👛 Applying for an old-age pension

The old-age pension is not paid automatically – you have to apply for it, ideally about three months before your desired start date.

standard retirement age (Regelaltersgrenze) old-age pension for long-term insured persons (Altersrente für langjährig Versicherte) old-age pension for especially long-term insured persons (Altersrente für besonders langjährig Versicherte) pension application (Rentenantrag) account clarification (Kontenklärung) deduction (Abschlag)

In brief

If you want to retire, you have to apply to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung (German Pension Insurance) – the pension is not paid out on its own. Depending on your insurance history, different old-age pensions may apply, with different earliest start dates and, in some cases, deductions for early retirement. It is worth applying early so that your insurance account is clarified in time and the pension starts without a payment gap.

Step by step

Have your pension account clarifiedRequest an account clarification (Kontenklärung) if there are gaps in your insurance history (e.g. missing training or child-raising periods).
Attend a consultationA free pension consultation from the Deutsche Rentenversicherung clarifies which type of pension applies and whether a later start is worthwhile.
Submit the applicationSubmit the application online (Mein Rentenkonto/eAntrag), through an information and advice centre or with form V0100 – ideally three to four months before your desired pension start.
Submit proofSend missing documents (e.g. proof of school, training or child-raising periods) promptly so that the notice is not delayed.
Check the noticeCheck the pension notice for completeness of the insurance history and for the correct calculation of supplements and deductions.

Deadlines

3 months

Recommended lead time before the desired pension start for submitting the applicationDeutsche Rentenversicherung, practical advice

3 calendar months

Retroactive payment is possible only to a limited extent if the application is not submitted in time after the requirements are met§ 99 SGB VI

Watch out – common mistakes

Starting the pension before the relevant age limit for the respective type of pension permanently reduces the pension by 0.3% per month of early receipt (§ 77 SGB VI).
For compulsory contribution-free membership in the health insurance for pensioners (Krankenversicherung der Rentner, KVdR), the so-called 9/10 prior insurance period must be met – without it, higher voluntary contributions may apply.
The standard retirement age is 67 for birth cohorts from 1964; for older cohorts a staggered transitional rule applies – do not confuse your personal age limit with that of other cohorts.

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

Types of pension (SGB VI)

Besides the standard old-age pension (§ 35 SGB VI, starting at the standard retirement age) there are, among others, the old-age pension for especially long-term insured persons (§ 38 SGB VI, 45-year qualifying period, free of deductions depending on cohort even before the standard retirement age), the old-age pension for long-term insured persons (§ 36 SGB VI, 35-year qualifying period, from age 63 at the earliest with a deduction) and the old-age pension for severely disabled persons (§ 37 SGB VI, 35-year qualifying period and a recognised degree of disability (GdB) of at least 50).

Deductions and supplements

For each month of pension receipt before the relevant age limit, the pension is permanently reduced by 0.3% (§ 77 Abs. 2 SGB VI). Conversely, anyone who works beyond the standard retirement age and defers the pension receives a supplement of 0.5% per month of later start.

Application procedure

The application can be submitted online via the portal of the Deutsche Rentenversicherung, in person at an information and advice centre or in writing. Under § 99 SGB VI the pension is paid retroactively only up to three calendar months before the application if the application is not submitted immediately after the requirements are met – an application that is too late can therefore lead to a permanent loss of payment.

Child-raising periods: change from 2027

Under the Act to Stabilise the Pension Level and to Fully Equalise Child-Raising Periods (BGBl. 2025 I Nr. 362), the child-raising period for children born before 1992 under § 249 Abs. 1 SGB VI is to be 36 instead of 30 calendar months from 1 January 2028. For existing pensions and pensions starting in 2027, § 307d SGB VI provides from 1 January 2027 for a supplement of 0.5 personal earnings points per child if the requirements are met (including crediting of the consideration period for the 30th calendar month, no entitlement under §§ 294, 294a). Timing of payment and individual cases: clarify with the Deutsche Rentenversicherung; not checked in full text.

Who is responsible

Deutsche Rentenversicherung (Bund or regional carrier)

Quick questions

Worum geht es bei „Applying for an old-age pension“?

The old-age pension is not paid automatically – you have to apply for it, ideally about three months before your desired start date.

Which deadlines and figures matter?

3 months: Recommended lead time before the desired pension start for submitting the application (Deutsche Rentenversicherung, practical advice)
3 calendar months: Retroactive payment is possible only to a limited extent if the application is not submitted in time after the requirements are met (§ 99 SGB VI)

What should I do first?

Have your pension account clarified: Request an account clarification (Kontenklärung) if there are gaps in your insurance history (e.g. missing training or child-raising periods).
Attend a consultation: A free pension consultation from the Deutsche Rentenversicherung clarifies which type of pension applies and whether a later start is worthwhile.
Submit the application: Submit the application online (Mein Rentenkonto/eAntrag), through an information and advice centre or with form V0100 – ideally three to four months before your desired pension start.

What do I need to watch out for?

Starting the pension before the relevant age limit for the respective type of pension permanently reduces the pension by 0.3% per month of early receipt (§ 77 SGB VI).
For compulsory contribution-free membership in the health insurance for pensioners (Krankenversicherung der Rentner, KVdR), the so-called 9/10 prior insurance period must be met – without it, higher voluntary contributions may apply.
The standard retirement age is 67 for birth cohorts from 1964; for older cohorts a staggered transitional rule applies – do not confuse your personal age limit with that of other cohorts.

Evidence

§§ 35, 36, 37, 38, 77, 99 SGB VI (gesetze-im-internet.de)
Deutsche Rentenversicherung, leaflets on the old-age pension, as of 2026
Bundesgesetzblatt 2025 I Nr. 362, recht.bund.de, retrieved 21 September 2026

As of

As of: September 2026 · Sources and method

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