Pensions:Over 5,300 applications for APE

(ANSA) - Rome, June 19 - Pensions and social security agency INPS said Monday that it has received over 5,300 applications for the new APE programme.
    It said 3,500 of the applications were for 'APE sociale' - a benefit for people in hardship aged 63 or over.
    It said 1,840 were requests by people close to retirement age to start taking a pension early, via a special loan system.