Ukrainians who moved to Germany due to the war are interested in how to secure a pension in this country. To be eligible for payments, one must have at least five years of official work and payment of social contributions. This was reported by the publication UNIAN.
Is Ukrainian work experience taken into account in Germany when calculating pensions
Lawyer Olga Brus explained that there is no agreement between Ukraine and Germany on recognizing insurance periods, so Ukrainian work experience is not taken into account for pension allocation in Germany.
What are the conditions for receiving a pension in Germany for Ukrainians
To be eligible for a pension, it is necessary to:
- Work officially: pay social contributions to the German Pension Fund for at least 5 years.
- Reach retirement age: in 2025, it is over 66 years, and by 2031 it will increase to 67 years.
- Expect an individual pension: there is no fixed minimum pension in Germany; payments are determined separately for each person based on contributions.
Is there a special 'refugee pension' in Germany
Olga Brus emphasized that there is no special 'refugee pension' in Germany, so displaced persons will have to work under general conditions.
According to Eurostat, in 2025, there are 4.3 million Ukrainian refugees in the EU, a significant portion of which are in Germany. The temporary protection granted to Ukrainians provides access to work and social services but does not address pension issues. Germany, as one of the countries with a high standard of living, attracts many, but its pension system requires long-term contributions. The Ukrainian government is trying to negotiate bilateral agreements on work experience, but there has been no progress so far.
Previously, we wrote that pensions in Ukraine will be recalculated in a new way.