Apply for standard retirement pension

If you would like to receive a standard old-age pension, you must submit an application.

You may be entitled to the regular old-age pension after reaching the so-called regular retirement age: 

• If you were born before 1947, the statutory retirement age was 65 years. 
• If you were born between 1947 and 1963, the standard retirement age will be raised gradually. 
• If you were born in 1964 or later, it is 67 years.

You can only claim the standard retirement pension if you have been insured for a certain period of time. This minimum insurance period is called the qualifying period. The qualifying period for the standard retirement pension is 5 years.

Taken into account for the waiting time:

• Contribution periods, for example:
  • Contributions from employment or self-employment. 
  • Under certain conditions, months in which you received sickness benefit or unemployment benefit, for example, also count, 
  • Months between January 2005 and December 2010 in which you received unemployment benefit II (Arbeitslosengeld II) or transition allowance (Übergangsgeld).
  • Voluntary contributions that you paid alone.
  • Child-rearing periods for the first 2.5 or 3 years of life, respectively.
  • Months of non-professional home care.
  • Contributions from mini-jobs that you paid together with your employer. 
• Replacement times: for example, months of political persecution in the GDR.
• In case of divorce: Creditable months from pension splitting.
• Creditable months from a pension splitting between spouses or registered civil partners.
• Creditable months for insurance-free mini-jobs.

You cannot receive the regular old-age pension early, not even with deductions.

If you receive a standard old-age pension, you can earn an unlimited amount on the side. Nothing is deducted from your pension.

You can submit your application online, in person, or in writing.

Online application:

• On the German Pension Insurance (DRV) website under „Online Services“ you will find detailed information on the procedure. 
• If you follow the „Apply“ link, you will be guided through the further steps and can select the desired application.
• Alternatively, you can use the online services with registration. For example, you can immediately see which insurance periods have already been recorded. You also save time and do not have to re-enter data that is already known.
• Fill out the application completely and upload the required documents.
• Submit your application online.
• You will receive a transmission confirmation.
• The competent pension insurance provider is reviewing your application.
• You will receive a notification regarding your application.

Personal application:

• Gather the required documents for your application and schedule an appointment with the DRV. 
• When booking an appointment online, your personal data and, if possible, your insurance number are required. 
• You can select a preferred counseling center and your desired date. Depending on the availability of open slots, you will receive a proposal for a confirmed consultation appointment.
• During your personal consultation, your application will be recorded electronically and forwarded online to the competent pension insurance provider.
• The competent pension insurance provider is reviewing your application. 
• You will receive a notification regarding your application.

Written request:

• Go to the DRV website.
• Download the desired application form. 
• You can also collect the form in person from the information and advisory offices.
• Fill out the application form, sign it, and attach the required documents.
• Send all documents 
  • by mail to your pension insurance provider or
  • hand these in at one of the local advisory offices.
• The competent pension insurance provider is reviewing your application. 
• You will receive a notification regarding your application.

A trusted person can also submit your pension application for you. To do this, please submit a power of attorney to the pension insurance provider. As long as the power of attorney is valid, the pension insurance provider will communicate exclusively with the person you have authorized.

If you give your consent to electronic communication, all correspondence can be conducted online. You can either use the electronic mailbox under the online services with registration or De-Mail. 

You should submit the application 3 months before the desired start of your pension, if possible.

There are no costs for you.

• Objection. 

You can find detailed information in the notice regarding your pension application.

• Lawsuit before the Social Court. 

Detailed information can be found in the notice of rejection of the objection.