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Applying for rehabilitation

Deutsche Rentenversicherung · Benefits for participation

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The Deutsche Rentenversicherung is one of the major rehabilitation institutions in Germany. Its goal is not recovery, but capacity to work: the benefits are intended to prevent illness or disability from leading to permanently reduced earning capacity, and to keep people in working life permanently.

This gives rise to the principle "rehabilitation before pension". § 9 SGB VI places benefits for prevention ahead of benefits for participation, and these in turn explicitly ahead of pension benefits. That is why, when an application for a pension for reduced earning capacity is made, the pension insurance almost always first checks whether rehabilitation can restore the capacity to work – it can even treat a rehabilitation application as a pension application of its own motion.

In terms of insurance law, under § 11 SGB VI, a qualifying period of 15 years is generally sufficient. But there are important alternatives: six months of compulsory contributions in the last two years, receipt of a pension due to reduced earning capacity, or – for those starting their working life – taking up employment within two years of completing training. Many wrongly consider themselves ineligible because they only know about the 15 years.

Last updated26 August 2026
Legal basis§ 9 SGB VI · § 11 · § 32
VerificationChecked against gesetze-im-internet.de and the Deutsche Rentenversicherung
Written and reviewed byAndrés Sánchez Botta
Independent information page: we are not the Deutsche Rentenversicherung, not an authority and not a paid advice 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 is always authoritative. The type and duration of the benefit are decided by the pension insurance institution following a medical assessment. All information without guarantee. We are neither lawyers nor tax consultants: we document administrative procedures and check the information against the official source — this is information, not legal or tax advice.
Co-payment€10/dayAt most 42 days a year
Follow-up rehabilitationMax. 14 daysDirectly after hospital
Qualifying period15 yearsOr 6 months in 2 years
General ruleRehabilitation before pension§ 9 SGB VI
Required documents

What you need

Medical findings report

The core element of the application. Your GP or specialist describes diagnoses, treatments so far, and why rehabilitation is medically necessary. What matters is the link to your capacity to work: a report that merely lists symptoms is less convincing than one that sets out exactly which occupational demands are at risk.

Pension insurance application forms

The application consists of several forms, including the self-declaration on the course of events so far. Take the self-declaration seriously: alongside the medical report, it is the second basis for the decision, and the only place where you describe your own situation.

Information on your occupational activity

Describe specifically what physical and psychological demands your job places on you – lifting, standing, shift work, concentration, dealing with the public – and which of these you can no longer cope with. Without this link, it is hard to justify to the pension insurance why you need rehabilitation.

Previous discharge reports

Reports on past rehabilitation measures, hospital stays and operations. They show the course of your condition and document what has already been tried. An earlier treatment that was not sufficiently effective is a particularly strong argument.

Pension insurance number and identity document

For assigning your insurance account and checking the requirements under insurance law. Also have the name of your health insurance fund ready – if the pension insurance is not responsible, the application is forwarded to the correct institution.

Proof of income for the exemption

Only needed if you are applying for exemption from the co-payment. Your monthly net income must be proven; if your income is low, an exemption is possible on application.

Step by step

How to proceed

  1. 1

    Check the insurance-related requirements

    Check whether you meet one of the requirements of § 11 SGB VI: a qualifying period of 15 years, six months of compulsory contributions in the last two years, receipt of a pension due to reduced earning capacity, or – as someone starting their working life – taking up employment within two years of completing training. One of these alternatives is sufficient; the 15 years are not mandatory.

  2. 2

    Have a medical findings report drawn up

    Arrange an appointment and discuss the goal explicitly: preserving the capacity to work. Ask your doctor to set out the link between your complaints and the specific occupational demands. This link more often decides approval than the diagnosis itself.

  3. 3

    Submit the application

    Submit the application online via the eServices, in writing, or with the support of an advice centre. If the pension insurance is not the competent institution, it forwards the application to the correct one within two weeks – so you do not have to find out yourself who is responsible.

  4. 4

    Wait for the decision and choose a clinic

    You have a right to express a wish and choice regarding the facility, which the pension insurance must take into account as far as this is reasonable. Name a preferred clinic already in the application and give medical reasons for it – proximity to your home alone is rarely a sufficient reason.

  5. 5

    Clarify the co-payment or apply for exemption

    The co-payment amounts to €10 per calendar day for a maximum of 42 days in the calendar year, or a maximum of 14 days in the case of follow-up rehabilitation directly after a hospital stay. Co-payments already made to your health insurance fund in the same year are offset. If your income is low, you can apply for an exemption.

  6. 6

    If your application is refused, lodge an objection (Widerspruch)

    You can lodge an objection against a refusal within one month of notification. Supplement it with more recent or more detailed medical findings – in particular those that make the link to your capacity to work clearer. Objection proceedings and social court proceedings are free of charge for insured persons.

Fee information

Costs and payment

The pension insurance pays for the rehabilitationYou only pay a limited co-payment
Co-payment per calendar day€10
Maximum duration of the co-payment42 days in the calendar year
Follow-up rehabilitationAt most 14 days
Under 18No co-payment
Application and objection (Widerspruch)Free of charge
Travel costsAre covered

The pension insurance bears the costs of the rehabilitation; you only pay a co-payment of €10 per calendar day. The amount follows a chain of references: § 32 SGB VI refers to § 40 SGB V, which in turn refers to § 61 Satz 2 SGB V, where the €10 is laid down. The co-payment is limited to 42 days in the calendar year; in the case of follow-up rehabilitation directly after a hospital stay, to 14 days. Note the difference: for rehabilitation benefits from the health insurance fund, § 40 Abs. 6 SGB V specifies 28 days – this value does not apply to the pension insurance. Co-payments already made to your health insurance fund in the same calendar year are offset. Exempt from the co-payment are people under 18, as well as recipients of transitional allowance (Übergangsgeld) or basic income support (Grundsicherung); if your income is low, an exemption is possible on application.

Good to know

Important notes

It is not only the 15 years that count. Many consider themselves ineligible because they do not meet the 15-year qualifying period. But § 11 SGB VI names alternatives – for example six months of compulsory contributions in the last two years, or receipt of a pension due to reduced earning capacity. One of these is sufficient.

Capacity to work is the criterion, not recovery. The pension insurance funds rehabilitation to preserve or restore the capacity to work. An application aimed at recovery or a spa cure is refused; what matters is the link to the occupational demands.

A rehabilitation application can become a pension application. Because "rehabilitation before pension" applies, the pension insurance can treat a rehabilitation application as a pension application of its own motion if the rehabilitation offers no prospect of success, or did not succeed. This is intentional and generally to your advantage.

The co-payment is capped. A maximum of 42 days in the calendar year, or a maximum of 14 days for follow-up rehabilitation. Co-payments already made to the health insurance fund in the same year are offset – submit the relevant receipts.

An exemption is possible. People under 18, as well as recipients of transitional allowance or basic income support, do not pay. If your income is low, you can apply for an exemption; the pension insurance has its own form for this.

Right to express a wish and choice regarding the clinic. You may name a preferred facility, and the pension insurance must take this into account as far as it is reasonable. Give medical reasons for the preference – for example a particular specialisation of the clinic – not just distance.

The wrong institution is not a problem. If the pension insurance is not responsible, it forwards the application to the correct institution. You do not have to work out yourself whether the pension, health or accident insurance is responsible.

Transitional allowance is paid during rehabilitation. If there is no entitlement to continued payment of wages, the pension insurance generally pays transitional allowance (Übergangsgeld). Clarify this before starting the measure, so that no income gap arises.

Avoid these mistakes

Common mistakes

Considering yourself ineligible because of the 15 years. § 11 SGB VI contains several alternatives to the qualifying period. Anyone who only knows the 15-year rule and therefore does not apply at all is giving something up for no reason.

Applying for the rehabilitation as a spa cure. Recovery is not a ground for approval. Without a demonstrated link to the capacity to work and the specific occupational demands, the application is refused.

Submitting a thin medical report. A mere list of diagnoses is not convincing. The report should set out which occupational demands are specifically at risk and why outpatient treatment is not sufficient.

Filling in the self-declaration as an afterthought. Alongside the medical report, it is the second basis for the decision, and the only place where you describe your own limitations. Vague statements waste this opportunity.

Giving up after a refusal. The objection is free of charge and possible within one month. With supplementary, more recent medical findings, it is often successful – whereas anyone who lets the deadline pass has to apply completely afresh.

Not applying for the co-payment exemption. If your income is low, an exemption is possible, but it is not granted automatically. Without an application, you pay up to €420 a year that you would not have to pay.

Frequently asked questions

Questions and answers

What does "rehabilitation before pension" mean?

§ 9 SGB VI places benefits for prevention ahead of benefits for participation, and these in turn explicitly ahead of pension benefits. In practice, this means: before a pension for reduced earning capacity is granted, the pension insurance checks whether medical or occupational rehabilitation can preserve or restore the capacity to work. The pension insurance can therefore treat a rehabilitation application as a pension application of its own motion if the rehabilitation offers no prospect of success.

What requirements do I have to meet?

Under § 11 SGB VI, a qualifying period of 15 years is generally sufficient. But there are alternatives: six calendar months of compulsory contributions in the two years before the application, receipt of a pension due to reduced earning capacity, or – for those starting their working life – taking up employment within two years of completing training. One of these requirements is sufficient.

How much is the co-payment?

€10 per calendar day. The amount results, via § 32 SGB VI, from § 40 Abs. 5 SGB V and ultimately from § 61 Satz 2 SGB V. The co-payment is limited to a maximum of 42 days in the calendar year; in the case of follow-up rehabilitation directly after a hospital stay, to a maximum of 14 days. Co-payments already made to your health insurance fund in the same year are offset.

Can I be exempted from the co-payment?

Yes. People under 18, as well as recipients of transitional allowance or basic income support, are exempt in any case. Beyond that, an exemption is possible on application if the co-payment would represent an unreasonable burden – what matters is your monthly net income. The exemption is not granted automatically; you must apply for it.

Am I allowed to choose the rehabilitation clinic myself?

You have a right to express a wish and choice, which the pension insurance must take into account as far as this is reasonable. Name your preferred clinic already in the application and give medical reasons for it – for example a particular specialisation. A justification based on proximity to home alone is generally not sufficient.

What happens if the pension insurance is not responsible?

In that case, your application is forwarded to the competent institution – for example the health insurance fund or the accident insurance. You do not have to clarify responsibility yourself, and you do not lose time by applying to the wrong institution.

Do I receive money during the rehabilitation?

If there is no entitlement to continued payment of wages by the employer, the pension insurance generally pays transitional allowance. Travel costs to the facility are also covered. Clarify the details before starting the measure, so that no income gap arises.

What can I do if rehabilitation is refused?

Lodge an objection within one month of notification – an informal objection is sufficient to begin with, and you can submit the reasons later. Supplement it with more recent or more detailed medical findings that more clearly show the link between your complaints and the specific occupational demands. An objection and any subsequent proceedings before the social court are free of charge for insured persons.

Related official procedures

Pension for reduced earning capacity (Erwerbsminderungsrente)
If rehabilitation is not enough
Free of charge
Old-age pension
Pension on account of old age
Free of charge
Account clarification (Kontenklärung)
Proving qualifying periods
Free of charge

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