FAQ – Pension Refund Calculator Germany

German state pension – What percentage can I get back 2022?

In Germany, the state pension is part of the social security system. The main purpose of pension insurance is to protect people who have been employed in Germany in old age, in the event of illness or unemployment. However, there are also reasons to have your state pension refunded earlier or for other reasons.

Pension insurance is financed by a particular method: employers and employees pay a certain percentage of the employee’s gross income as an insurance contribution.
Percentage in 2022:

• Employers: 9,3 %
• Employees: 9,3 %

In this way, the person acquires the right to social benefits in the event of unemployment, illness, reduced earning capacity, and finally, retirement age. The money that flows into the social security system is used directly to finance pension benefits for people with a claim.

If you plan to have your pension contributions refunded, you can only get back the part that you paid into the pension insurance from your gross salary. If you want to know how much it is, use our Pension Refund Calculator.

In general: Anyone wishing to claim their pension contributions must submit an application to the relevant pension insurance institution. ^_1,2
Read more about this topic in our Blog Post: How to alppy for Pension Refund Germany.

What is a pension refund calculator?

Have you worked part-time or full-time in Germany for several years? Then you have paid money into your German pension insurance, and if you are qualified for the refund it’s possible to have the money paid out before you reach retirement age. A pension refund calculator calculates the estimated amount of the refund of your pension contributions. You paid 9.3% of your gross income into the pension insurance each month. You can have this money refunded. Unfortunately, the share paid in by the employer cannot be refunded. Nevertheless, these are often large amounts that can be reimbursed. It could be interesting if you have already left Germany or plan to and do not intend to return.

How to claim a pension from Germany?

To get your German pension contribution refunded, you need to check if you are qualified for Pension Refund. Therefore we have developped the Eligibility Check.

If you meet the necessary requirements, you can apply for a refund. To do this, you must fill out the correct forms and collect the right documents and send them to German Pension Insurance.

The German Pension Insurance will reply to you, after about 6 to 8 weeks, by post and in German. In addition, this institution will ask for further documents like a certified copy of your passport and a copy of your registration certificate. If there are any problems, you will have to contact them again. Please be patient.

The problem: You are already outside Germany and no longer have a postal address, you don’t speak German or simply don’t want to deal with German bureaucracy?

The solution: We will gladly take care of the process of reimbursing your German pension contributions, from the application to the transfer. With us & our partners, you don’t need a fixed address in Germany, you don’t have to speak German, and your case will be processed faster, so you will get your money back sooner. Use our services.^4,5

Can I Claim it online?

Usually, the pension refund process can only be made partially digital. Not only do you have to fill out various forms, but you also have to have certain documents notarized and confirmed.

To make the process as easy, fast, and secure as possible for our customers, we have teamed up with our partners & developed a digital service. We work with two very experienced companies specializing in Germany’s pension reimbursement, and they work directly with lawyers and notaries & know how to approach this important and complicated topic.

Check out our service & see for yourself!

Who is Eligible for a German Pension Refund?

Whether you are entitled to the pension refund in Germany depends on these basic requirements:

• You must no longer be subject to compulsory contributions in Germany
• The last payment must have been made at least 24 months ago
• You have no possibility of paying into the German pension insurance scheme voluntarily

Whether or not you have the option of paying into the German pension insurance scheme voluntarily depends on your nationality and your current place of residence.

How many years do I have to work in Germany to get the retirement benefits

It does not matter how many years you have worked in Germany. It depends on whether you are entitled to pay voluntary contributions into the German pension insurance. This entitlement depends on your nationality and your current residence.

Take the eligibility check now!

How do I calculate my German Refund amount?

The pension payment amount depends on how many months you have worked in Germany and how high your gross income was. It is because you paid 9.3% of your income to the German pension insurance every month up to a certain “Bemessungsgrenze” (assessment limit), 7050€. You can get a full refund, which usually amounts to several thousand euros.

How long does it take to get a refund?

You must wait 24 months after the last pension contribution to apply for the refund. Depending on the case, the process can take between 1 and 6 months, and it may take a little longer if the amounts have to be transferred to a foreign account. However, with our service, we guarantee the fastest possible processing.