Periods in which you did not work

• Part-time employment with retained rights
• Involuntary unemployment
• Unemployment with company supplement scheme (USS)/early retirement
• Pseudo early retirement (Canada Dry pension)
• Sickness and invalidity
• Inactivity due to a disability
• Inactivity due to an industrial accident or occupational disease
• Maternity leave, paternity leave, adoption leave and foster parent leave
• Parental leave (thematic leave)
• A period of care for a child younger than 6
• Palliative care leave, medical aid leave and informal care leave (thematic leave)
• Yearly holiday
• Strike
• Periods of military service or as a conscientious objector
• Limitation in work due to reorganization of labour
• Frequently asked questions

Part-time employment with retained rights

Part-time employment with retained rights guarantees you a full unemployment benefit if you:

1. first are unemployed or work full-time;
2. subsequently accept a part-time job;
3. afterwards become unemployed once more.

The influence on your pension depends on whether or not you receive a guaranteed income benefit from the NEO.

Find out everything there is to know about part-time employment with retained rights (NEO website)Opens in a new window

• You receive a guaranteed income benefit
• You do not receive a guaranteed income benefit
  
  

You receive a guaranteed income benefit

If you receive a guaranteed income benefit, the period in which you work part-time with retained rights is completely taken into account for your career as an employee.

Where your pension is concerned, it will therefore seem as though you are still working full-time. Concretely:

• the period in which you did not work is taken into account for your early retirement.
• we calculate your pension amount for this period on the basis of the normal fictitious salary.

The pension amount yielded by a career year with a period of part-time employment with retained rights and a guaranteed income benefit may not exceed the pension amount yielded by the preceding career year.

You do not receive a guaranteed income benefit

If you do not receive a guaranteed income benefit, the period in which you work part-time with retained rights is only partially taken into account for your employee pension.

The period in which you did not work is taken into account for 1 560 days at most:

• to check whether or not you can retire early;
• for your pension amount.

We calculate your pension amount for this period on the basis of the limited fictitious salary.

The pension amount yielded by a career year with a period of part-time employment with retained rights without a guaranteed income benefit may not exceed the pension amount yielded by the preceding career year.

If the period in which you did not work counts more than 1 560 days, the extra days are not taken into account for your pension.

You are over 50?

In that case:

• your complete period of part-time employment with retained rights is taken into account for your pension:
  • from your 50th birthday;
  • or from 1 January 2020 if you turned 50 before this date.
• We calculate your pension amount for this period on the basis of the normal fictitious salary.

Examples:

• In 2015, you are 45 and you have already used up your 1 560 days. From your 50th birthday in 2020 onwards, your period of part-time employment with retained rights once again is completely taken into account for your pension.
• In 1995, you turned 50. In that case, your period of part-time employment with retained rights is only completely taken into account for your pension from 1 January 2000.

You are over 50 and you have worked as an employee for at least 20 years of 104 days?

In that case:

• we replace the actual earnings by a fictitious salary if this is more advantageous;
• we do not limit your pension amount to the amount of the preceding career year.
  
  

Involuntary unemployment

You are unemployedOpens in a new window and you are receiving a NEO benefit?

This period is taken into account for your pension as an employee:

• to check whether or not you can retire early,
• for the calculation of your pension amount.

From 2026, unemployment benefits will be limited in time. More information can be found on the NEO websiteOpens in a new window.

What does the limitation of the unemployment benefit in time mean for your retirement?

The discontinuation of your unemployment benefit may impact your retirement date and pension amount:

• Only periods in which you receive wages or a benefit that counts towards your pension, are taken into account for your retirement date and pension amount.
• Periods in which you do not receive an unemployment benefit, wages or another benefit that counts towards your retirement, therefore are not taken into account.
• Please note: income support paid by the Public Social Service Centre is never taken into account for your pension calculation.

You have already received a pension decision?

In this case, nothing changes. Your decision is final and will not be reviewed.

You can retire in 2025 but want to do so after 2025?

The discontinuation of your unemployment benefit does not impact your retirement date.

Your pension amount can, however, change if you receive no other type of income after the discontinuation (please note that income support is not taken into account for the pension).

You can only retire in or after 2026?

In that case, the discontinuation can impact both your retirement date and pension amount, as these are calculated on the basis of your career years and income (wages and benefits with the exception of income support).

You return to work after the discontinuation or you receive a benefit, other than income support?

In that case, you continue to build up a pension and the discontinuation usually has little or no influence on your retirement date and pension amount.

What impact does the limitation of your unemployment benefit have on your estimate at mypension.be?

For the estimate of your future career, we rely on your career of the preceding year, as we do not have all of the current year’s details yet. This means that for an estimate in 2025, we use the details of 2024.

You have received a letter from the NEO about the discontinuation of your unemployment benefit?

• The NEO also informs us that you have received a letter.
• Thanks to this exchange, we are thus also made aware that your situation has changed and that we cannot project your current career details to estimate your future retirement date and pension amount.
• As long as we don't know what you will do in the future, we will no longer show you an estimate. In this way, we avoid that you rely on an incorrect date or amount to plan your retirement.
• If you start working again or start receiving a benefit that counts towards your pension, we will receive your new details and once again will be able to show you a correct estimate.
  Please note: this may take a while, as the estimate is always based on the preceding year.
  
  

You are unemployed and are currently receiving an unemployment benefit?

• As long as you don’t receive a letter from the NEO about the discontinuation of your benefit, we rely on your current situation for our estimate.
• If your situation changes, your retirement date and pension amount may change too. This is why you are shown a warning at mypension.be.
  
  

Influence of your unemployment benefit on your pension amount

The influence on your pension amount depends on:

1. the allocation period (1st, 2nd, 3rd or other);
   and
2. the year in which you were unemployed.

• Influence pension amount 1st allocation period
• Influence pension amount 2nd allocation period
• Influence pension amount 3rd allocation period
• Influence pension amount of involuntary unemployment interrupted by an activity as a self-employed worker
• Influence pension amount other types of unemployment
• Summary table

If you have a long career, your period of unemployment may not be taken into account for your pension. I have a long career. What does this entail for the calculation of my pension amount?

Influence pension amount 1st allocation period

We always calculate the pension amount for the 1st allocation period on the basis of the normal fictitious salary.

Influence pension amount 2nd allocation period

• Periods from 2017: pension amount on the basis of the limited fictitious salary.

  Exception:
  Pension amount on the basis of the normal fictitious salary if the first allocation period starts in the year of your 50th birthday at the earliest.

• Periods before 2017: pension amount on the basis of the normal fictitious salary.
  
  

Influence pension amount 3rd allocation period

• Periods from 2012: pension amount on the basis of the limited fictitious salary.

  Exceptions:
  Pension amount on the basis of the normal fictitious salary:

  • if you were at least 55 on 01.11.2012 and you already found yourself in the 3rd allocation period at that time;
  • for the 3rd allocation period after your 55th birthday if you became unemployed after your 50th birthday.
    
    
• Periods before 2012: pension amount on the basis of the normal fictitious salary.
  
  

Influence pension amount of involuntary unemployment interrupted by an activity as a self-employed worker

You interrupted your unemployment to work as a self-employed worker and afterwards became unemployed again?

For the period of unemployment that follows your self-employed activity, we calculate the pension amount on the basis of the same fictitious salary as for the unemployment period before your self-employed activity, on the condition that:

• you receive an unemployment benefit in the period preceding your self-employed activity;
• the self-employed activity lasts for 15 years at most;
• you already have a career of 20 years as an employee when you start your self-employed activity.

In this way, your pension build-up is guaranteed if you take the risk of giving up your unemployment to exercise a self-employed activity.

If you do not meet these conditions, the fictitious salary for the unemployment that follows the self-employed activity will be based on:

• the lump sum if you do not work as an employee again;
• the real wages of a later year if you once again work as an employee.
  
  

Influence pension amount other types of unemployment

We calculate the pension amount for other periods of unemployment, such as temporary unemployment, on the basis of the normal fictitious salary.

Summary table

 

Unemployment with company supplement scheme (USS)/early retirement

Unemployment with company supplement schemeOpens in a new window (USS or the former early retirement) for which you receive a benefit from the NEO, is taken into account for your pension as an employee.

If you receive a benefit from the NEO, your USS period is taken into account to check if you can retire early.

The influence on the pension amount depends on the year in which you received a USS benefit.

• Influence on the pension amount from 2017
• Influence on the pension amount from 2012 until 2017
• Influence on the pension amount before 2012
• Summary table

If you have a long career, your USS period may not be taken into account for your pension. I have a long career. What does this entail for the calculation of my pension amount?

Influence on the pension amount from 2017

We calculate the pension amount for your USS period on the basis of the limited fictitious salary.

Exceptions:

Your pension amount on the basis of the normal fictitious salary if you:

• already found yourself in the early retirement or USS scheme on 31.12.2016;
• were fired before 20.10.2016 in order to fall within the scope of the early retirement or USS scheme;
• find yourself in the USS scheme for:
  • tough jobs;
  • nightwork;
  • construction company with incapacity certificate;
  • undertakings in difficulty or in restructuration;
  • disabled persons or persons suffering from serious physical conditions.
    
    

Influence on the pension amount from 2012 until 2017

The influence of the USS period on your pension amount depends on your age:

• after the month of your 59th birthday: pension amount on the basis of the normal fictitious salary;
• up to and including the month of your 59th birthday: pension amount on the basis of the limited fictitious salary if you find yourself in the:
  • general early retirement scheme at the age of 58 (collective bargaining agreement 17 private sector);
  • early retirement scheme at the age of 55/56 that is being discontinued;
  • early retirement scheme at the age of 57 that is being discontinued.

    Exceptions:
    Your pension amount will be calculated before your 59th birthday on the basis of the normal fictitious salary if you:

    • already found yourself in the USS scheme on 28.11.2011;
    • were fired before 28.11.2011 in order to fall within the scope of the USS scheme;
    • found yourself in an early retirement or USS scheme for undertakings in difficulty or in restructuration;
    • found yourself in a conventional early retirement with the city or regional transport operators (De Lijn, TEC, MIVB);
    • prove a career of at least:
      • 33 years of which at least 20 spent in nightwork;
      • 33 years with a construction company and you can provide a certificate issued by an industrial medical officer testifying that you can no longer carry out your professional activity;
      • 35 years and you are disabled or severely physically incapacitated;
      • 35 years and you exercise a tough job;
      • 40 years.
        
        

Influence on the pension amount before 2012

We always calculate the pension amount for your early retirement / USS period on the basis of the normal fictitious salary.

Summary table

 

Pseudo early retirement (Canada Dry or USAB)

The pseudo early retirement (also called Canada Dry or USAB: unemployment scheme with additional benefits for older employees) falls outside the scope of the normal USS or early retirement system.
If you receive a pseudo early retirement pension, you are combining:

1. an unemployment benefit from the NEO;
   with
2. an additional benefit from your previous employer or your sectoral fund.

A period of pseudo early retirement is taken into account to check if you can retire early.

The influence on the pension amount depends on the year in which you received your pseudo early retirement pension.

• Influence on the pension amount from 2017
• Influence on the pension amount from 2012 until 2017
• Influence on the pension amount before 2012
• Summary table

If you have a long career, your pseudo early retirement period may not be taken into account for your pension. I have a long career. What does this entail for the calculation of my pension amount?

Influence on the pension amount from 2017

We always calculate the pension amount for your pseudo early retirement on the basis of the limited fictitious salary.

Influence on the pension amount from 2012 until 2017

The influence of the pseudo early retirement on your pension amount depends on your age:

• after the month of your 59th birthday: pension amount on the basis of the normal fictitious salary.
• up to and including the month of your 59th birthday: pension amount on the basis of the limited fictitious salary.
  
  

Influence on the pension amount before 2012

We always calculate the pension amount for your pseudo early retirement before 2012 on the basis of the normal fictitious salary.

Summary table

 

Sickness and invalidity

A period of sickness and invalidity is always taken into account for your employee pension if you received an allocation from your health insurance fund.

This period is taken into account to check if you can retire early.

We calculate your pension amount for this period on the basis of the normal fictitious salary.
 

Inactivity due to a disability

A period of inactivity due to a disability is always taken into account for your employee pension if:

1. you are recognized as a disabled personOpens in a new window and you receive a compensation from the Federal Public Service Social Security;
   and
2. you previously worked as an employee (or found yourself in an equivalent situation);
   and
3. you prove an inability to work of at least 65 %.

This period is taken into account to check if you can retire early.

We calculate your pension amount for this period on the basis of the normal fictitious salary.

Inactivity due to an industrial accident or occupational disease

A period of inactivity due to an industrial accident or occupational illness is always taken into account for your employee pension if:

1. you receive an allocation for this inactivity;
   and
2. you worked as an employee before your occupational disease or industrial accident (or found yourself in an equivalent situation);
   and
3. you prove an inability to work of at least 66 %.

This period is taken into account to check if you can retire early.

We calculate your pension amount for this period on the basis of the normal fictitious salary.

Maternity leave, paternity leave, adoption leave and foster parent leave

Maternity leave (pregnancy leave), paternity leave and adoption leave are completely taken into account for your employee pension if you:

1. receive an allowance from your health insurance fund for this period;
   and
2. you previously worked as an employee (or found yourself in an equivalent situation).

These periods are taken into account to check if you can retire early.

We calculate your pension amount for this period on the basis of the normal fictitious salary.

Foster parent leave is equated under the same conditions as the:

• maternity leave
• paternity leave
• adoption leave.

Foster parent leave is reserved for persons who:

1. are appointed as foster parents;
   and
2. take care of an underage child as part of long-term foster care.
   
   

Parental leave (thematic leave)

Parental leaveOpens in a new window is completely taken into account for your employee pension if you receive a career interruption benefit from the NEO. Find out everything there is to know about interrupting your career at break@work.be.

The 4th month of parental leave without career interruption benefit (birth or adoption before 08.03.2012) is also completely taken into account for your employee pension.

Parental leave is taken into account to check if you can retire early.

We calculate your pension amount for this period on the basis of the normal fictitious salary.

A period of care for a child younger than 6

Periods in which you completely stopped working to raise a child younger than 6 and during which you did not receive a replacement income:

• are taken into account to check if you can retire early.
• are not taken into account for your pension amount.

You need to meet four conditions:

• you have a child who is a family member and for whom you or your partner receive child benefits (or a similar benefit).
• for the same period, you did not receive any income that may entitle you to a pension.
• you were inactive during at most five years.
• after this period, you worked for at least one year.

Please note:

• this applies for a total of three years at most, and therefore does not apply per child.
• these periods do not influence your pension if you retire on the statutory retirement date.

You meet the abovementioned conditions and this period of care is missing from your career? Make sure to inform us through mypension.be.Opens in a new window

Palliative care leave, medical aid leave and informal care leave (thematic leave)

Palliative care leaveOpens in a new window, medical aid leaveOpens in a new window and informal care leaveOpens in a new window are completely taken into account for your employee pension if you received a career interruption benefit from the NEO. Find out everything there is to know about interrupting your career at break@work.be.

This period is taken into account to check if you can retire early.

We calculate your pension amount for this period on the basis of the normal fictitious salary.

Yearly holiday

The holidays you are entitled to within the framework of the legislation on the yearly holiday, are taken into account for your employee pension.

This period is taken into account to check if you can retire early.

We calculate your pension amount for this period on the basis of your holiday allowance.

Strike

A period of inactivity due to a strike or lockoutOpens in a new window is taken into account for your employee pension if:

1. the strike is recognized by the unions;
   and
2. you are an employee at the start of this period.

This period is taken into account to check if you can retire early.

We calculate your pension amount for this period on the basis of the normal fictitious salary.

Periods of military service or as a conscientious objector

You performed your military service or you were a conscientious objector? If so, the Pensions Service will add this period to your career as a civil servant or employee. On mypension.beOpens in a new window, you can check what influence this has on your pension.

• Difference between conscript and professional soldier
• Is my military service taken into account for my pension?
• Your military service on mypension.be
  
  

Difference between conscript and professional soldier

The military service is the obligation of a portion of the population to temporarily work for the army. In Belgium, the compulsory military service was abolished in 1995.

Military service (civilian who temporarily has been drafted into military service) should therefore not be confused with service as a professional soldier. In Belgium, professional soldiers are civil servants.

Is my military service taken into account for my pension?

You performed your military service or you were a conscientious objector (civic service)? If so, the military service (or the conscientious objection) is automatically added to your career as a civil servant.

You do not have a career as a civil servant? We can add these periods to the career as an employee if:

• these were not validated in another pension scheme (civil servant or self-employed worker);
  and if
• these were first followed by an activity as an employee, regardless of the amount of time that passed between the military service (or conscientious objection) and this activity.

The assimilated days as a conscript or conscientious objector are taken into account:

• to check whether or not you can retire early;
• for your pension amount.

We calculate these assimilated days on the basis of the fictitious or lump sum salary.

Civic service is only taken into account for your pension if you performed it in Belgium.

Your military service on mypension.be

On mypension.beOpens in a new window, you can check under the tab 'My career' whether the Pensions Service has already been informed of your military service:

• if so, we take your military service into account on mypension.be when calculating your pension amount and your earliest possible retirement date.
• if not, you can let us know using the button 'Complete my career'. Choose the option 'military service'. Defence will validate the details. Therefore, it may take some time for your military service:
  • to become visible in your career on mypension.be;
    and
  • to be taken into account for your pension amount and any early retirement.
    
    

Limitation in work due to reorganization of labour

If you switch from a full-time employment to a part-time employment within the framework of reorganization of labour, at most 624 days of the hours during which you did not work are taken into account for your pension.
These 624 days are spread over all calendar years during which you reduced the duration of your professional activities.

We calculate the pension amount for these assimilated days on the basis of the limited fictitious salary.

This period is taken into account to check if you can retire early.

Find out more about the reorganization of labourOpens in a new window on the NEO website.

Frequently asked questions

I have stopped working to raise my child. I do not receive an allowance from the National Employment Office. Am I entitled to a pension for this period?

• This period is not taken into account to calculate your pension amount.
• This period is taken into account to calculate your earliest possible retirement date, if you meet the conditions. This applies for a total of three years at most, and therefore does not apply per child.
  
  

I have stopped working for several years to raise my child. Am I entitled to a pension for this period?

• If you stopped working for five years at most, three years at most can be taken into account for the calculation of your earliest possible retirement date, if you meet the conditions.
• If you stopped working for more than five years, this period will not be taken into account for the calculation of the earliest possible retirement date.

Find out more about the conditions

I have more than one child and stopped working each time to raise them. Is every period taken into account for my pension?

No, three years at most can be taken into account across your entire career, not per child.

Why are the years during which I stopped working to raise my child not mentioned on mypension.be?

• The periods in which you stopped working to raise a child are only mentioned on mypension.be if you can retire early.
• We are currently adapting the careers. We start with the persons closest to their retirement date.
  
  

I have already retired, but I stopped working to raise my child during my career.

This rule only applies to people who have not yet retired and for whom we still have to calculate the earliest possible retirement date.