1. General Information

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Participation in the German state pension is compulsory. The contribution is automatically deducted from your gross income as part of the payment to the German social security and your pension insurance number is therefore the same as your social security number.

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2. Contributions

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The contribution rate is 18.6% (2024), thereof 9.3% is paid by you, and 9.3% by your employer. These contributions are used by the German government to pay for existing pensioners, rather than saved or invested for you.

The contributions only have to be paid up to the assessment ceiling of 678.90 EUR per month. This is the case if you earn 7300 EUR gross per month. Every salary which exceeds this amount won’t pay more contributions. This may sound good if you earn well, but also means your retirement entitlements will only be calculated up to that amount.

Therefore, it is advisable to top up the state pension through private or company pension plans.

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3. Can I get my money back once I leave Germany?

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This depends on your nationality and/or place of residence. In general, you can have your payments refunded. Please note that only the 50% you have paid is refundable. The other 50%, which your employer has paid in on your behalf, will not be paid out to you. Reimbursement is only possible after 24 months abroad at the earliest. The form for reimbursement (V0901) can be found here.

Please note that many countries have intergovernmental agreements with Germany. In this case, a refund may not be possible, e.g. US Americans can only receive a refund if they have lived in Germany for less than 5 years. In general, the whole EU plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein are covered and allowed to combine the contributions paid in these countries for the later entitlement.

Please check this website for further social security agreements:

If you choose your corresponding country, you may find a flyer in your language.

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4. When do I get my pension if I retire in Germany?

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You have to pay at least 5 years (60 months) into the social security system to receive a standard pension.

The current official pension age is 66 years (undergoing a transition at the moment to increase to 67 years from 2012 to 2029). Early retirement is possible in special cases and may include deductions on the entitlements.

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The pension is not automatically given, but you have to apply for it and provide further documents once you want to retire.

The amount you receive in the end is calculated by various factors such as the number of working years (in Germany), your age, and your average income.

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Source:

Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund

15 April 2024

 

We are not responsible for third-party information and therefore do not assume liability for their accuracy and completeness.