Overview

• Germany’s top social court held that if a liability insurer fully reimburses the pension fund for a prematurely paid pension, the later standard old-age pension must be paid without the earlier lifelong deductions.
• From 1 January 2026 the cohort safeguard for the disability route lapses; for those born in 1964 or later, an unreduced disability old-age pension begins at 65, and an entry at 62 carries up to 10.8% in permanent cuts.
• Early retirement generally reduces benefits by 0.3% per month for life, though insured persons from age 50 can request a DRV V0210 calculation and make voluntary payments to offset some or all reductions.
• Erwerbsminderungsrente protections remain important: no deductions from 63 with at least 40 qualifying years, and when switching to an old-age pension within 24 months the amount may not fall below the disability pension; a 20‑year path and upvaluation rules support some severely disabled workers, including those in workshops.
• Those eyeing a 2026 start—especially born 1961–1963—are advised to obtain an up-to-date Rentenauskunft, clear their DRV records, and, where relevant, secure disability status or explore buy-ins and other mitigation options now.