TRAPEZ.Public: Information

To strengthen information and awareness raising in the general public, among employed women and companies, as well as among other stakeholders, public relations measures were set in TRAPEZ.Public. Thus, in this subproject, you can find the developed informational videos, the recording of the final (online) conference and further publications as well as answers to frequently asked questions.

English publications:

For more information on German publications, informational videos or the toolbox, visit the German page TRAPEZ.Publik.

FAQ

How much pension will I receive?

You can view your current status and a preliminary pension calculation in your pension account. There is also a pension calculator on the website for the new social security pension account.

How can I view my pension account?

The personal pension account can be viewed online at any time. On the website www.neuespensionskonto.at, you will find the access options to the pension account via 'Finanzonline' or 'ID Austria'. After logging in, you can also choose the "subscription option" in the pension account, which will automatically inform you annually about the status of your pension account.

How many months of contributions do I need for an old-age pension?

In general, at least 180 insurance months are required for an old-age pension, of which at least 84 months (7 years) must be from gainful employment. Certain periods (e.g., care of relatives) are considered equivalent to periods of employment. For more information in German, please visit the website of the Pension Insurance Institution: Old-age pension.

Can I continue to work after retirement age?

Yes, you can continue to work after the statutory retirement age. If you want to start receiving your pension, you must apply for it and end your employment relationship. However, you are allowed to earn additional income alongside your pension. You can also postpone retirement, i.e. continue to work. Your (postponed) pension will then be calculated with a special bonus and thus be higher.
For more information in German, please visit the website of the Pension Insurance Institution: Continue working after retirement.

Does earning additional income while receiving a pension have tax implications for me?

If you start receiving your pension at the statutory retirement age, you may earn as much additional income as you wish. However, in most cases, you will be required to pay income tax retrospectively through a mandatory employee tax assessment in the following year. You can use the additional income calculator by the Chamber of Labour to find out whether you will need to pay additional taxes.
For more information, please visit the Chamber of Labour website: Working during retirement.

What are “child-raising periods” and how do they affect my pension?

Child-raising periods are credited to the pension account of the parent who actually and predominantly cares for the child, for 48 months from the birth of the child (60 months for multiples). If another child is born within the 48 months, the crediting for the first child ends and begins anew for the youngest child.
You can find further information on child-raising periods online on the website of the Pension Insurance Institution: Crediting of child-raising periods.

What happens if I am employed during the child-raising period?

If you are employed during the child-raising period, this time will count as a standard insurance period. However, you will later receive a higher pension, since the defined contribution basis for the child-raising period is also credited.
More information is available on the website of the Pension Insurance Institution: Crediting of child-raising periods.

How does voluntary pension splitting work?

Parents can apply for voluntary pension splitting until the 10th birthday of their youngest child. In this process, partial credits (contributions) from the first seven years of the child's life can be split between the parents. The parent who is predominately employed transfers a maximum of half of her or his contributions from gainful employment to the pension account of the other parent who has been predominantly responsible for raising the child. The application must be submitted jointly by both parents to the respective pension insurance institution. Once the splitting has been carried out, it cannot be reversed. Details and application forms in German can be found online on the website of the Pension Insurance Institution: Pension Splitting.

How does part-time work affect my pension?

Part-time work reduces the credits to your pension account, as lower monthly income leads to lower credits and a smaller future pension. Options like voluntary pension splitting or supplementary insurance can help secure your pension. Both parents can take parental part-time leave simultaneously for up to seven years until the child turns eight, and working hours can be adjusted during this period (see Part-time work for parents). For partial retirement different rules apply and pension credits remain at the previous level (see AMS: Partial Retirement Allowance).

What are the requirements for care leave and care leave allowance and how can I apply for them?

(Part-time) care leave must be agreed with the employer. Since January 1, 2020, there has been a legal entitlement for up to four weeks. During caregiver leave, you can apply for caregiver leave benefits. You can find all the relevant information in German at the Social Ministry Service: Care leave and part-time work.

How does pension insurance for family caregivers work?

While you are receiving caregiver leave benefits, you are automatically covered by pension insurance. If you have to reduce your gainful employment for a longer period or give it up completely due to caregiving, you can apply for voluntary self-insurance or voluntary continued insurance for caregiving relatives. For more information in German, visit Pension Insurance for Family Caregivers.

What is the caregiver’s bonus?

Persons who care for close relatives at home and who have taken out favoured self-insurance or continued insurance in the pension system because of this caregiving activity are in some cases eligible to receive a caregiver’s bonus.
Further information is available on the website of the Pension Insurance Institution: Caregiver’s bonus.

How does the supplementary insurance in the statutory pension insurance work?

With voluntary supplementary/higher insurance (Höherversicherung), you can pay additional contributions into your pension account. This increases your pension. You can find the details in German in the Pension Insurance folder on higher insurance (PDF).

How does voluntary self-insurance for marginal employment work?

Employees in marginal employment can voluntarily take out self-insurance for health and pension coverage. This allows you to acquire additional insurance months.
For more information, please visit the website of the Pension Insurance Institution: Voluntary self-insurance for marginal employment.

How does the equalization supplement work?

The equalization supplement (Ausgleichszulage) is a so-called means-tested benefit that is intended to compensate for particularly low pensions. A reference rate is set for this purpose – if the total income is below this reference rate, you receive the equalization supplement. An application for a pension is automatically also an application for the equalization supplement. If you live with your partner in a joint household, the guideline rate for couples applies, and the incomes of both partners are taken into account. Read more on this topic on the German website of the Ministry of Social Affairs: Equalization supplement and pension bonus

For further information, visit the German page TRAPEZ.Publik.