The study of the pension system represents a prominent theme for understanding the Italian Welfare State, but it is still a prerogative of the Social Sciences rather than that of historians. This overview aims to illustrate some of the most significant Welfare studies — between History and Social Sciences — drawing on international literature as well. It considers the approaches, methodologies and open problems presented by those analyses. Finally, it attempts to synthesise the various perspectives and directions addressed by the Italian historiography on pensions and welfare.