Pension: crediting the time spent studying – what you need to pay attention to

Created: 09/28/2022, 16:34

By: Caroline Schäfer

The study time can be counted towards the pension.

(Icon image) © Rolf Vennenbernd/dpa

Students usually do not pay any contributions to the pension fund during their studies.

Why they can still benefit later from their studies.

Frankfurt – In the past winter semester 2021/2022, around 2.95 million students were enrolled at a university or (technical) college in Germany.

But is the time spent studying later taken into account in the pension?

An overview of what students need to pay attention to.

Basically, the time spent studying can be credited.

This is possible from the age of 17 at the earliest.

"This means that periods of study also count for your later pension, even though you don't pay any contributions," informed the German pension insurance.

You don't have to prove you have a degree.

Retirement and studies: Study time can be counted towards the old-age provision

A maximum of eight years can be credited for school or study periods, it said.

For example, they are taken into account for the minimum insurance period of 35 years and the calculation of the pension amount.

“However, these times do not automatically come into your pension account.

In order for these times to be counted, the German pension insurance requires documents from you, for example in the form of certificates, school and matriculation certificates," the German pension insurance announced.

For periods of study that are not counted from the age of 16, amounts can be voluntarily paid up to the age of 45, according to the German pension insurance.

If you are still working during your studies or during the semester break, you may already have to make contributions to the pension fund yourself.

Even 450-euro jobs are subject to compulsory insurance.

In this way, employees acquire “full contribution periods for the pension”, according to the German pension insurance.

So mini-jobbers already benefited for old-age provision.

What are counting times?

Credit periods help to close gaps in the pension account and to meet the minimum insurance period for certain types of pension, for example for an early retirement pension, informs the German pension insurance.

Pension contributions during your studies?

You have to pay that for a mini job

The insurance premium is low.

The employer has to pay 15 percent of the gross salary.

"You only pay contributions equal to the difference to the normal contribution rate," it said.

This is currently 18.6 percent.

So you only pay 3.6 percent yourself.

Temporary temporary jobs with an employment period of three months or 70 working days per calendar year are exempt from insurance and contributions.

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If the focus is on studying, students may work a maximum of 20 hours per week.

Studies are also given priority if you only work full-time during the semester breaks.

If you work more than 20 hours a week, you have to pay additional social security contributions.

Pension: If you earn more money during your studies, you have to be insured

Anyone who earns more than 450 euros and a maximum of 1300 euros per month is also considered to be subject to compulsory insurance.

However, since you are in a so-called transition area, you pay a lower contribution.

Anyone who earns more than 1300 euros pays 9.3 percent of earnings together with their employer, according to the German pension insurance.

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Compulsory internships that are stipulated in the examination regulations are considered exempt from insurance.

Working hours and earnings are irrelevant.

A voluntary internship, on the other hand, is generally considered to be subject to social security contributions.

(cheese)

The federal government is planning to introduce compulsory pensions for the self-employed.

This is what the self-employed should know.