45 Years of Contributions Don’t Guarantee a Full German Pension

Overview

• For current cohorts, the “particularly long insured” pension without deductions opens only at a set age, which is 65 for those born in 1964 and later.
• Starting a pension before the personal standard age cuts benefits by 0.3% per month, totaling 14.4% four years early, and the reduction lasts for life.
• Having 45 years requires legally defined creditable periods such as compulsory contributions, child‑rearing, caregiving and certain replacement times, not every life phase.
• The pension application fixes the benefit type and amount, so experts urge checking the insurance record and running DRV calculations before filing.
• Those with 35 years can start from 63 with deductions, Flexirente allows continued work alongside a pension, and voluntary payments from age 50 can offset early‑retirement cuts.