Anyone who wants to receive a pension in Germany must pay contributions into the pension insurance scheme for at least five years. Only after this minimum insurance period is a person entitled to an old-age pension. An advisor from the German Pension Insurance (DRV) advises tuenews INTERNATIONAL to clarify the pension account in good time.
The German pension system is not entirely straightforward. However, insured persons can do a lot themselves online. Anyone who still needs help can get support from local authorities, the voluntary insurance advisors of the German Pension Insurance (DRV) or the DRV’s advice centres. They will help you to clarify your pension account. This involves checking whether all insurance periods, such as child-rearing periods or school education, have been fully recorded.
Insured persons can do this online by requesting an insurance history at www.deutsche-rentenversicherung.de/online-services. All you need is your pension insurance number. All pension insurance holders receive their insurance history after five years of contributions and from the age of 27. Employers automatically report working hours in Germany to the pension insurance scheme. This also applies to mini-jobs.
Gather documents in advance
The next step is to make an appointment at the town hall or the DRV to clarify the pension account if any errors are found. At this appointment, an application for the determination of child-rearing can also be submitted. This concerns the so-called mother’s pension. Before this appointment at the town hall, applicants should gather all the relevant documents: first and foremost, their pension insurance number and information from the pension insurance fund about their insurance history. Proof of schooling and studies from the age of 17 onwards may also be relevant—for both partners in married couples.
The experts at the town hall also need proof for the so-called mother’s pension. For example, the children’s birth certificates. If these are certificates from abroad, a translation is helpful. If this is not available, the certificates can also be submitted in languages such as Arabic or Ukrainian, says the DRV advisor. However, this will take longer to process. As a general rule, periods spent raising children abroad are not taken into account in the German pension system.
Don’t forget your ID
Applicants should also bring their ID card or passport with them; in the case of married couples, both partners should bring theirs. If, for example, only the husband goes to the consultation, he will need a power of attorney from his wife. This must state that he is authorised to clarify the accounts and submit an application for the determination of child-rearing.
General information and brochures from the DRV can be found at:
DRV—General information on pensions
A brochure on child-rearing and pensions:
DRV—Brochure on child-rearing
There are also volunteer insurance advisors from the DRV. They provide tips and help with filling out applications, for example. You can request their contact details by calling the toll-free number 0800 1000 4800.
There are several advisors in and around Tübingen—see:
DRV—Search for advice centres in your area
tun25111107