SGK retirement requirements for 2019 vary depending on which insured days are used to qualify for retirement. The number of required working days changes by gender and employment start date, which in turn affects the retirement age. Accordingly, SGK retirement conditions depend on the institution from which a person will retire, the year they started working, and the contribution package used for retirement.
Retirement Conditions with 4,500 Contribution Days
Conditions for retirement with 4,500 days can be summarized as follows:
- If the insurance registration date is 08.09.1999 and employment continued until at least 30.04.2008, women who complete 4,500 contribution days may retire. However, reaching the 4,500 days alone also requires a minimum age of 58. In addition, at least 25 years of insured service is required. If these conditions are met, women can retire without further waiting for age beyond the stated requirement.
- If the insurance registration date is 08.09.1999 and employment continued until at least 30.04.2008, men who complete 4,500 contribution days may retire. However, this also requires a minimum age of 60. In addition, at least 25 years of insured service is required. If these conditions are met, men can retire without further waiting for age beyond the stated requirement.
4500-Day Retirement Conditions for Men
For men to retire with 4,500 contribution days, the following age requirements apply based on the employment start date:
- If employment began between April 2002 and May 2005, the person must be at least 56 years old.
- If employment began between May 2005 and May 2008, the person must be at least 57 years old.
- If employment began between May 2008 and May 2011, the person must be at least 58 years old.
- If employment began between May 2011 and May 2014, the person must be at least 59 years old.
- If employment began after May 2014, the person must be at least 60 years old.
4500-Day Retirement Conditions for Women
For women to retire with 4,500 days, the age thresholds by employment start date are:
- If employment began between April 2002 and May 2005, the person must be at least 52 years old.
- If employment began between May 2005 and May 2008, the person must be at least 54 years old.
- If employment began between May 2008 and May 2011, the person must be at least 56 years old.
- If employment began after May 2011, the person must be at least 58 years old.
3600-Day Retirement Conditions for Men
3600-day retirement conditions for men are entirely linked to the employment start date. The primary requirement for this right is that employment began before September 1999. Those who meet this employment start date must also have at least 15 years of insured service and have paid at least 3,600 contribution days. If the initial insurance registration date requirement is met, any missing contribution days may be covered through borrowing methods.
3600-Day Retirement Conditions for Women
For women, the 3,600-day retirement conditions are not determined solely by the employment start date. Women must meet the same general requirements of 15 years of insured service and 3,600 paid contribution days, but the applicable insurance periods are tied to specific start-date ranges and corresponding ages:
- If contributions begin between May 2002 and May 2005, women may retire at 52.
- If contributions begin between May 2005 and May 2008, women may retire at 54.
- If contributions begin between May 2008 and May 2011, women may retire at 56.
- If contributions begin after May 2011, women may retire at 58.
Partial Retirement Conditions (SGK)
Partial retirement conditions apply when the full 7,200 contribution days cannot be completed. Since 2018, the full SGK retirement requirement is generally completion of 7,200 days. Earlier regulations set lower thresholds, but under current law, most people are expected to have paid at least 7,200 days.
If the 7,200 days cannot be met, applicants seeking retirement must meet alternative thresholds. These intermediary limits have been set at 5,400 and 4,500 days. Partial retirement options, available regardless of gender, are tied to the employment start dates and specific conditions determined by those dates.
Partial Retirement Conditions by Employment Start Date
Partial retirement conditions according to employment start dates are as follows:
- Those whose first insurance registration was before September 1999 may retire after 15 years of insurance by paying only 3,600 days.
- Those whose first insurance registration was between September 1999 and April 2008 are subject to 25 years of insurance and the age 60 criterion.
- Those whose first insurance registration was September 2008 are subject to 5,400 days of contributions and the age 60 criterion.
- For retirement via 5,400 days of contributions, if insurance began between 2008 and 2035: women retire at 61 and men at 63.
- If insurance began between 2036 and 2037: women retire at 62 and men at 64.
- If insurance began between 2038 and 2039: women retire at 63 and men at 65.
- If insurance began between 2039 and 2040: women retire at 64 and men at 66.
- For insurance registrations after 2041, retirement via 5,400 days will generally require reaching age 65.
Documents Required for SGK Retirement Application
Documents requested for a retirement application include:
- A retirement certificate obtained from the Social Security Institution website, printed with a photo and official stamp.
- A signed petition indicating the preferred bank for the pension (the petition can be prepared using available samples).
- Documentation related to military service or proof of military deferment or borrowing if applicable.
- Diploma or documentation related to the period when civil service or employment began (this indicates which diploma justified the start of insured employment; contact the graduated school if needed).
- Insurance-related documents obtainable through the e-Government system.
If the SGK retirement requirements are met and the necessary documents are provided, an applicant will be eligible to retire.