Saviano, Director of the Metropolitan Coordination of INPS Milan. Saviano made the announcement on the sidelines of a conference dedicated to presenting the experimental phase of the reform in the Milanese territory.
Direct Correspondence and Streamlined Access
“The great novelty of the disability reform is that there will be a direct correspondence between the report and the person, who will thus be able to access all the foreseen benefits. This means intercepting approximately 70,000 people a year in Milan,” stated Saviano. He further noted that while INPS has managed civil disability for years, the reform will now extend its involvement to the initial application stage.
Significant Operational Scale and Digitalization
In 2025, 133,280 reports from local health authorities were processed in Milan. With the new system, an estimated 37 commissions will be activated daily, operating both morning and afternoon. Each commission will comprise at least three doctors, totaling around 120 professionals involved daily. Including family members and caregivers, the annual scope could reach between 140,000 and 150,000 people.
From an organizational standpoint, digitalization and the Institute’s information systems will play a pivotal role. Nicola Querci, Director of the Metropolitan Branch of INPS Milan, described the reform as an “epochal challenge” from an organizational perspective.
Beyond Medical-Legal Assessment: The ‘Life Project’
For individuals with disabilities, the primary change will be the transition from a solely medical-legal evaluation to a multi-dimensional assessment. This new approach aims to facilitate the creation of a comprehensive “life project,” fostering inclusion, autonomy, and full personal fulfillment, encompassing social and occupational aspects.
Collaborative Effort for a Broad Impact
Lamberto Bertolè, Milan’s Welfare Councillor, emphasized the collaborative effort across the territory to prepare for this reform. “Faced with the complexity of the reform, the territory has teamed up, working together to be ready for a challenge that involves a very wide audience of citizens,” he explained. Bertolè highlighted that Milan has an estimated 77,000 people with disabilities, with over 32,000 certifications issued in the last year alone.
The reform represents a significant step towards a more inclusive and supportive system for individuals with disabilities in Milan, with a strong emphasis on personalized support and digital efficiency.
