Examples

Case example

Benoît was born in 1960 and has worked since he was 23. He retires on 01.03.2026. At that moment, he has a career of 43 years.

For the calculation, we carry out the steps below for every career year. We subsequently add up the pension share for every year in order to obtain the gross yearly amount of the pension Benoît is entitled to.

To simplify our example, we make the assumption that Benoît received the same revalued wages for every career year (as many worked as assimilated days for every year).

This example uses the index figure 183,17 on 01.03.2026 for the calculation and the amounts.

Step 1. Amount of the real wages, fictitious salaries and lump sums

Benoît received 10 000 EUR as real wages for the worked days and 10 000 EUR as fictitious salary for the assimilated days, which makes 20 000 EUR in total.

Step 2. Comparison of the total wages on an annual basis with the wage limit

We compare the total wages with the wage limit (for example for the year 2010): 20 000 EUR < 47 960,29 EUR. Because the total wages do not exceed the wage limit, they are taken into account in full.

Step 3. Revaluation of the total wages on an annual basis

The total wages are adapted to the cost of living by applying a specific revaluation coefficient to every year.

For the year 2010, for example, the amount of the revalued total wages comes to 20 000 EUR x 1,427825 (coefficient 2010) = 28 556,50 EUR.

Step 4. Division of every career year by 45

28 556,50 EUR / 45 = 634,58 EUR, which corresponds to the pension share for the year 2010.

Step 5. Multiplication by 60 %

634,58 EUR x 60 % = 380,75 EUR.

Benoît's yearly gross pension amount

15 991,50 EUR (42 years with the same pension share x 380,75 EUR) + 95,19 EUR (because the year 2026 is incomplete (3 months), the pension share is calculated proportionately as follows: 3 / 12 x 380,75 EUR) = 16 086,69 EUR.

Example with corrections

Low wages in a career year - increase until the guaranteed minimum annual wage is reached, which leads to a minimum entitlement per career year

If the revalued total wages per year fall below the amount of the minimum entitlement per career year, we substitute the revalued total wages of that year by the guaranteed minimum annual wage in the calculation.

The guaranteed minimum annual wage amounts to 33 418,99 EUR for a complete year of full employment or assimilation.

If we apply the minimum entitlement per career year, the annual pension amount for a full career is limited to 23 357,91 EUR for a full career of 45 years.

Please note:

• if the person concerned has a full career, the substitution of one or more revalued total wages by the guaranteed minimum annual wage may not result in the total pension amount exceeding 23 357,91 EUR.
• if the total pension exceeds this limit, it will be restricted to 23 357,91 EUR.
• in the case of an incomplete career, we reduce the limit proportionally.

Because in our example the revalued total wages per year fall below the guaranteed minimum annual wage (28 556,50 EUR < 33 418,99 EUR), we will substitute Benoît's wages by the guaranteed minimum annual wage for every year.

Step 1 = amount of the guaranteed minimum annual wage

33 418,99 EUR

Step 2 = divide this wage by 45 for every career year

33 418,99 EUR / 45 = 742,64 EUR

Step 3 = multiplication by 60 %

742,64 EUR x 60 % = 445,58 EUR.

The amount of 445,58 EUR is sometimes called the 'minimum entitlement per career year'. It stems directly from the guaranteed minimum annual wage. The pension entitlement cannot fall below this amount for a full calendar year of full-time employment or assimilation.

Benoît's yearly gross pension amount on the basis of the guaranteed minimum wage per career year

18 714,36 EUR (42 years with the same pension share x 445,58 EUR) + 111,39 EUR (because the year 2026 is incomplete as it consists of 3 months, we calculate the pension share proportionately: 3/12 x 445,58 EUR) = 18 825,75 EUR.

We do not have to limit this amount, because it falls below 22 319,78 EUR (= 23 357,91 EUR x 43/45).

Influence household rate - conversion into household rate?

Benoît's spouse has no personal income (no personal pension, no professional income and no replacement income).

Benoît's pension is therefore awarded at the household rate. We multiply the calculated pension amount by 1,25 to reach the household rate, which results in 18 825,75 EUR x 1,25 = 23 532,19 EUR.

Low total pension amount - guaranteed minimum pension?

We investigate whether we can raise Benoît's pension until it reaches the amount of the guaranteed minimum pension, namely 27 665,22 EUR for a full career at the household rate.

He meets the eligibility condition for the guaranteed minimum pension because his career counts 42 years of at least 52 full-time days (42 years of 312 full-time days and the last career year of 52 full-time days).

The amount of the guaranteed minimum pension that is of application to Benoît, in proportion to his career, amounts to 26 435,65 EUR. This amount is the result of multiplying the minimum household rate for a full career by the career fraction 43 / 45 (27 665,22 EUR x 43/45).

Benoît's pension amount on the basis of the guaranteed minimum pension amounts to 26 435,65 EUR and therefore exceeds the pension amount that was calculated on the basis of the minimum entitlement per career year, which amounts to 23 532,19 EUR. We therefore grant the guaranteed minimum pension.