Apply for a standard old-age pension from the agricultural pension fund

You can apply for the standard old-age pension in writing, in person or online:
Written application:

• Download the application and investment form for the standard old-age pension from the website of the Social Insurance for Agriculture, Forestry and Horticulture (SVLFG). Fill it out completely and compile the required documents.
• You can send your completed and signed application form with the required documents by post to your agricultural pension fund.
• Your agricultural pension fund will check your application. You will receive a written decision by post or in your electronic mailbox at the SVLFG.

Note: A person you trust can also submit your pension application on your behalf. Please submit a corresponding power of attorney to your agricultural pension fund. As long as the power of attorney is valid, your agricultural pension fund will only contact your authorized person.

Personal application during the consultation:

• Compile the documents required for the application and make an appointment with the agricultural pension fund or an SVLFG advice center.
• Your pension application will be recorded during your consultation.
• Your agricultural pension fund will check your application. You will receive a written decision by post or in your electronic mailbox at the SVLFG.

Application via online procedure:

• Go to the SVLFG online portal and log in there.
• Complete the form and upload the necessary documents. Then submit your pension application online. You will receive the application as a PDF in your online mailbox.
• Your agricultural pension fund will check your application. You will receive a written notification in your electronic mailbox at the SVLFG.
  

You will receive the normal old-age pension on application if you

• have reached the standard retirement age and
• have completed the minimum insurance period (waiting period) of 15 years.

All compulsory and voluntary contributions that you have paid or are deemed to have paid to the agricultural pension fund are taken into account in the waiting period of 15 years. Contributions for periods prior to 01.01.1995 are generally only taken into account if they have been paid without gaps.
If a pension equalization was carried out in your favour, the transferred entitlement will be converted into qualifying period months.
Periods from other pension schemes:

• Periods from other pension schemes, for example periods in the statutory pension insurance scheme, can also be counted towards your qualifying period.
• If the external periods overlap with those of the agricultural pension fund, the external periods cannot be credited at the same time.
  • This also applies if you were exempt from compulsory insurance with the pension fund as an entrepreneur during the same period.
  • However, an exemption from compulsory insurance as a contributing family member does not preclude the crediting of third-party periods completed during this time.

The following periods can be taken into account:

• Compulsory contribution periods to a statutory German pension insurance institution and equivalent periods of social insurance in the former GDR,
• periods of exemption from insurance in the statutory pension insurance scheme, for example as
  • civil servant
  • Judge
  • professional or regular soldier and
  • as another person with similar civil servant status
• Periods of exemption from compulsory insurance in the statutory pension insurance scheme, for example
  • Employees and self-employed persons who belong to a professional pension scheme
  • Teachers and educators at private schools, if there is civil servant-like coverage
• certain foreign periods under supranational and intergovernmental law
  

• valid identity card or passport
• if the application is submitted by another person:
  • Power of attorney or
  • Order of the court

• Applying for a pension: by the end of the 3rd calendar month after the end of the month in which you meet the eligibility criteria.
• Payment of the pension: from the calendar month in which you meet the conditions for entitlement to the pension.

Note: If you apply for the pension later, it will be paid from the calendar month in which you applied for the pension.

• § Section 11 of the Act on Old-Age Insurance for Farmers (ALG)

An objection can be lodged against the standard old-age pension decision within one month (3 months abroad) of its notification. If the appeal is unsuccessful, there is the option of taking legal action before the social court.

Forms available: Yes
Written form required: Yes
Informal application possible: Yes
Personal appearance necessary: No
Online services available: Yes

11.04.2022