Start and eligibility criteria

Start of an early old-age pension

The early old-age pension is granted either:

a) from the age of 57 or

b) from the age of 60.

The early old-age pension starts on the day on which the age and qualifying conditions are met.

  • In the event of cessation of professional activity, the pension will start on the day following the expiry of the insured person's entitlement to their professional income.
  • If professional activity continues and earnings exceed one third of the minimum social wage, the pension will begin on the first day of the month following the month of application.

The early old-age pension should not be confused with early retirement: the early old-age pension is covered by pension insurance, whereas early retirement, which is limited to 3 years, is an instrument of solidarity between the generations and a means of preventing unemployment. As such, it is treated in the same way as insurance years, which are counted towards the old-age pension.

Withdrawal of an early old-age pension

Under current legislation, the early old-age pension is withdrawn if the pensioner engages in professional activity with an income that exceeds the average of the five highest annual contributory incomes in the insurance record.

Eligibility criteria for the early old-age pension

The early old-age pension can be payable:

a) when the insured person reaches the age of 57, if they have completed a qualification period of 480 months of compulsory insurance periods,

b) when the insured person reaches the age of 60, if they have completed a qualification period of 480 months of compulsory insurance periods, continued insurance period, optional insurance periods, retroactive purchase insurance periods and additional periods, including at least 120 months of compulsory insurance periods, continued insurance periods, optional insurance periods and retroactive purchase periods.

From 1 July 2026, this 480-month period at the age of 60 must be extended by full months of contributions. The number of months is set out in the table below, depending on the year in which this 480-month period is reached. The extension must take place after this same deadline.

From Extension required
01.07.2026 + 1 month
01.01.2027 +2 months
01.01.2028 +4 months
01.01.2029 +6 months
01.01.2030 +8 months

The 480-month period referred to above is not to be extended in cases where entitlement to a pension arises following a period of early retirement compensation for shift workers and night workers, or following early retirement adjustment.

There is an economic condition for the award of an early old-age pension. In principle, recipients of an early old-age pension may work, but this may affect the granting, continuation and calculation of the pension.

Read more: Professional activity

Professional activity

  • If the professional activity is insignificant, i.e. if it generates income which, spread over a calendar year, does not exceed one third of the minimum social wage per month*, the early old-age pension is payable without any reduction.
  • If the professional activity generates income which, spread over a calendar year, exceeds one third of the minimum social wage, the early old-age pension will be reduced if, together with the salary, it exceeds the average of the highest five pensionable annual salaries or income during the insurance record.
  • If the professional activity generates income which, spread over a calendar year, exceeds the average of the highest five pensionable annual salaries or income during the insurance record, the early old-age pension will be refused or withdrawn.

Example:
An employee stops his main professional activity, but continues to give lessons in a vocational school for 6 months of the year. The income is EUR 500.00 per month. Distribution of the income earned over the calendar year: 500.00 * 6 = 3,000.00 / 12 = EUR 250.00 per month. The monthly income is therefore less than one third of the minimum social wage and the early old-age pension is due in full.
* Minimum social wage (Salaire sociale minimum - SSM as of 01.05.2025) per month = EUR 2,703.73; One third of SSM = EUR 901.24

Summary of qualification period conditions

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