Retire earlier with a degree of disability of 50 or more
People with a recognised severe disability can retire two years earlier than everyone else without a deduction, and even five years earlier with a deduction. This is made possible by the old-age pension for severely disabled persons (§ 37 SGB VI). For those born in 1964 or later it is available at 65 without a deduction or from 62 with a deduction of at most 10.8%.
The requirements
- Severe disability: degree of disability (GdB) of at least 50, determined by the pension and benefits office. The severe disability must exist when the pension starts.
- 35-year qualifying period: all periods recognised in pension law count, including child-raising, school from 17, university and periods of unemployment.
- Age limit: depends on your birth year, see the table.
Being granted equal status with severely disabled people, which employees with a degree of disability of 30 or 40 can apply for at the employment agency, is not enough for this pension.
Age limits by birth year
| Year of birth | no deduction | earliest with deduction |
|---|---|---|
| 1958 | 64 | 61 |
| 1959 | 64 + 2 mo. | 61 + 2 mo. |
| 1960 | 64 + 4 mo. | 61 + 4 mo. |
| 1961 | 64 + 6 mo. | 61 + 6 mo. |
| 1962 | 64 + 8 mo. | 61 + 8 mo. |
| 1963 | 64 + 10 mo. | 61 + 10 mo. |
| 1964 or later | 65 | 62 |
Source: § 236a SGB VI for cohorts up to 1963, § 37 SGB VI from the 1964 cohort. Retiring earlier costs 0.3% per month, i.e. 10.8% for three years. The deduction here is calculated from the deduction-free limit, not from the statutory age. That makes this pension much cheaper than the pension at 63 after 35 years, which costs 14.4% for those born in 1964 or later.
A worked example
An insured woman born on 15 March 1964 has a degree of disability of 60 and 38 insurance years. Her expected pension is €1,400.
- Without deduction: pension from 1 April 2029 (at 65), €1,400.
- Earliest: pension from 1 April 2026 (at 62), 10.8% deduction, €1,248.80.
- For comparison without severe disability: earliest from 1 April 2027 (at 63), 14.4% deduction, €1,198.40.
What happens if the degree of disability is lowered?
Many severe disabilities are granted for a limited time or reassessed after a recovery period, for example after cancer. Timing is decisive: the severe disability must exist when the pension starts. If the degree of disability is only lowered afterwards, the pension continues. If you are planning on this pension and have a time-limited notice, apply in good time, about three months before the desired start.
Additional earnings and other allowances
As with all old-age pensions, there has been no earnings limit since 2023. So you can keep working part time or full time after your pension starts. For tax purposes there is also the disability lump sum, which lowers taxable income depending on the degree of disability. The net pension calculator shows what remains of the pension net.
Planned changes
The pension commission's recommendations of June 2026 mainly concern the statutory age and the pension after 45 years. Abolishing the pension for severely disabled persons is not proposed. If the statutory age rises, however, the age limits here could shift too. There is no law yet (as of 24 September 2026).
Tick "Severely disabled" in the retirement age calculator to see your pension start with and without a deduction. The age limits of all pension types are in the retirement age table by birth year.