⏳ Temporary pension, extension and permanent status

Reduced earning capacity pensions are usually granted for a limited period. Here is how long, when you must apply for an extension and when the pension becomes permanent.

time-limited extension application for continued payment permanent temporary pension seventh month pension start

In brief

A reduced earning capacity pension is usually paid for a limited period. The first time limit is at most 3 years. After that it can be extended, each time by at most 3 years.

After a total of 9 years of time limits, the pension is paid permanently if it is unlikely that the reduced earning capacity will improve. This applies only to pensions to which there is an entitlement regardless of the labour market situation. Labour market pensions (Arbeitsmarktrenten) remain time-limited.

A time-limited pension does not start immediately. It starts at the earliest in the seventh calendar month after the reduction in earning capacity began.

When the end of the pension approaches, you should contact the pension insurance early. To find out when, read your pension notice: it states the end of the time limit.

Step by step

Find the end date in the noticeWrite down the end of the time limit from the pension notice.
Get in touch in good timeAsk the pension insurance how and by when you must apply for continued payment.
Update medical documentsAsk your doctors for up-to-date reports if the pension insurance requests them.
Check the noticeIf your application is rejected, file an objection (Widerspruch) within the deadline (see the page on rejection).

Deadlines

at most 3 years

first time limit and each extension§ 102 Abs. 2 SGB VI

9 years

then permanent pension if the reduction is unlikely to be remedied; only for pensions to which there is an entitlement regardless of the labour market situation (presumption rule)§ 102 Abs. 2 S. 5 SGB VI

7th calendar month

earliest start of a time-limited pension after the reduction began§ 101 Abs. 1 SGB VI

Watch out – common mistakes

Even with an extension, the original pension start date is kept.
Exception to the seventh month: in case of full reduction in earning capacity, the pension can start earlier if unemployment benefit or sickness benefit ends (§ 101 Abs. 1a SGB VI). This applies only to time-limited pensions for full reduction in earning capacity to which there is an entitlement regardless of the labour market situation.
How and by when you apply for the extension is stated in the notice and in letters from the pension insurance. Deadlines not checked against the full text here.

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

Time limit under § 102 Abs. 2 SGB VI

Pensions for reduced earning capacity are paid for a limited period, at most three years from the start of the pension. Extensions are possible, each for at most three years. With an extension, the original pension start date remains. After a total of nine years the pension is paid permanently if it is unlikely that the reduction in earning capacity can be remedied. Under § 102 Abs. 2 S. 5 SGB VI this applies only to pensions "to which there is an entitlement regardless of the labour market situation". Labour market pensions remain time-limited. The nine-year limit is a presumption rule. The original pension start date remains in that case too.

Pension start under § 101 SGB VI

Under § 101 Abs. 1 SGB VI, time-limited pensions for reduced earning capacity are "not paid before the start of the seventh calendar month after the reduction in earning capacity began". Paragraph 1a allows an earlier start for time-limited pensions for full reduction in earning capacity to which there is an entitlement regardless of the labour market situation, if the end of unemployment benefit or sickness benefit or sickness daily allowance (Krankentagegeld) is the consequence of the determination.

Not checked

Whether and in what form an application for continued payment is needed was not checked in a primary source. The rules for permanent pensions from the first notice onwards and the amount of the pension during an extension were also not checked against the full text.

Who is responsible

Deutsche Rentenversicherung (German pension insurance)
Advice centres (see last page)

Quick questions

Worum geht es bei „Temporary pension, extension and permanent status“?

Reduced earning capacity pensions are usually granted for a limited period. Here is how long, when you must apply for an extension and when the pension becomes permanent.

Which deadlines and figures matter?

at most 3 years: first time limit and each extension (§ 102 Abs. 2 SGB VI)
9 years: then permanent pension if the reduction is unlikely to be remedied; only for pensions to which there is an entitlement regardless of the labour market situation (presumption rule) (§ 102 Abs. 2 S. 5 SGB VI)
7th calendar month: earliest start of a time-limited pension after the reduction began (§ 101 Abs. 1 SGB VI)

What should I do first?

Find the end date in the notice: Write down the end of the time limit from the pension notice.
Get in touch in good time: Ask the pension insurance how and by when you must apply for continued payment.
Update medical documents: Ask your doctors for up-to-date reports if the pension insurance requests them.

What do I need to watch out for?

Even with an extension, the original pension start date is kept.
Exception to the seventh month: in case of full reduction in earning capacity, the pension can start earlier if unemployment benefit or sickness benefit ends (§ 101 Abs. 1a SGB VI). This applies only to time-limited pensions for full reduction in earning capacity to which there is an entitlement regardless of the labour market situation.
How and by when you apply for the extension is stated in the notice and in letters from the pension insurance. Deadlines not checked against the full text here.

Evidence

§ 102 SGB VI, gesetze-im-internet.de, retrieved 21 September 2026
§ 101 SGB VI, gesetze-im-internet.de, retrieved 21 September 2026
DRV, Erwerbsminderungsrenten, retrieved 21 September 2026

As of

September 2026 · Sources and method

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