Reading time 2 minutes
“Old age pension for severely disabled people: Is there an extra supplement for particularly severe disabilities?” We often receive these and similar questions. The lawyer and pension consultant Peter Knöppel explains things and gives tips in this article.
Do I get a higher pension due to a severe disability?
This question arises for many people with a severe disability who already receive an old-age pension.
It is a common misconception that the severity of the disability may confer additional financial benefit. But how does it actually work?
Why are there no extra surcharges for the severity of the disability?
The lawyer explains that the German Social Code (SGB VI) does not provide for any regulation that allows for an additional pension supplement for the type or severity of the disability.
This means that people who receive an old-age pension for severely disabled people do not receive any additional financial benefit if their disability is particularly severe or causes particular costs. At least what pension law says.
Also read:
What is the old-age pension for severely disabled people used for?
The old-age pension for severely disabled people serves to compensate for the disadvantages of limited opportunities in working life and everyday life. It enables those affected to retire earlier than would be possible without disability.
This represents compensation for the disadvantages that severely disabled people suffer in working life.
However, there are no further surcharges beyond this compensation, even if the disability is associated with additional burdens and costs.
How is the amount of the old-age pension for severely disabled people calculated?
The calculation of the old-age pension for severely disabled people follows the same principles as for all other old-age pensions.
The individual insurance periods and the average income during working life are taken into account.
The only difference is that severely disabled people can retire earlier without having to accept reductions.
People with severe disabilities also have to fulfill a waiting period during which they are counted by the German pension insurance. This waiting period is 35 years.
Among other things, the following will be taken into account:
- pension contributions as a salaried employee or self-employed person;
- voluntary pension contributions;
- raising children,
- non-profit home care;
- Pregnancy;
- Sickness benefit or unemployment
Age limit for pension with severe disability
Depending on the year of birth, the age limits for people with severe disabilities to retire also differ.
For those born between 1952 and 1963, the age limit for a tax-free pension increases gradually from 63 to 65 years.
The age limit for an early pension increases with discounts from 60 to 62 years.
Those born in 1958 can start receiving a pension without deductions at the age of 64, and in 1959 at the age of 64 years and two months. After that, the retirement limit will be raised by two months for each age group.
Anyone born in 1964 or later can enter the old-age pension for severely disabled people at the age of 65 without any reductions.
He or she can take advantage of an early pension from the age of 62, but this comes at a cost.
What legal regulations are there for old-age pensions for severely disabled people?
The legal regulations for old-age pensions for severely disabled people are set out in Social Security Code VI (SGB VI).
These regulations regulate under what conditions and to what extent old-age pensions are granted for severely disabled people.
No subsidy for pension but compensation for disability
Even if there is no additional pension supplement, severely disabled people still have various options to receive support with additional costs.
This can happen, for example, through care services, aids, reduced admission, allowances, reduced or free transport or other social benefits that are specifically intended for people with disabilities.
Those affected should find out about all possible support offers and, if necessary, seek legal advice. We have published a detailed article about this here: Token and severely disabled person’s card: All discounts for people with severe disabilities
- About the author
- Last posts by the author
Carolin-Jana Klose has been an author at Gegen-Hartz.de since 2023. Carolin studied education and sports medicine and works full-time in health prevention and rehabilitation sports for people with severe disabilities. Her expertise lies in social law and health prevention. She is active in counseling for the unemployed and for the disabled.
