Old-age pension
A standard old-age pension is paid to persons having reached the minimum pensionable age and having completed the 5-year general qualifying period.
The standard minimum pensionable age is 65 years for people born before 1 January 1947 and rises in steps for people born in the years 1947 to 1963. It is 67 for people born in 1964 or later.
The standard old-age pension can already be claimed from the age of 63. However, this results in pension deductions corresponding to the duration of payment prior to the relevant minimum pensionable age.
Members of 65 years age may claim the standard old-age pension without deductions, if they have completed the 45-year qualifying period.
The minimum pensionable age is different for members recognised as being severely disabled and having completed the 35-year qualifying period at the start of the pension. It is 63 years for people born up to 1951 and rises in steps for people born in the following years. It is 65 for people born in 1964 or later. The pension can already be claimed up to 3 years prior to the relevant minimum pensionable age. However, this results in pension deductions corresponding to the duration of payment prior to the relevant minimum pensionable age.
Members born up to 1951 are also entitled to an old-age pension, if they are at the start of the pension occupationally disabled or unable to earn as defined in the law applicable on 31 January 2000.
Members born prior to 17 November 1950 und having been severely or occupationally disabled or unable to earn as defined in the law applicable on 31 December 2000 on 16 November 2000 and remaining so at the start of the pension may claim the old-age pension without deductions, if they have completed the 35-year qualifying period.
Members born prior to 1 January 1952 who are, when payments are due to begin, either unemployed or in partial retirement, may under certain conditions claim-with deductions-the old-age pension on account of unemployment or after partial retirement early. Members born prior to 31 December 1945 can claim the pension early from age 60. The minimum pensionable age rises in steps for members born in the following years 1946 to 1951.
Women born before 1952 who have reached the age of 60, completed the 15-year qualifying period and paid compulsory contributions for more than ten years from the age of 40 are entitled to an old-age pension for women. This pension is no longer available for members born after 1951. For women born from 1940 to 1951 the minimum pensionable age for such pension without deduction rises in steps up to 65.
If an old-age pension is claimed prior to the standard minimum pensionable age, allowances for supplementary income apply. If the additional income exceeds the allowance, a partial pension may be claimed instead of a full pension. When the standard minimum pensionable age is reached, the additional income is no longer limited.
