Procedure descriptions
Apply for an old-age pension for those who have been insured for a particularly long time
Under certain conditions, the ‘pension for those with particularly long insurance records’ allows you to receive a state pension before reaching the standard retirement age.
If you were born after 1 January 1953, the retirement age increases by two months for each year of birth. If you were born after 1 January 1964, you can claim your old-age pension without any reduction after 45 years of contributions, as soon as you have reached the age of 65.
Before you apply for your pension, you should check your pension insurance account. This will allow you to make up for any missing periods of pension insurance and have your account verified by the German Pension Insurance (DRV).
Please note: You cannot claim the old-age pension for those with particularly long insurance records early – not even with reductions.
Forms/Online Services
Responsible authority
Your relevant pension insurance provider.
You can find this using the German Pension Insurance’s information and advice centre finder or by telephone: 0800 1000-4800 (freephone)
Opening hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 08:00 to 19:00
- Friday 08:00 to 15:30
Details
Prerequisite
You have:
- fulfilled the minimum insurance period (qualifying period) of 45 years and
- reached the relevant age.
The 45-year qualifying period includes:
- periods of compulsory contributions for insured employment or work,
- substitute periods,
- compulsory contribution periods and credited periods arising from the receipt of income replacement benefits under the employment promotion scheme or sickness benefits,
- compulsory contribution periods and credited periods due to the receipt of transitional allowance,
- periods taken into account for care and child-rearing,
- Periods with voluntary contributions, provided that there are at least 18 years of compulsory contribution periods for insured employment or self-employment,
- qualifying months arising from bonuses to earnings points for remuneration from marginal employment exempt from insurance, and
- waiting period months resulting from adjustments to earnings points for remuneration from marginal employment, for employees who have obtained exemption from compulsory insurance.
The following are not counted towards the qualifying period:
- periods during which income replacement benefits from employment promotion schemes were received in the two years prior to the start of the pension, unless the receipt of these benefits was due to the employer’s insolvency or complete cessation of business,
- periods during which voluntary contributions were made in the two years prior to the start of the pension, provided that a qualifying period due to unemployment also exists at the same time,
- Calendar months determined by pension rights equalisation or pension splitting, and
- periods during which Unemployment Benefit II, Unemployment Assistance and Citizens’ Income were received,
- certain qualifying periods, for example due to attendance at school, a technical college or a university
Procedure
You can apply for the old-age pension for those with a particularly long insurance record in writing, in person or online.
Applying for a pension in writing:
- Download the application forms for the insured person’s pension from the German Pension Insurance website. Complete them in full and gather the necessary documents.
- You can send your completed and signed pension application, together with the required documents, either:
- send by post to your pension insurance provider, or
- hand it in at one of the local information and advice centres or regional centres.
Applying for a pension online:
- Visit the German Pension Insurance online portal. Log in using your signature card, your identity card (provided your electronic identity verification is activated) or your electronic residence permit.
- It is also possible to submit an application online without a signature card.
- Fill in the forms and upload the necessary documents. Then submit your pension application.
Applying in person during a consultation:
- Gather the documents required for your application and book an appointment at an information and advice centre, a regional centre, or with a volunteer insurance adviser at the German Pension Insurance scheme.
- During the consultation, your pension application will be recorded and forwarded online.
Deadlines
- Applying for a state pension: up to three months after the end of the month in which you meet the eligibility criteria.
- Payment of the pension: from the start of the calendar month in which you meet the eligibility criteria for the pension.
Please note: If you apply for your old-age pension at a later date, it will be paid from the calendar month in which you applied for the pension.
Required documents
- A valid identity card or passport
- if the application is made by another person: a power of attorney or a court order
Costs
none
Processing time
Once all the necessary application documents have been submitted, your pension insurance provider will make a decision without delay.
Miscellaneous
You can also have someone you trust submit your pension application on your behalf. To do so, please submit a power of attorney to your pension insurance provider. Whilst the power of attorney is valid, your pension insurance provider will communicate exclusively with your authorised representative.
Legal basis
Sozialgesetzbuch Sechstes Buch (SGB VI):
- § 38 Altersrente für besonders langjährig Versicherte
- § 236b Altersrente für besonders langjährig Versicherte
Release note
machine generated, based on the German release by: Sozialministerium Baden-Württemberg, 02.11.2026