Rumors are spreading among the Ukrainian community about the possibility of receiving a German pension after the age of 50. However, what are the actual conditions? Find out how Ukrainians are entitled to a pension in Germany and what requirements must be met

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Since the beginning of russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, many Ukrainians have found temporary refuge abroad, including in Germany. And recently, rumors have been spreading among refugees in this country about the possibility of receiving a German pension after the age of 50. However, official explanations from Deutsche Rentenversicherung indicate otherwise: these statements are not true.

We told you all about the rules of entry and residence in Germany for Ukrainians in 2024 in our previous article.

Basic requirements for retirement in Germany

The retirement age in Germany is the same for everyone, including Ukrainian refugees, and is 63 years old. Ukrainians who come to Germany cannot automatically receive a pension at the age of 57 or 60. There is also no special law for refugee pensions.

To receive a German pension, you need to pay contributions to the pension fund (Rentenversicherung) for a certain period of time. The minimum insurance period for retirement from the age of 63 is 35 years. However, it is worth noting that early retirement is possible only with certain deductions - 0.3% for each month of early retirement. Only those who have paid contributions for 45 years are eligible for early retirement without deductions.

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Are there any special pension benefits for Ukrainian refugees?

Currently, there are no special benefits for Ukrainian refugees. Like all other German residents, they are only eligible for a pension if they have been paying into the Rentenkasse for at least five years. This means that refugees must have an official job from which the relevant social contributions are made.

Are there any exceptions?

Yes, the right to a pension in Germany can be obtained earlier, but only if the person worked in countries that have social security agreements with Germany. These include, for example, EU countries, the United Kingdom, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland. Unfortunately, Ukraine does not have such an agreement with Germany. This means that refugees from Ukraine always have to pay contributions for at least five years before they can claim a German pension.

Therefore, Ukrainian refugees should be prepared for the fact that receiving a German pension requires a long period of official work with the corresponding contributions. This is a standard procedure that applies to everyone, regardless of nationality or refugee status.

We remind you! Ukrainian refugees who arrived in Germany after the start of the full-scale invasion of russia in February 2022 will be able to retain the right to obtain the status of a late resettler. Read how to obtain this status and what opportunities it opens up for integration and building a life in Germany.

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

Ihor Usyk is the Head of Legal Department at Visit Ukraine

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