Applying for a reduced earning capacity pension in the event of occupational disability

The "pension for partial reduction in earning capacity due to occupational disability" is a special regulation for insured persons born before January 2, 1961.

This pension takes into account whether you are still able to work in your previous profession. If you were born later, you can receive the regular reduced earning capacity pension instead. Whether you can still work in your previous occupation is then irrelevant.

The reduced earning capacity pension for occupational disability supports you if you are no longer able to work in your profession for health reasons and have not yet reached the regular retirement age. To a certain extent, it serves as a substitute for your income.

Occupational disability means that you can only work less than 6 hours a day in your previous job due to illness or disability. When you apply for a pension, German Pension Insurance will check whether you can still do at least 6 hours a day of reasonable work in a comparable occupation. In addition to your health, your knowledge and skills play a role here.

The amount of your reduced earning capacity pension in the event of occupational disability depends on your pension account with Deutsche Rentenversicherung. Your annual pension information will tell you what you can expect in the event of a full reduction in earning capacity. Half of this pension corresponds to the partial reduced earning capacity pension for occupational disability. If your pension starts before the relevant age limit, you will have to accept deductions. For each month that you retire earlier, the deduction is 0.3 percent, up to a maximum of 10.8 percent.

If you receive your pension, you can earn a certain amount of additional income from a part-time job. How much you are allowed to earn is determined on an individual basis.

Your reduced earning capacity pension for occupational disability is usually granted for a limited period, for a maximum of 3 years. You will only receive an unlimited pension in certain exceptions.

Requirements

• You were born before 02.01.1961.
• You can work less than 6 hours a day in your previous occupation due to illness or disability.
• You have not yet reached the standard retirement age. This is the date on which you can draw the regular old-age pension.
• You have been insured for at least 5 years (general qualifying period).
• You have paid into the pension insurance scheme for at least 3 years in the last 5 years before your reduction in earning capacity. Please note
  
  • If you have already fulfilled the qualifying period of 5 years before 01.01.1984, you may be entitled to a pension even without the 3 years of compulsory contributions within the five-year period.
  • The prerequisite is that every calendar month in the period from 01.01.1984 until the start of your reduced earning capacity is covered by so-called qualifying periods - for example, voluntary contributions or, under certain conditions, periods of unemployment.
• The general waiting period of 5 years includes
  
  • Contribution periods (compulsory and voluntary contributions),
  • substitute periods,
  • child-raising periods,
  • periods from pension equalization and pension splitting between spouses,
  • periods of marginal employment with contributions paid by the employer and
  • additional earnings points for earnings from marginal employment exempt from compulsory insurance.

• Under certain conditions, you can also complete the general waiting period of 5 years early, for example if you have become less able to work due to an accident at work.

What documents do I need?

• Required documents
  
  • Application for reduced earning capacity pension
  • Personal document (such as identity card, passport, birth certificate or family register)
  • List of your health problems
  • Names and addresses of the doctors treating you
  • All details of medical examinations by public bodies such as health insurance companies, employment agencies or employers' liability insurance associations
  • Details of your hospital and rehabilitation stays in recent years
  • Chronological list of your professional activities