Request pension for miners

If you can no longer work in your previous mining job for health reasons, you will receive a miners' pension under certain conditions.

Special pension regulations apply to miners. Because of the stresses and health risks of the job, there is a "pension for miners.

The amount of your pension for miners depends on your entitlements from the miners' pension insurance. If you have acquired other entitlements under the general pension insurance scheme, for example through work outside the mining industry, these do not count.

You are allowed to earn a certain amount per year in addition to your miners' pension without having your pension reduced. How much you are allowed to earn in addition is calculated individually and can be found in your pension statement.

You will not receive a miners' pension if you have

• have already reached the standard retirement age, for example 67 for those born in 1964 or younger, or
• are engaged in employment or self-employment outside the mining industry that is essentially equivalent in economic and qualitative terms.

In addition to the pension for miners, there is also the so-called "old-age pension for miners employed underground for many years." You are entitled to this if you have completed the minimum insurance period of 25 years of continuous underground work and have reached the age limit that applies to you.

• Application for pension for miners
• Personal document (such as identity card, passport, birth certificate or family record book)

Forms available: Yes
Written form required: Yes
Informal application possible: No
Personal appearance required: No

Online services available: Yes

You can receive the pension for miners if you have

• have not yet reached the standard retirement age,
• you cannot continue to work in mining as your main occupation due to illness or disability, and
• you are unable to perform any other equivalent activity due to illness or disability. This refers to an occupation that is essentially economically equivalent and requires equivalent knowledge and skills.

In addition, prior to your diminished capacity to work in the mining industry, you must have been

• have made compulsory contributions to the miners' insurance scheme for at least 3 years during the last 5 years, and
• have fulfilled a waiting period (minimum insurance period) of 5 years in the miners' pension insurance.

You can also receive the miners' pension from the age of 50 if you

• you are not engaged in an occupation or self-employed activity that is economically equivalent to your work in mining, and
• have completed the waiting period (minimum insurance period) of 25 years.

Contribution periods due to employment with permanent underground work are credited to this waiting period.

You will also fulfill the waiting period if you have 25 years of contribution periods due to underground employment together with substitute periods in the mines.

• Appeal.

Detailed information can be found in the notification of your application.

• Action before the Social Court.

Detailed information can be found in the notice of appeal.

You can submit your application online, in person, or in writing.

Online application:

• On the website of the German Pension Insurance (DRV) under "Online Services" you will find detailed information on the process.
• If you follow the link "Submit application", you will be guided through the further steps and can select the desired application.
• Alternatively, you can use the online services with registration. For example, you can see right away which insurance periods have already been recorded. You also save time and do not have to re-enter data you already know.
• Complete the application in full and upload the required documents.
• Submit your application online.
• You will receive a confirmation of submission.
• The Knappschaft-Bahn-See pension insurance institution will check your application.
• You will receive a decision on your application.

Personal application:

• Compile the necessary documents for your application and make an appointment with the DRV.
• When making an appointment online, your personal information and, if possible, your insurance number will be required.
• You can select a desired counseling center and your preferred appointment time. Depending on the availability of free appointments, you will receive a proposal for a binding counseling appointment.
• During your personal consultation, your application will be recorded electronically and forwarded online to the relevant pension insurance institution.
• The Knappschaft-Bahn-See pension insurance institution will review your application.
• You will receive a decision on your application.

Written application:

• Go to the DRV's website.
• Download the application form you need.
• You can also pick up the form in person at the information and advice centers.
• Complete and sign the application form and attach the required documents.
• Send all documents
  • send it by mail to your Knappschaft-Bahn-See pension insurance institution or
  • hand it in at one of the local advice centers.
• The Knappschaft-Bahn-See pension insurance institution will review your application.
• You will receive a decision on your application.

A person you trust can also submit your pension application on your behalf. For this purpose, please submit a power of attorney to the pension insurance agency. As long as the power of attorney is valid, the pension insurance company will only contact the person you have authorized.

If you give your consent to electronic communication, all correspondence can be done online. Either use the electronic mailbox under online services with registration or De-Mail.

It is advisable to apply for a pension as soon as possible if you consider yourself to have a reduced capacity for work.

There are no costs involved.