Old-age pension - applying for a pension on early retirement
If you would like to draw your old-age pension before reaching the standard retirement age, you must first apply for your pension from the relevant pension insurance institution. Please note that you must expect deductions when your pension is paid out.
The deduction before reaching the standard retirement age is 0.3 per cent per month and 3.6 per cent per year, and you will also lose contribution months. This pension reduction remains in place even after you have reached the standard retirement age and also has an effect on any surviving dependants' pension to be paid later. This pension reduction can be fully or partially compensated by a compensation payment.
Please note:
- After the start of your pension, you must inform the Deutsche Post Pension Service of any change of address or name, change of bank details or change of marital status. The Pension Service is responsible for paying out your monthly pension.
Responsible authority
- the municipal or city administration or the insurance office of your place of residence
- the information and advice centres, regional centres of the German Pension Insurance (DRV) or
- voluntary insurance counsellors working for the DRV
Details
Prerequisite
The requirements are:
- Retirement age: varies depending on the year of birth
- Early retirement is possible for the following old-age pensions:
- Old-age pension for long-term insured persons
- Old-age pension for severely disabled people
- Old-age pension for particularly long-term insured persons
- Fulfilment of a waiting period depending on the type of pension
- Fulfilment of the special requirements for the respective type of pension
- Your pension insurance account has been fully clarified.
Procedure
Seek advice from the pension insurance institution responsible for you.
During the counselling session you can clarify
- whether it is possible in your case to apply for an early old-age pension or whether you may be eligible for an old-age pension for particularly long-term insured persons and
- what pension reduction you may have to expect.
For example, you can calculate how high your monthly pension payment will be. If you wish, your advisor can also tell you the amount of the additional contribution you can make to compensate for the reduction in your pension.
You can also apply in writing or online for a special pension statement with the same information. Forms V0210 and V0300 are required for this.
You can then decide whether you want to claim an early pension with deductions. In such a case, you must apply for your pension in writing or online or have your application recorded by the relevant authorities.
The pension application forms are available from the relevant offices. You can also submit your pension application online.
Send the completed pension application form directly to your pension insurance provider.
Once your pension application has been approved, the Deutsche Post AG Pension Service will transfer your pension to your account each month. In most cases, a personal contribution to health and long-term care insurance will be deducted. Pensioners with private and voluntary health insurance receive a subsidy towards their health insurance.
You can also have your pension transferred to another person's bank account. This person must agree to the transfer in the pension application.
The pension is usually paid on the last bank working day at the end of each month.
Deadlines
For payment of the calculated equalisation contributions when claiming an early retirement pension: within three months of receipt of the special pension information.
If the equalisation payment is made after the three months have elapsed, there may be changes in the amount of the equalisation contributions (still) to be paid.
Note: You can still pay equalisation contributions even if you are already drawing an early retirement pension with deductions. To do this, please apply again to your pension insurance institution for a special pension statement that takes into account the fact that you are already drawing an early old-age pension.
Required documents
- Completed pension application form
- Identity card, passport
- National insurance number (pension insurance number)
- Severely disabled person's pass or certificate
- Bank details (IBAN, BIC)
- Tax ID (tax identification number)
- Address of your current health insurance company and your insurance number
- If a person you trust is making the pension application for you: Power of attorney or care certificate
- Evidence that is not recorded in the insurance history, for example
- Birth certificate/marriage certificate
- Offsetting certificates
- Proof of periods of training (school, technical college, university)
- Proof of periods of unemployment
- Proof of periods of illness
- if applicable, proof of severe disability (e.g. severely disabled person's pass)
Costs
none
Processing time
If all the necessary documents are available, your application will be processed promptly.
Submit your pension application three months before the desired start date.
Miscellaneous
From the age of 55, you will automatically receive a pension statement every three years informing you of the amount of your pension entitlement to date. An up-to-date pension statement can be sent to you at any time on request.
The monthly amount of the pension payment is calculated according to a fixed procedure from
- the pension insurance contributions paid during your working life and
- any other relevant insurance periods (e.g. child-raising periods).
After the start of your pension, you must inform the Deutsche Post Pension Service of any change of address or name, change of bank details or change of marital status. The Pension Service is responsible for paying out your monthly pension.
Legal basis
Sozialgesetzbuch (SGB) Sechstes Buch (VI) - Gesetzliche Rentenversicherung:
- § 36 Altersrente für langjährig Versicherte
- § 37 Altersrente für schwerbehinderte Menschen
- § 99 Beginn
- § 113 Höhe der Rente
- § 187 Zahlung von Beiträgen und Ermittlung von Entgeltpunkten aus Beiträgen beim Versorgungsausgleich
- § 187a Zahlung von Beiträgen bei vorzeitiger Inanspruchnahme einer Rente wegen Alters
- § 236 Altersrente für langjährig Versicherte
- § 236a Altersrente für schwerbehinderte Menschen
Release note
machine generated, based on the German release by: Sozialministerium Baden-Württemberg, 06.11.2025