SteuerGo FAQs

(2022) Next stage for retirement at 67 begins

In 2022, those born in 1957 will turn 65 and reach the previous statutory retirement age of 65. It's time to retire. However, in 2012, the "retirement at 67" began for new retirees, and specific limits must be observed.

Standard retirement age: The standard retirement age has been gradually raised from 65 to 67 since 2012, initially by one month per birth year and from 2024 by two months per birth year. This means that the 1946 birth cohort was the last to retire without deductions at the age of 65 in 2011. Therefore, those who reached the statutory retirement age of 65 in 2012 could only receive their pension without deductions one month later. This was the 1947 birth cohort. For example, someone born on 15/02/1947 would not receive their pension from 01/03/2012 but from 01/04/2012.

The next stage comes into effect on 01/01/2022: Those who turn 65 in 2022 must now work or wait 11 months longer to receive their statutory pension without deductions. This applies to those born in 1957.

Pension for those with particularly long insurance periods: From 01/07/2014, those who can prove at least 45 contribution years may or could receive their pension at 63 without deductions. For those born between 1953 and 1964, the retirement age of 63 is gradually being raised to 65. The increase has been in steps of 2 months per birth year since 2016. In 2022, those born in 1959 will reach the age of 63. Those with 45 insurance years can receive their pension at 63 plus 14 months, i.e., at 64 plus 2 months. Insured persons born on or after 01/01/1964 can only claim the pension without deductions at 65 with 45 contribution years - they no longer benefit from the temporary special regulation.

Pension for those with long insurance periods: Those who can prove 35 contribution years can take the "pension for those with long insurance periods" early at 63 but must accept lifelong deductions. The number of deduction months increases in line with the standard retirement age for those born from 1949 onwards.

In 2022, those born in 1959 can receive their pension at 63 with a lifelong deduction of 11.4%.

Disability pension: The pension for severely disabled people is available to those who are disabled at the start of the pension and have completed the minimum insurance period (waiting period) of 35 years. Those born in 1959 can receive the pension without deductions at 64 plus 2 months. At 61, the pension can be drawn with a deduction of 10.8%. Protection of legitimate expectations: If you were born before 01/01/1964, were disabled on 01/01/2007, and received adjustment payments for dismissed mining employees, you can still retire at 63 without deductions. With a deduction of 10.8%, you can take the pension early at 60 (Source: Deutsche Rentenversicherung, "The right pension for you", 16th edition, 07/2021).

Reduced earning capacity pension: In the case of full reduction in earning capacity, the reduced earning capacity pension can be claimed before the standard retirement age without deductions. In 2022, a reduced earning capacity pension without deductions is paid at 64 plus 8 months. If taken earlier, deductions of 0.3% per month must be accepted, up to a maximum of 10.8%.

Since 01/01/2019, the credit period for reduced earning capacity pensions for new pension entries has been extended earlier and to a greater extent:

• For pensions starting in 2018, the credit period ends at the age of 62 and 3 months under the previous legislation.
• For pensions starting in 2019, the credit period is extended in one step to the age of 65 and 8 months.
• For pensions starting between 2020 and 2031, the credit period is gradually extended to the age of 67, just like the retirement age. The gradual extension begins in 2020 with an increase of one month. The steps of the increase are then one month per calendar year until 2027. From 2028, the credit period is increased by two months per calendar year.
• For pensions starting from 2031, the credit period ends at the age of 67.

From 2031, those with reduced earning capacity will be treated as if they had worked until the standard retirement age, according to the evaluation of their credit period. The credit period ends at the age of 67. The same applies to pensions due to death. The extension is also transferred to the farmers' pension scheme.

The credit period ends at the latest when the standard retirement age is reached. If the deceased insured person was entitled to a reduced earning capacity pension at the time of death, a credit period is only taken into account for a subsequent survivor's pension to the extent that it was credited in the previous reduced earning capacity pension.

Note: The benefit improvements only favour new reduced earning capacity pensions granted from 01/01/2019. They do not apply to those already receiving a reduced earning capacity pension on 01/01/2019. Existing pensions are not recalculated.

Widow's or widower's pension: The age limit for receiving the large widow's or widower's pension is gradually being raised from 45 to 47 between 2012 and 2029. The steps of the increase are initially one month per year from 2012 to 2023 and two months per year from 2024 to 2029.

If the insured person dies in 2022, the age limit for the large widow's or widower's pension is 45 years and 11 months. The large widow's or widower's pension amounts to 60% of the deceased spouse's retirement pension calculated at the time of death. The pension type factor is therefore 0.6. Widows or widowers under 45 years (plus x months) are entitled to a small widow's or widower's pension after the death of the insured spouse. This amounts to 25% of the deceased spouse's retirement pension calculated at the time of death, with a pension type factor of 0.25. Upon reaching the age of 45 plus 10 months, the small pension is converted into a large widow's or widower's pension.

Pension taxation: For pensions starting in 2022, the taxable portion of the pension is 82%. The taxable portion is taxed in the year the pension begins and in the second year of receipt. The remaining amount in the second year is the personal pension allowance, which remains tax-free for life. From the third year, the pension is fully taxable after deducting the personal pension allowance and the standard allowance for income-related expenses of 102 euros.