💰 Reduced earning capacity pension in chronic illness
In brief
If, because of a chronic illness, you can no longer work at least six hours a day under the usual conditions of the general labour market for an indefinite period, a partial reduced earning capacity pension may be considered; for less than three hours a day, a full reduced earning capacity pension. In addition to the medical finding, insurance-law preconditions are required: a general qualifying period of five years and at least three years of compulsory contributions in the last five years before the reduction in earning capacity occurred.
Step by step
- Compile medical findingsCollect current findings and treatment histories that document your remaining capacity to work.
- Note the priority of rehabilitationThe pension insurance in principle first checks whether medical or vocational rehabilitation can avert the reduction in earning capacity (rehabilitation before pension).
- Submit the application to the Deutsche RentenversicherungThe application can be made informally; the pension insurance then sends the necessary forms.
- Have the insurance-law conditions checkedHave it checked whether you meet the general qualifying period and the three-out-of-five-years rule; exceptions exist, among others, for reduced earning capacity as a result of an accident at work or for certain uninterrupted insurance histories.
- Keep retroactive effect in mindIf you submit the application within three calendar months after the month in which the conditions of entitlement are met, the pension starts retroactively from that earlier point in time.
Deadlines
- A high degree of disability (GdB) or a recognised care level does not automatically lead to a reduced earning capacity pension – only the remaining capacity to work on the general labour market is assessed, regardless of the GdB. For the separate early old-age pension for severely disabled people (from GdB 50), see the Wegweiser Disability.
- If the reduced earning capacity pension is initially granted for a limited period (which is the rule), an extension must be applied for in good time before the period expires.
- The exact exceptions to the three-out-of-five-years rule (e.g. in case of incapacity for work immediately after training) are complex and depend on the individual insurance history – get advice on this from the Deutsche Rentenversicherung.
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals
Full and partial reduction in earning capacity
Under § 43 SGB VI, insured people are partially reduced in earning capacity if, because of illness or disability, they are unable for an indefinite period to work at least six hours a day under the usual conditions of the general labour market. A person is fully reduced in earning capacity if, for the same reasons, they can work only less than three hours a day. The assessment is made in the abstract in relation to the general labour market, not in relation to the occupation last practised.
Insurance-law conditions
In addition to the medical finding, the general qualifying period of five years must be met and at least three years of compulsory contributions must have been paid in the last five years before the reduction in earning capacity occurred (§ 43 Abs. 1 Nr. 2, § 50 SGB VI). The five-year period is extended by certain credited periods and imputed periods.
Start of the pension
§ 99 Abs. 1 SGB VI provides uniformly for all pensions that the pension is paid from the calendar month at the start of which the conditions of entitlement are met, if the pension is applied for within three calendar months after the end of the month in which they were met. If the application is made later, the pension starts only with the month of application.
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