As of: March 18, 2024, 12:30 p.m
By: Marco Blanco Ucles
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Many people are looking forward to retirement, even if more and more of them have to continue working as they get older - for financial reasons.
But there are also positive sides: time for other things in life, for example being able to experience the childhood of your grandchildren up close.
But before that happens, a few things still have to be done - because you don't receive the pension automatically.
You should start thinking about retirement a few months before the end of your working life.
You will only receive money from the statutory pension insurance if you have submitted the relevant application.
The
German pension insurance
recommends doing this three months before retirement.
Retirement: You will need this information when applying
It is important to apply for your pension on time - certain deadlines must be observed.
© Westend61/IMAGO
You need five pieces of information for all pension applications, explains the
German Pension Insurance
:
pension insurance number
Information on health and nursing care insurance
Tax identification number
Personal document (identity card, passport, birth certificate or family register in copy)
International account number – IBAN – and the international bank code BIC
To ensure that the application can be processed as quickly as possible, you should collect additional documents in advance.
Among other things, you should check whether your insurance periods are complete.
From the age of 55, your insurance history will be sent to you automatically every three years, explains
Stiftung Warentest.
If you have children, you will need their birth certificates.
Proof of professional training is also important.
If you have authorized persons, also provide written power of attorney.
If you have civil service periods in your life, you will need the pension office's determination sheet.
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Depending on the type of pension, there are different deadlines to consider.
Pensions from your own insurance - i.e. pensions that are derived from the insured person's own entitlement - are old-age pensions, disability pensions and child-care pensions.
A three-month deadline generally applies to them - provided all the requirements for the pension are met.
If the application is submitted later, the pension usually only begins in the month in which the application is made - so you have to forego a lot of money.
Survivor's pension is paid out twelve months retroactively
The situation is different with survivors' pensions - i.e. orphans', widows' and widowers' pensions.
The following applies: If the pension is applied for later than twelve months after the date of death, it will be paid twelve months retroactively, and not just from the month of the application.
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In the 21st century, pension applications no longer need to be submitted by post.
You can easily submit your pension application online on the statutory pension insurance website.
Stiftung Warentest recommends getting help with the application - for example from the pension insurance advice centers - as it is not just about the start of the pension and the amount of the pension, but also about the most flexible transition to retirement, tax questions or additional income limits.
Pension notice should be checked
If your pension is approved, you will receive a corresponding pension notice.
This needs to be checked thoroughly.
If you discover an error, you should file an appeal.
You have one month to do this.
The exception is if you work abroad.
Then it's three months.