Overview

• Only severely disabled insured people from the 1962 cohort and March–December 1963 births, with a GdB of at least 50 and 35 insurance years, can still begin an old-age pension before 62 in 2025.
• The earliest start is 61 years and 8 months for 1962 births and 61 years and 10 months for 1963 births, and taking the first possible date locks in a permanent 10.8% reduction.
• For those born in 1964 or later, the standard age is 67, an unreduced pension after 45 years of contributions begins at 65, and early starts from 63 carry up to 14.4% in permanent deductions; for disabled insured, the earliest reduced start is 62.
• Switching from Bürgergeld to an early pension ends Bürgergeld and halts new contribution years, yet earnings with a pension are not offset, so total monthly income can be higher when working; the DRV provides comparison calculations to inform the decision.
• Before reaching the regular pension age, shortfalls may be covered by Wohngeld or Hilfe zum Lebensunterhalt, and Jobcenters can push applications only for unreduced or disability pensions, with no forced entry into a discounted old-age pension until the end of 2026.