Prepare retirement
2 tasks in suggested order
1. Check insurance record and clarify gaps
An account clarification checks and completes the insurance record. Missing periods from work, education, child-rearing, illness or time abroad can be clarified before the pension application.
Preferably before the actual pension application; Deutsche Rentenversicherung recommends clarifying the record in good time.
Online via Deutsche Rentenversicherung services or with the account-clarification application.
Insurance record and evidence of missing periods, e.g. employment documents, certificates, school/university evidence, foreign periods or child-rearing.
Provide evidence for genuinely missing/unclear periods; first compare against the existing insurance record.
Official source: Deutsche Rentenversicherung
2. Apply for the pension in time
The statutory pension is not paid automatically; it must be applied for.
According to the deadline for your pension type; apply in good time before the desired pension start.
Online or through Deutsche Rentenversicherung counselling/application channels.
Insurance number, identity/bank details and documents required for the relevant pension type.
Deadlines differ by pension type.
Official source: Deutsche Rentenversicherung
