I would like to collect my pension.
pen-sio-NE — three syllables; the 'si' flows into 'o' as part of the word; stress on the last syllable.
Use this at post offices that serve as pension payment points. Many Italian pensioners, particularly the elderly, collect their monthly pension in cash at the post office rather than having it paid into a bank account.
'Ritirare la pensione' (to collect the pension) is the standard phrase. Poste Italiane is an authorised payment point for INPS (Italy's national social security institute) pensions. The pensioner must present their ID card. Many post offices have a dedicated queue (sportello) for pensioners.
A partire da quando posso ritirare la pensione del mese?
From when can I collect this month's pension?
Pension payments in Italy are usually available from the first working day of the month
Posso fare la delega per mia madre anziana?
Can I arrange a proxy for my elderly mother?
Elderly pensioners can delegate a family member to collect
Ho perso il libretto postale — cosa faccio?
I've lost my postal passbook — what do I do?
Some pensioners still use the traditional 'libretto postale' rather than cards
The first working day of each month sees massive queues at Italian post offices as pensioners arrive to collect their monthly payment. This phenomenon is so well known that it has been used as a metaphor in Italian political discourse about the country's ageing population. Major post offices now have a dedicated 'corsia preferenziale' (priority lane) for pensioners.