Early-Start Pension Calculator

No. The Early-Start Pension is only planned so far. The federal cabinet adopted the government draft bill on 12 August 2026; the Bundestag and Bundesrat still have to approve it. The planned start is 1 January 2027 with the birth years 2020 and 2021, for birth year 2020 retroactively from 2026. All figures in this calculator are based on this draft and may still change with the final version of the law.

The plan is 10 € per month, i.e. 120 € per year, that the state pays into an individual, capital-funded retirement account for the child. Funding runs from age 6 to age 18 – over the full twelve years that adds up to a maximum of 1,440 € in state contributions. What matters for the final result, however, is less this sum than the long investment period until retirement.

The plan is to fund children between 6 and 18 who are resident in Germany. The start is planned as a rolling one: the first eligible cohort is children born in 2020, who turn six in 2026. Younger children join as soon as they turn 6. The government draft does not include older children who are already over 6 in 2026.

The money is invested in the capital market – the plan is an investment that participates in the development of the capital markets. It is locked until the standard retirement age and cannot be withdrawn before then. This long lock-up is precisely the core of the idea: if a child starts at 6, the capital has around 60 years to grow through compound interest.

Yes. Under the government draft, voluntary private top-ups into the retirement account are to be possible – by parents and relatives even before the 18th birthday. Returns are to remain tax-free during the saving phase; the later payout is taxed. In our calculator you can set a monthly top-up from age 18 and see immediately how much it lifts the final result.

That depends mainly on the return and the investment period. The state's 10 € a month alone can, at around 6 % return and a start at age 6, grow to a low five-figure amount by age 67 – from a maximum of 1,440 € in contributions. With private top-ups from age 18 it can become a considerably higher amount. Calculate your own scenario with the tool.

Both have pros and cons. The Early-Start Pension adds state money on top plus planned tax advantages, but is locked until retirement. Your own ETF savings plan in the child's name is flexible and available at any time, but receives no state funding. Many families will combine both. You will find a detailed comparison in our guide.

No. The calculator shows a model calculation based on the planned rules and a constant return you choose. Actual capital market returns fluctuate from year to year and can also be negative. In addition, the law has not yet been passed. The results are therefore a guide, not a binding promise – all information without guarantee.