In order to have enough money available in old age, insured people should collect 35 years of contributions or 45 years of contributions. Although they theoretically receive a pension after just five years of work, this is naturally not as high as after 40 years of work. The following applies: the more qualifying times there are, the higher the pension will usually be. But what about the apprenticeship years? Are these also counted towards the pension?
Training and pension: Are the years of training counted towards the pension?
There is good news for anyone who has completed training, because according to the German Pension Insurance, up to three years of training are valued more highly in the pension calculation. Specifically, this means that this period is used for the personal pension calculation at up to 75 percent of the average salary of all insured persons in Germany. This means that trainees will receive more pension later on.
According to the German pension insurance, this applies to all training completed up to the age of 25 and in which compulsory contributions were paid.
Apprenticeship years and pension: Trainees are particularly protected by pension insurance
Normally, pension insurance has minimum insurance periods so that certain benefits can be claimed. This does not apply to trainees and they are immediately protected, as the German pension insurance company reports.
For example, insured persons can normally only receive a disability pension once they have completed the waiting period of five years. Trainees, on the other hand, enjoy insurance protection from the first day in the event of an occupational illness or an accident at work.
If young people need a disability pension, it is not just the few years of work that count for them, but they also receive the so-called additional time. According to the German pension insurance, this is the time between the start of incapacity and a legally stipulated age. If a disability pension began before 2018, this age was 62. If you start your pension in 2018, the eligibility period will gradually be extended to the age of 65 until 2024.
By the way: your studies can also be counted towards your pension. If retirement is just around the corner, it is advisable to order an account clarification in good time. Then you have to apply for the pension. To do this, insured people need the pension insurance number and certain forms.
