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Retirement in Düsseldorf

Apply for pension and plan retirement

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Retirement in Düsseldorf

Responsible authority

DRV Rheinland – Düsseldorf Service Center

Königsallee 71, 40215 Düsseldorf

DRV Rheinland headquarters, also serving as the local service center for Düsseldorf.

✅ Online application: Yes📅 Appointment: Appointment required

Online application ↗

Phone 0211 937-0, email service-zentrum.duesseldorf@drv-rheinland.de. Hours Mon-Thu 7:30am-3pm, Fri 7:30am-1pm (appointment only). Video consultation available.

Official sources: Deutsche Rentenversicherung · As of 2026-08

12 Schritte · ca. 8 Minuten0%

✓ Du bist in 8 Minuten fertig

Step 1⏱ 5–10 Min

Check pension information

From age 27 you receive annual pension information by mail. Check if all periods are recorded and your insurance account is complete.

⚠️Missing periods (education, childcare, unemployment) can reduce your pension!

⏰ Possible anytime, ideally years before retirement💰 0 €

📄 Required Documents

Complete all required documents first

Insurance number(Required)

ID card(Required)

Valid ID – for identity verification when applying

💡 Weitere Tipps

View insurance account online: deutsche-rentenversicherung.de
Account clarification: Have missing periods recognized later
Child-rearing periods must be applied for!
Check training periods and studies

Insurance account online↗

Opens the official city page in a new tab

🛡️ Compare private pension ↗

Step 2⏱ 5–10 Min

Use pension counseling

Get free advice from Deutsche Rentenversicherung Rheinland. The Düsseldorf service center is centrally located on Königsallee.

⚠️Appointment required – no counseling without appointment!

⏰ At least 3 months before retirement💰 0 € (kostenlose Beratung)

📄 Required Documents

Complete all required documents first

Insurance number(Required)

ID card(Required)

Valid ID – for identity verification when applying

Insurance documents(Required)

🏛️ Lokale Behördeninfo

•Service center Düsseldorf: Königsallee 71, 40215 Düsseldorf

💡 Weitere Tipps

Tel. 0211 937-0 | Email: service-zentrum.duesseldorf@drv-rheinland.de
Hours: Mon-Thu 7:30am-3pm, Fri 7:30am-1pm (appointment only)
Video consultation also possible!

Make counseling appointment↗

Opens the official city page in a new tab

Step 3⏱ 5–10 Min

Submit pension application

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Frist: 3 months before desired retirement start · Pension does NOT come automatically – you must actively apply!

Submit your pension application about 3 months before desired retirement start. The application can be made online, at the service center, or at the insurance office.

📄 Required Documents

Complete all required documents first

ID card or passport(Required)

Insurance number(Required)

Bank details (IBAN)(Required)

IBAN of your current account – for monthly pension payment

Tax ID(Required)

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

Health insurance proof(Required)

Health insurance card or certificate from your health insurer

💡 Weitere Tipps

Online application: deutsche-rentenversicherung.de
Standard retirement age: Born 1964+ = 67 years
Retirement at 63 possible with 45 contribution years (no reduction)
Earliest retirement: First of month after birthday
Additional income unlimited with standard retirement pension

Submit pension application online↗

Opens the official city page in a new tab

🛡️ Compare private pension ↗

Step 4⏱ 2–5 Min

Clarify health insurance

As a retiree you are compulsorily insured in retiree health insurance (KVdR) if you meet the pre-insurance period. Otherwise: Voluntary insurance.

⚠️Without 90% pre-insurance time in second half of life: No KVdR!

⏰ Clarify before retirement💰 Ca. 8% des Rentenbetrags

💡 Weitere Tipps

KVdR: Contributions withheld half from pension
Pension insurance pays the other half
Voluntarily insured: Pay full contribution themselves
Inform health insurance about retirement start!

Inform health insurance↗

Opens the official city page in a new tab

Step 5⏱ 5–10 Min

Inform employer

Give your employer timely notice of your retirement. Observe notice periods and plan the handover of your tasks.

⚠️Observe notice period – your employment contract applies even at retirement!

⏰ According to notice period (usually 3-6 months)💰 0 €

📄 Required Documents

Complete all required documents first

Written resignation(Required)

Pension decision(Optional)

If already available

💡 Weitere Tipps

Check employment contract: Notice period and special rules
Partial retirement? Special rules apply
Clarify and take remaining vacation
Request work reference
Company pension? Separate application needed!

Resignation letter template↗

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 Rheinland: Königsallee 71, 40215 Düsseldorf

💡 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 Rheinland: Königsallee 71, 40215 Düsseldorf

💡 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

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