There is no definitive decision yet for those who are short on contribution days for retirement. However, under Article 66 of the Social Insurance Procedures Regulation, it is possible for eligible individuals to purchase (borrow) missing premium days to complete the required number of contribution days. To be able to buy back missing days, persons must have been previously insured and must have already reached the retirement age. It is estimated that roughly 100,000 people could benefit from service-based buybacks to make up missing contribution days. For those who are blocked by the retirement age rule, the outlook is less promising than for those blocked by missing premiums.
What Opportunity Is Offered to Those Blocked by Missing Premium Days?
Individuals who have reached the required retirement age but have not yet completed the necessary contribution days are offered the opportunity to obtain retirement rights by buying back their missing days. This option was introduced to help people who became disadvantaged when the retirement age requirement changed. It applies only to those who meet all retirement conditions except the contribution-day requirement. Women who have reached age 63 or 65 and men who have reached age 65 can retire by purchasing their missing premium days.
Who Is Affected by the Announcement About Those Blocked by Missing Premium Days?
This concerns more than 100,000 people who cannot qualify for retirement because they lack the required number of contribution days. Whether a parliamentary motion will be proposed for those blocked by missing premium days is still being debated. Because the number of affected people is large, complaints and appeals have led to draft proposals under certain conditions. According to the drafts, men would be required to have reached age 65 without exception. For women, one draft sets the age at 63 while another proposes 65. The Ministry of Finance has expressed reservations about the potential fiscal impact, noting that allowing buybacks will increase the financial burden on the system.
What Is the Situation for Those Blocked by the Retirement Age?
It is estimated that around 412,000 people are affected by being blocked by the retirement age, a substantially larger group. Considering the anticipated future fiscal burden, no near-term regulatory change for those blocked by age is expected. While there is some hope for those blocked by missing premium days, there is little optimism for those blocked solely by reaching the retirement age.
Which Periods Can Be Bought Back by Those Short on Premium Days?
The periods that can be retrospectively purchased by people short on premium days are listed in the Social Insurance Procedures Regulation and include the following:
- Births that occurred after becoming insured and unpaid maternity or child-care leave can be bought back. This repayment opportunity is allowed up to two times and up to two years in total per instance.
- Civil servants can buy back unpaid leave periods under personnel legislation.
- Law graduates can purchase uninsured periods spent in mandatory legal internships to increase their contribution days.
- Time spent as a private or non-commissioned soldier or at a reserve officer school can be bought back.
- Periods spent on strike or lockout are eligible for buyback.
- If a person was detained while insured and later acquitted, the time spent in detention or custody can be purchased.
- Periods spent uninsured while pursuing a doctorate or medical specialization can be bought back to increase contribution days.
- Periods served as honorary assistants by physicians are legally eligible for buyback.
- Missing workdays within the month after February 2011 can be repurchased.
- Those working as specialist or master instructors in schools and education institutions affiliated with the Ministry of National Education can buy back their service time.
- Individuals sent abroad by the state for education who were over 18 can purchase those periods.
- Periods spent out of office under election laws may be eligible for buyback.
- Those blocked by missing premium days may also purchase periods of work performed abroad after they turned 18.