Indices and thresholds
Earning additional income after retirement
After age 65 or if you have worked 45 years at the time you take up your statutory pension, as a retiree you may, so to speak, "earn unlimited additional income". This is a somewhat unfortunately chosen terminology, by which is meant: "You can never lose the right to your statutory pension because you receive other income.".
But what about earning additional income as a retiree if you do not meet the conditions of age 65 or a 45 year career?
Then a limit does apply to how much you may earn in addition to your statutory pension. Those limits depend on your age, the length of your career, and your social status. Together these parameters determine how much you may earn additionally without your right to your statutory pension being affected. See the table alongside.
Two remarks:
If you have only a survivor's pension, you must limit your income regardless, even if you are 65 years old.
Do you have a family pension? If your partner's income exceeds a certain limit, the family pension is suspended and you receive a single person's pension instead. That is lower than a family pension.
Amounts for 2022:
| You meet the following conditions | You are entitled to child benefit | Annual limit for 2022 per type of activity (EUR) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employee, civil servant or mandate holder | Self-employed or mixed (employee and self-employed) | ||
| - You are 65 years or older and receive a retirement pension (possibly together with a survivor's pension) | / | Unlimited<br>(From 1 January of the year in which you turn 65) | Unlimited<br>(From 1 January of the year in which you turn 65) |
| - You have worked 45 years at the start of your 1st pension<br> <br> or<br>- You receive a transitional allowance | / | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| - You are younger than 65 and have worked less than 45 years at the start of your 1st pension<br> <br> or<br>- You are younger than 65 years and your marriage partner has a family pension | No | 8 634,00 EUR | 6 907,00 EUR |
| Yes | 12 951,00 EUR | 10 360,00 EUR | |
| - You are younger than 65 years with only a survivor's pension | No | 20 102,00 EUR | 16 082,00 EUR |
| Yes | 25 127,00 EUR | 20 102,00 EUR | |
| - You are younger than 65 years and have a retirement pension in a special scheme (e.g. flying personnel)<br>- You are compulsorily retired before age 65 (e.g. military personnel or pension due to physical incapacity)<br>- You are older than 65 and:<br> - you have a marriage partner who receives a family pension<br> <br> or<br> - you receive only a survivor's pension | No | 24 937,00 EUR | 19 950,00 EUR |
| Yes | 30 333,00 EUR | 24 267,00 EUR |
Amounts for 2021:
| You meet the following conditions | You are entitled to child benefit | Annual limit for 2021 per type of activity (EUR) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employee, civil servant or mandate holder | Self-employed or mixed (employee and self-employed) | ||
| - You are 65 years or older and receive a retirement pension (possibly together with a survivor's pension) | / | Unlimited<br>(From 1 January of the year in which you turn 65) | Unlimited<br>(From 1 January of the year in which you turn 65) |
| - You have worked 45 years at the start of your pension<br> <br> or<br>- You receive a transitional allowance | / | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| - You are younger than 65 and have worked less than 45 years at the start of your pension<br> <br> or<br>- You are younger than 65 years and your marriage partner has a family pension | No | 8 496,00 EUR | 6 797,00 EUR |
| Yes | 12 744,00 EUR | 10 195,00 EUR | |
| - You are younger than 65 years with only a survivor's pension | No | 19 782,00 EUR | 15 826,00 EUR |
| Yes | 24 728,00 EUR | 19 782,00 EUR | |
| - You are younger than 65 years and have a retirement pension in a special scheme (e.g. flying personnel)<br>- You are compulsorily retired before age 65 (e.g. military personnel or pension due to physical incapacity)<br>- You are older than 65 and:<br> - you have a marriage partner who receives a family pension<br> <br> or<br> - you receive only a survivor's pension or<br> - you are compulsorily retired | No | 24 540,00 EUR | 19 632,00 EUR |
| Yes | 29 850,00 EUR | 23 880,00 EUR |
Source: FPD 01/2022
The most recent and complete table can be found here on the website of the Federal Pension Service.
Last updated: 14/01/2022. Thresholds change every year. Always ask your advisor for the figure that applies to your situation and financial year.