💰 Pension and reduced earning capacity in cases of disability

Reduced earning capacity pension under § 43 SGB VI and the early old-age pension for severely disabled people: requirements, additional earnings and typical pitfalls.

reduced earning capacity pension (Erwerbsminderungsrente) § 43 SGB VI old-age pension for severely disabled people § 236a SGB VI additional earnings limit qualifying period time limit

In brief

Anyone who can only work to a limited extent because of illness or disability may qualify for a pension for reduced earning capacity under § 43 SGB VI: partial reduced earning capacity with a remaining capacity of 3 to under 6 hours a day, full reduced earning capacity with under 3 hours a day – in each case under the general condition of an open labour market. An additional requirement is a minimum insurance period (general qualifying period of 5 years as well as compulsory contributions to a certain extent in the last years before the reduced earning capacity began).

Independently of this, severely disabled people (GdB of at least 50) with a sufficient qualifying period can claim the old-age pension for severely disabled people under § 236a SGB VI early and, under certain conditions, without deductions.

Step by step

Have your medical situation documentedHave your remaining capacity documented by your treating doctors – this is the basis for the pension insurance's later expert report.
Check rehabilitation before pensionThe pension insurance first checks whether medical or vocational rehabilitation benefits can avert the reduced earning capacity.
Apply to the Deutsche RentenversicherungThe application for a reduced earning capacity pension is made to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung (German Pension Insurance), which obtains a socio-medical expert report.
Check the decisionReduced earning capacity pensions are often first granted for a limited period; check the notice of decision for a time limit and, where applicable, for timely continuation.
Check the old-age pension for severely disabled peopleFrom GdB 50 and with a sufficient qualifying period, it is also worth checking whether the early old-age pension for severely disabled people is possible and more favourable.

Deadlines

1 month

Deadline for objection to a rejecting or time-limited pension decision§ 84 SGG

in good time before the deadline expires

Apply for continuation of a time-limited reduced earning capacity pension in good time before the time limit expires, to avoid a gap in paymentsPractice of the Deutsche Rentenversicherung

Watch out – common mistakes

Reduced earning capacity pensions are often first granted for a limited period – anyone who applies for continuation too late risks a gap in payments.
The specific additional earnings limits (according to available calculations for 2026 around 20,763.75 euros a year for full and at least 41,527.50 euros for partial reduced earning capacity, possibly higher depending on previous income) change every year with the reference value – the values valid for the current year should be requested directly from the Deutsche Rentenversicherung rather than relying on older information.
The exact age limit for the old-age pension for severely disabled people without deductions depends on the individual year of birth (gradual increase from 63 to 65 years) – a flat age cannot reliably be stated here; the Deutsche Rentenversicherung calculates it in the individual case.
Receiving a full reduced earning capacity pension does not in principle rule out resuming work later, but because of the additional earnings limits it can lead to a reduction or loss of the pension – before taking up employment, be sure to have your individual limit clarified.

In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals

Requirements of the reduced earning capacity pension, § 43 SGB VI

A person has partially reduced earning capacity if, because of illness or disability, they are unable for the foreseeable future to work at least 6 hours a day under the usual conditions of the general labour market; full reduced earning capacity if they can work under 3 hours a day. A further requirement is the general qualifying period of 5 years and, as a rule, at least 3 years of compulsory contributions in the last 5 years before the reduced earning capacity began (§ 43 Abs. 1, 2 SGB VI).

Additional earnings, § 96a SGB VI

Since the reform of the additional earnings rules, an annual additional earnings limit applies in cases of full reduced earning capacity, and a higher individual limit depending on previous income in cases of partial reduced earning capacity (at least 6/8 of 14 times the monthly reference value per year). According to available calculations for 2026 that have not been conclusively cross-checked officially, the limit is around 20,763.75 euros a year for full reduced earning capacity and at least around 41,527.50 euros a year for partial reduced earning capacity. These values are set anew every year and should be requested from the Deutsche Rentenversicherung for the individual case.

Old-age pension for severely disabled people, § 236a SGB VI

Anyone who is recognised as severely disabled at the start of the pension (GdB of at least 50) and meets the qualifying period of 35 years can claim the old-age pension for severely disabled people. The age limit for drawing it without deductions is raised in steps from 63 to 65 years depending on the year of birth, and the limit for the earliest possible drawing (with deductions) correspondingly from 60 to 62 years. Severe disability status itself arises by operation of law once a GdB of at least 50 has been determined, regardless of whether the person holds an ID.

Who is responsible

Deutsche Rentenversicherung (responsible pension insurance provider)

Quick questions

Worum geht es bei „Pension and reduced earning capacity in cases of disability“?

Reduced earning capacity pension under § 43 SGB VI and the early old-age pension for severely disabled people: requirements, additional earnings and typical pitfalls.

Which deadlines and figures matter?

1 month: Deadline for objection to a rejecting or time-limited pension decision (§ 84 SGG)
in good time before the deadline expires: Apply for continuation of a time-limited reduced earning capacity pension in good time before the time limit expires, to avoid a gap in payments (Practice of the Deutsche Rentenversicherung)

What should I do first?

Have your medical situation documented: Have your remaining capacity documented by your treating doctors – this is the basis for the pension insurance's later expert report.
Check rehabilitation before pension: The pension insurance first checks whether medical or vocational rehabilitation benefits can avert the reduced earning capacity.
Apply to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung: The application for a reduced earning capacity pension is made to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung (German Pension Insurance), which obtains a socio-medical expert report.

What do I need to watch out for?

Reduced earning capacity pensions are often first granted for a limited period – anyone who applies for continuation too late risks a gap in payments.
The specific additional earnings limits (according to available calculations for 2026 around 20,763.75 euros a year for full and at least 41,527.50 euros for partial reduced earning capacity, possibly higher depending on previous income) change every year with the reference value – the values valid for the current year should be requested directly from the Deutsche Rentenversicherung rather than relying on older information.
The exact age limit for the old-age pension for severely disabled people without deductions depends on the individual year of birth (gradual increase from 63 to 65 years) – a flat age cannot reliably be stated here; the Deutsche Rentenversicherung calculates it in the individual case.

Evidence

§§ 43, 96a, 236a SGB VI (gesetze-im-internet.de)
§ 84 SGG (gesetze-im-internet.de)

As of

As of September 2026. · Sources and method

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