How long do I have time?

Idealerweise mehrere Jahre vor Rentenbeginn

0 €, 0 €, 0 €, ca. 7,3% der Rente (KV) + ca. 1,7% (PV), 0 €, 0 €, 0 €, 0 €, 0 €, 0 €

What happens if I miss the deadline?

Fehlende Beitragszeiten senken die Rente! Am besten Jahre vor der Rente prüfen.

Applying for pension Bremen 2026 – Deadlines, costs & advice

Step 1⏱ 5–10 Min

Check pension account

Have your insurance account clarified at German Pension Insurance - missing periods can still be added!

⚠️Missing contribution periods reduce pension! Best to check years before retirement.

⏰ Ideally several years before retirement starts💰 0 €

📄 Required Documents

Complete all required documents first

Social security card(Required)

Proof for missing periods(Optional)

e.g. school certificates, university enrollment

🏛️ Lokale Behördeninfo

•Information and advice center Bremen: Schwachhauser Heerstr. 32-34, 28209 Bremen

💡 Weitere Tipps

Online service: View and clarify insurance account
Phone: 0421 3407-0
Free hotline: 0800 1000 4800 (Mon-Thu 8am-5pm, Fri 8am-2pm)

Check insurance account online↗

Opens the official city page in a new tab

🛡️ Compare private pension ↗

Step 2⏱ 5–10 Min

Schedule consultation

German Pension Insurance Oldenburg-Bremen offers free consultation - in person, by phone or video!

⚠️Consultation should be at least 6 months before desired pension start.

⏰ 6 months before pension starts💰 0 €

📄 Required Documents

Complete all required documents first

ID card(Required)

Valid ID – for identity verification when applying

Pension information (if available)(Optional)

💡 Weitere Tipps

Information center Bremen: Schwachhauser Heerstr. 32-34
Opening hours: Mon-Wed 8am-4pm, Thu 8am-6pm, Fri 8am-12pm
Video consultation available!
Appointment recommended
About 50 volunteer insurance advisors in Bremen for local consultation

Schedule consultation↗

Opens the official city page in a new tab

Step 3⏱ 5–10 Min

Submit pension application

🚨

Frist: 3 months before pension starts · Retroactive payment only for 3 months! Apply early.

The pension application should be submitted 3 months before desired start. Online application possible!

📄 Required Documents

Complete all required documents first

ID card or passport(Required)

Social security card(Required)

Bank details (IBAN)(Required)

IBAN of your current account – for monthly pension payment

Health insurance proof(Required)

Health insurance card or certificate from your health insurer

Tax ID(Required)

11-digit number – on tax notice or available from BZSt

🏛️ Lokale Behördeninfo

✅Online application via Deutsche Rentenversicherung eServices

💡 Weitere Tipps

Regular retirement age: 67 (for those born 1964 or later)
Early retirement with deductions possible (0.3% per month)
Rehab application also possible online

Submit pension application online↗

Opens the official city page in a new tab

🛡️ Compare private pension ↗

Step 4⏱ 2–5 Min

Clarify health insurance in retirement

Health insurance continues in retirement - but contributions change.

⚠️Health insurance is mandatory - even in retirement!

⏰ Clarify before pension starts💰 ca. 7,3% der Rente (KV) + ca. 1,7% (PV)

💡 Weitere Tipps

Health insurance contribution deducted directly from pension
Pensioner health insurance (KVdR) if 90% of 2nd half of life in statutory insurance
With private insurance: pay contribution yourself

Info health insurance retirees↗

Opens the official city page in a new tab

Step 5⏱ 5–10 Min

Inform employer

Inform your employer in good time about your retirement date.

⚠️Observe notice periods! Up to 7 months depending on length of service.

⏰ According to employment contract💰 0 €

📄 Required Documents

Complete all required documents first

Employment contract(Required)

Your employment contract – contains notice periods and retirement regulations

💡 Weitere Tipps

Written resignation required
Don't forget company pension/direct insurance
Use up remaining vacation or have it paid out
Request employment reference

✓ Check notice periods↗

Opens the official city page in a new tab

Step 6⏱ 5–10 Min

Taxes in retirement

Pensions are also taxable! The taxable portion depends on the year of retirement.

⚠️Retirees may need to file tax returns. Observe tax allowances!

⏰ Annually by July 31💰 0 €

📄 Required Documents

Complete all required documents first

Pension decision(Required)

From DRV – shows gross pension for tax return

Income tax certificate(Optional)

If still employed – from employer at year end

💡 Weitere Tipps

Retirement start 2024: 83% of pension taxable
From 2040: 100% taxable
Basic allowance 2024: €11,604 (single)
ELSTER: free online tax return

ELSTER tax return↗

Opens the official city page in a new tab

Step 7⏱ 5–10 Min

Claim child-raising periods

Child-raising periods increase your statutory pension. For children born before 1992, up to 2.5 years are credited. For children born from 1992 onwards, 3 years per child are credited. The credit is only granted upon application to the German Pension Insurance.

⚠️Without an application, you will miss important pension points – this can amount to several hundred euros per year in retirement.

⏰ Possible at any time💰 0 €

📄 Required Documents

Complete all required documents first

Birth certificate(s) of children(Required)

From registry office of birthplace – approx. €12 per certificate

ID card(Required)

Valid ID – for identity verification when applying

🏛️ Lokale Behördeninfo

•DRV Oldenburg-Bremen: Huntestraße 11, 26135 Oldenburg

💡 Weitere Tipps

Also possible retroactively
Especially important for mothers
Apply at the German Pension Insurance

Check child-raising periods↗

Opens the official city page in a new tab

Step 8⏱ 5–10 Min

Claim care periods

If you care for relatives (e.g. parents or partner), care periods can increase your statutory pension. The requirement is that care is provided for at least 10 hours per week on at least two days and the person requiring care has a recognized care level.

⚠️Without registration, care periods are not automatically considered – you will miss pension points.

⏰ Possible at any time💰 0 €

📄 Required Documents

Complete all required documents first

Proof of care level of the person being cared for(Required)

ID card(Required)

Valid ID – for identity verification when applying

🏛️ Lokale Behördeninfo

•DRV Oldenburg-Bremen: Huntestraße 11, 26135 Oldenburg

💡 Weitere Tipps

Care levels 2–5 are relevant
Pension contributions are paid by the care insurance
Apply at the German Pension Insurance

Claim care times at DRV↗

Opens the official city page in a new tab

Step 9⏱ 2–5 Min

Check mini-job and pension

Even with a mini-job, you accumulate pension entitlements. If you are not exempt from pension insurance, mini-job periods count fully towards your future pension. An exemption saves money in the short term but reduces your pension.

⚠️An exemption from pension insurance can permanently reduce your future pension.

⏰ Possible at any time💰 0 €

💡 Weitere Tipps

Subject to pension insurance by default
Exemption must be actively requested
Especially relevant for long mini-job periods
Own contribution: 3.6% of earnings

Check mini-job pension status↗

Opens the official city page in a new tab

Step 10⏱ 2–5 Min

Consider unemployment and pension

Periods with unemployment benefit I count towards your pension, as contributions continue to be paid. Periods with citizen's benefit (formerly ALG II) do not increase your pension, but may be relevant for waiting periods.

⚠️Longer periods without pension contributions can significantly reduce your future pension.

⏰ Possible at any time💰 0 €

💡 Weitere Tipps

ALG I counts as contribution period
Citizen's benefit only relevant for waiting periods
Have pension account clarified regularly
Request account clarification from DRV

Check pension periods↗

Opens the official city page in a new tab

🧑‍⚕️ Plan care early

Step 11⏱ 2–5 Min

🛡️ Check private pension provision

State pension alone is not enough for most people. Now is the right time to check private pension provision – before you retire. A free comparison shows you the best options.

💡 Weitere Tipps

💡 Pension gap: average state pension is only ~50% of last net salary
📊 Riester, Rürup, company pension – free comparison shows what suits you
⏱️ Comparison takes 2 minutes · free · non-binding
🔒 No salesperson – objective tariff comparison only

👉 Private Rente kostenlos vergleichen *

⏱ 2 Minuten💰 Kostenlos🔒 Unverbindlich

Step 12⏱ 2–5 Min

🏦 Rürup pension for self-employed & high earners

The Rürup pension (basic pension) is particularly interesting for the self-employed and high earners. Contributions of up to €27,566 (2024) are tax-deductible – making it the most efficient retirement provision for high incomes.

⚠️Rürup contributions cannot be cancelled or inherited – but are protected from garnishment and 100% state-subsidised.

💡 Weitere Tipps

💰 Tax savings of up to 45% possible
📊 Ideal combined with fund pension (ETF-Rürup)
🔐 Hartz-IV-proof and garnishment-proof
📅 Pay in current year → tax-effective immediately

👉 Compare Rürup pension free*

⏱ 2 Minuten💰 Kostenlos🔒 Unverbindlich

Apply for Pension in Bremen

Check pension account

📄 Required Documents

Schedule consultation

📄 Required Documents

Submit pension application

📄 Required Documents

Clarify health insurance in retirement

Inform employer

📄 Required Documents

Taxes in retirement

📄 Required Documents

Claim child-raising periods

📄 Required Documents

Claim care periods

📄 Required Documents

Check mini-job and pension

Consider unemployment and pension

🛡️ Check private pension provision

🏦 Rürup pension for self-employed & high earners

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

📋What you should do next: