7 Forms for a Higher Pension (That Hardly Anyone Knows!)
The YouTuber Markus von Finanzus presents seven forms from the German pension insurance (Deutsche Rentenversicherung) that can help you optimize or increase your pension. Key steps: account clarification and recognition of periods.
1. Account Clarification (Form V01)
- Goal: Check, supplement, and correct your pension account to close gaps in your insurance record.
- Why important: Different pension types require specific waiting periods (e.g., 5 years for basic pension, 35 years for early pension with deductions, 45 years for deduction-free early pension).
- Procedure: Fill out Form V01 online on the pension insurance website. Check your insurance record first in the customer portal.
2. Recognition of Education Periods (Form V0410)
- What: Have school and university periods from age 17 onwards (max. 8 years) recognized as creditable periods.
- Benefit: Increases the number of creditable years, important for the 35-year waiting period for early retirement.
- Tip: Act early, as evidence can be lost over time.
3. Recognition of Foreign Periods (Form E207)
- What: Have periods during which you paid pension insurance abroad credited to your waiting period.
- Example: 3 years in Germany + 3 years in France = 6 years → meets the 5-year waiting period for a pension.
4. Child-Rearing Periods / Mother's Pension (Form V0800)
- What: For each child born before 1992: 2.5 years, after 1992: 3 years recognized. Per year, you receive one pension point (from July 2026: €42.52 monthly gross pension per point).
- Who: Standardly the mother, but transfer to the other parent is possible.
- Note: From 2027, uniformly 3 years for all children.
5.-7. Buying Pension Points (Three Forms)
General: Pension points can be purchased through three methods. One point costs approx. €9,662 in 2026 and yields a lifelong monthly pension of €42.52. This results in a pension factor of approx. 44 (vs. approx. 27.5 for private pension insurance). Voluntary contributions are tax-deductible.
- a) Nachentrichtung für Ausbildungszeiten (V0080): Possible until age 45. You pay contributions for recognized education periods (minimum and maximum limits). Increases both pension points and contribution years (important for the 45-year waiting period).
- b) Voluntary Contributions (V0060): Only possible if you are not compulsorily insured (e.g., self-employed). Contributions can only be made until March 31 of the following year.
- c) Compensation for Pension Deductions (V0210): From age 50 until shortly before retirement. You purchase pension points to offset deductions for early retirement (max. 14.4% for retiring 4 years early). Independent of whether you actually retire early.
Conclusion: These forms help increase your pension or retire earlier. Account clarification (V01) is the first and most important step. Buying pension points can be a worthwhile alternative to private pension insurance but carries political uncertainties.
