Documents in pension matters

  • Pension insurance number and name of the pension insurance provider
  • Valid identity card, passport, civil status documents
  • Power of attorney in the case of representation (or carer's ID) and own identity card
  • SEPA bank details (IBAN, BIC)
  • Available pension information, pension information, account clarification notices with insurance history
  • Available pension information, pension information, insurance histories from the pension provider
  • Tax identification number
  • all insurance documents (social insurance cards of the former GDR (SVA), work books, contribution cards for voluntary contributions, etc.)
  • Apprenticeship and training contract, skilled labour certificate
  • Proof of school, technical college or university education (certificates, study certificates, etc.) if after the age of 17
  • Pension certificates for previous pension payments
  • Birth certificates of children or family register (in the event of death: also their death certificate)
  • Excess earnings certificates from previous employers on actual earnings (over 600 M per month/7,200 M per year) before the introduction of the voluntary supplementary pension insurance (FZR) on 1 March 1971
  • Severely disabled person's pass
  • NVA military service card
  • Information on gaps in insurance cover (periods during which you did not actually work and which cannot be verified), if necessary, nomination of witnesses or provision of other evidence
  • Documents relating to supplementary pension (contribution record card, certificates or confirmation of membership and certificate of remuneration for the supplementary pension period)
  • also for displaced persons, (late) repatriates:
    Proof of displacement (ID card or certificate), naturalisation certificates, all documents relating to periods of work in the country of origin (work books, etc.), rehabilitation certificates, proof of internment/forced labour/imprisonment/trust army, civil status certificates, admission/registration certificate, registration certificate, proof of previous pension receipt, proof of qualifications or schooling in the country of origin
  • also for periods of employment or residence abroad:
    Documents or corresponding information

Please note:

For individual pension applications, such as survivors' applications and applications for a reduced earning capacity pension, additional documents are also required.
Comprehensive information on this will be provided when you make an appointment or can be found in the special information sheets for applicants.

The documents should preferably be brought along as originals or certified copies.

If originals and copies are presented, they can be certified free of charge at the insurance office for social insurance purposes.

When copying the social insurance cards, please note that in addition to the pages with the name and earnings, the pages with the noted medical treatments or entries regarding voluntary supplementary insurance (FZR) must also be copied.