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German Pension Insurance Official Procedures

Pension · Rehabilitation · Retirement provision

14 official procedures available

The German Pension Insurance (DRV) is the largest institution of the statutory pension insurance in Germany. It administers old-age pensions, pensions for reduced earning capacity, survivors' pensions and rehabilitation benefits for around 57 million insured persons.

The contribution rate is 18.6% of gross salary (employer and employee each pay half). The standard retirement age is 67 years (for those born in 1964 or later). Free service hotline: 0800 1000 4800.

On 1 July 2026 pensions rose by 4.24 per cent; since then, the current pension value (aktueller Rentenwert) has stood at €42.52 per earnings point and, following the 2023 pension adjustment, applies uniformly in East and West. In 2026 the contribution assessment ceiling (Beitragsbemessungsgrenze) is €8,450 per month, and the reference value (Bezugsgröße) is €3,955.

Last updated 26 August 2026
Competent authority German Pension Insurance (DRV)
Verification Checked by AmtsDeutschland.de
Written and reviewed byAndrés Sánchez Botta
Independent information site: We are not the German Pension Insurance, not an authority and not a paid advisory service — we do not submit applications on your behalf. All information comes from official sources and is explained here in simple terms; the competent body always has the final say. All information is provided without guarantee. We are neither lawyers nor tax consultants: we document official procedures and check the information against the official source — this is information, not legal or tax advice.
All official procedures

Available services

Choose an official procedure to see the complete guide with requirements, costs and official links.

Apply for a pension

Mixed
Apply for an old-age pension
Standard retirement age 67 — at least 5 years of contributions
  • Costs: free of charge (application)
  • Apply 3 months before pension starts
  • Since 2023: no earnings limit
Complete guide
In person
Apply for a pension for reduced earning capacity
Full EM pension: able to work less than 3 hrs/day
  • Costs: free of charge (application)
  • Processing time approx. 3–6 months
  • Rehabilitation before pension — DRV principle
Complete guide
In person
Applying for the survivors' pension
Widow's/widower's pension 55%/25%, orphan's pension 10%/20%
  • Costs: free of charge (application)
  • Sterbevierteljahr (three-month survivor's grace period): full pension for 3 months
  • On remarriage: lump-sum settlement (Abfindung) of 24 months' pension
Complete guide

Information & Account Clarification (Kontenklärung)

Mixed
Obtain your Rentenauskunft (expanded pension information)
Free of charge — automatic every year from age 27
  • Costs: free of charge
  • Online instantly (with eID)
  • By post approx. 2–4 weeks
Complete guide
Mixed
Check your insurance history (Versicherungsverlauf)
Report missing periods — Kontenklärung
  • Costs: free of charge
  • Recommended every 5–10 years
  • Report school, university and child-raising periods
Complete guide
Mixed
Apply for a Sozialversicherungsausweis (social insurance card)
Pension insurance number (Versicherungsnummer) — required for every employer
  • Costs: free of charge
  • Replacement card free of charge
  • Delivery approx. 2–4 weeks
Complete guide

Rehabilitation

In person
Applying for rehabilitation (Reha)
3 weeks inpatient — right to request and choose
  • Costs: co-payment (Zuzahlung) max. €10/day
  • Approval takes approx. 3–6 weeks
  • Travel costs are covered
Complete guide

Contributions & Insurance

In writing
Pay voluntary contributions
For self-employed persons, homemakers — tax-deductible
  • Costs: from approx. €96/month
  • Maximum contribution approx. €1,357/month
  • Fully deductible as a special expense
Complete guide
In writing
Credit child-raising periods
3 years per child (from 1992) — Mütterrente (mothers' pension) 2.5 yrs
  • Costs: free of charge
  • Approx. €39/month more pension per year
  • Must be applied for (Form V0800)
Complete guide
Via provider
Riester pension — allowance application
€175 basic allowance + €300/child
  • Costs: own contribution: 4% of previous year's gross income
  • Tax-deductible up to €2,100/year
  • Standing allowance application with the provider
Complete guide

Useful information

Service hotline 0800 1000 4800 (free of charge)
Mon–Thu 7:30–19:30, Fri 7:30–15:30
In-person advice at every local office
Online portal eservice-drv.de
Rentenauskunft, applications, Kontenklärung
With identity card + eID
Standard retirement age 67 years (for those born in 1964 or later)
With 45 contribution years: from 65
Submit the application 3 months beforehand
Contribution rate 18.6% of gross salary
Employer pays half
Pension value: €42.52 (since 1 July 2026, uniform nationwide)

More procedures

Via the family court (Familiengericht)
Pension equalisation on divorce
Pension entitlements split — automatically
  • Costs: part of the divorce proceedings
  • Decided by the family court
  • All pension types
Complete guide

More procedures

Online + in writing
Apply for an orphan's pension
10–20% of the deceased's pension
  • Costs: free of charge
  • Up to age 27 (in education)
  • No income offset
Complete guide
Frequently asked questions

Questions about the German Pension Insurance

When can I retire?

Standard retirement age: 67 years (for those born in 1964 or later). With 45 contribution years: from 65 with no reduction. With 35 years: from 63 with pension deductions (0.3% per month early).

How much will my pension be?

It depends on your earnings points × pension value (since 1 July 2026: €42.52, uniform nationwide) × access factor × pension type factor. You can find the exact amount in your annual Renteninformation (annual pension information) or in a detailed Rentenauskunft.

How can I contact the DRV?

Free service hotline: 0800 1000 4800 (Mon–Thu 7:30–19:30, Fri 7:30–15:30). Online: eservice-drv.de. In person: at every information and advice office (an appointment is recommended).

Can I work alongside my pension?

Yes. Since 2023 there is no longer an earnings limit for the old-age pension. For the pension for reduced earning capacity, limits still apply: in 2026 these are €20,763.75 a year for full and at least €41,527.50 for partial reduced earning capacity.

Are child-raising periods recorded automatically?

No. You must apply to the DRV to have them credited (Form V0800). Per child: 3 years of child-raising time (from 1992), i.e. around 3 earnings points and so a good €127/month more pension. For children born before 1992 it is currently 30 months; from 1 January 2027 this will also be 36 months (Mütterrente III).

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Send a request
Without an application
Grundrente (basic pension top-up)
Granted automatically
  • At least 33 years
  • No application needed
  • Allowance is checked
Complete guide
Online
Apply for a Kontenklärung
Close gaps in your account
  • Free of charge
  • Approx. 3–6 months
  • Form V0100
Complete guide