Applying for an old-age pension as of 65 years of age
Last update
Depending on your insurance periods and your age, you can apply for:
- old-age pension, from the age of 65; or
- early old-age pension from the age of 57 or 60.
Old-age pension is calculated based on the recognised years of pension insurance contributions, and the contributions paid into the pension insurance fund.
These 2 items of data, together, form the individual's insurance history.
Who is concerned
You are covered by the general pension insurance scheme if you:
- engage in a professional activity in Luxembourg, be it as an employee or on a self-employed basis; or
- receive some form of replacement income: sickness benefits, maternity benefits, compensation for an occupational accident or unemployment benefits.
Public sector agents (employed by the State, the communes, the Luxembourg rail operator CFL) are subject to a special pension scheme, with its own specific terms and conditions.
Old-age pension is payable from the age of 65 onwards.
Prerequisites
Entitlement to old-age pension is subject to:
- an age requirement of 65; and
- a condition of recognised years of insurance: the insurance period.
The insurance period comprises the following periods which, in each case, must amount to at least 10 years:
- periods of compulsory, continued or optional insurance; and/or
- insurance periods purchased retroactively.
These periods may be supplemented by additional periods.
Further details on insurance periods can be found on the website of the CNAP – Carrière d’assurance et périodes au Luxembourg (insurance history and periods in Luxembourg).
Deadlines
The award of a pension is not automatic, even if you meet all the conditions. It is compulsory to apply for a pension.
If you have:
- only ever worked in Luxembourg: you can submit your application between 2 and 6 months before the start date of your pension;
- been part of multiple pension schemes in Luxembourg over the course of your career: you can submit your application 6 months before the start date of your pension;
- worked both in Luxembourg and in one or more foreign countries: it is advisable to submit your application at least 6 months before the planned pension start date.
How to proceed
Filing the application in the country of residence
Residence in Luxembourg
If you live in Luxembourg, you must send your application to the National Pension Insurance Fund (Caisse nationale d'assurance pension - CNAP) together with all the required documents (certificate or diploma of study, foreign career record, etc.).
If you were affiliated to the general scheme (private sector - CNAP) and to the special scheme (state/communal sector) in Luxembourg during your professional career, you must submit your claim to the body of the scheme to which you were last affiliated.
If you have worked both in Luxembourg and in one or more foreign countries, the CNAP will submit the pension applications to the competent pension bodies abroad.
Residence abroad
If you do not reside in Luxembourg, you must submit your application to the competent body in your country of residence. The foreign pension fund must then apply to the CNAP on the insured's behalf so that the insured can exercise their Luxembourg pension rights. The vast majority of Luxembourg's cross-border workers are in this situation.
Exception: if you do not reside in Luxembourg but have worked exclusively in Luxembourg, you can submit your application in Luxembourg.
Application processing time
The time taken to process a pension application will depend on the availability and the soundness of the required data. It may range from:
- a few weeks; to
- several months, if information needs to be obtained from abroad.
When the review is completed, the pension is either approved or rejected in a decision which may be appealed.
Pension start date
Your old-age pension starts on your 65th birthday or from the day on which you meet the requirements regarding age and insurance periods.
Amount of pension
Composition
The old-age pension comprises:
- a component relating to the length of contribution, i.e. flat-rate allowances; and
- a component relating to the contributions paid, i.e. proportional allowances.
The calculation also includes adjustments for:
- the cost of living; and
- wage developments on the labour market.
'Length of contribution' component: flat-rate allowances
Flat-rate allowances are awarded based on the length of contribution.
In order to calculate this period, up to a maximum of 40 years are taken into account:
- periods of compulsory, continued or optional insurance; and/or
- insurance periods purchased retroactively; and
- additional periods.
'Contributions paid' component: proportional allowances
Proportional allowances are awarded based on the contributions paid over the insured's insurance history.
The calculation formulae and examples can be found on the CNAP website: Calcul du montant de la pension (calculation of the pension amount).
Employment/self-employment
As a recipient of an old-age pension, you may engage in gainful employment without your pension being reduced or withdrawn.
Minimum and maximum amounts
Under no circumstances may an old-age pension be less than 90 % of the reference amount if the insured has completed 40 years of insurance contributions. This sum is decreased by one 40th per missing year between the 20th and 39th year.
Note: the annual value of the reference amount is set at EUR 2,085, with an index number of 100 in 1984.
To be entitled to the minimum pension, you must have at least 20 years of insurance periods, including 10 years of compulsory insurance, continued insurance, voluntary insurance or retroactively purchased periods.
The maximum amount is 5/6ths of the quintuple of the reference amount.
Payment of pension
Pension payments:
- are made monthly and in advance; and
- cease being paid at the end of the month in which you die.
The payment schedule for pensions can be viewed on the CNAP website.
Online services and forms
Who to contact
-
National Pension Insurance Fund
- Address:
-
1A, boulevard Prince Henri
L-1724
Luxembourg
Luxembourg
L-2096 Luxembourg
- Phone:
- (+352) 22 41 41-1
- Phone:
-
(+352)224141-6500
Hotline
- Website:
- http://www.cnap.lu
Open Closes at 12.00
- Thursday:
- 8.00 to 12.00 , 13.00 to 16.00
- Friday:
- 8.00 to 12.00 , 13.00 to 16.00
- Saturday:
- Closed
- Sunday:
- Closed
- Monday:
- 8.00 to 12.00 , 13.00 to 16.00
- Tuesday:
- 8.00 to 12.00 , 13.00 to 16.00
- Wednesday:
- 8.00 to 12.00 , 13.00 to 16.00
Public counters are open by appointment only.
Telephone reception from 8.00 to 12.00 and from 13.00 to 16.00
Contact form: http://www.cnap.lu/accueil-mail/
-
National Pension Insurance Fund - Reception desk for insured persons
- Address:
- 34-40, avenue de la Porte-Neuve 2227 Luxembourg Luxembourg
Open Closes at 15.30
- Thursday:
- 8.00 to 15.30
- Friday:
- 8.00 to 15.30
- Saturday:
- Closed
- Sunday:
- Closed
- Monday:
- 8.00 to 15.30
- Tuesday:
- 8.00 to 15.30
- Wednesday:
- 8.00 to 15.30
Related procedures and links
Procedures
Links
Further information
-
Fin de carrière
sur le site de la Fonction publique
-
Old-age pensions
on the Your Europe portal
-
Brochure "Pension de vieillesse au Luxembourg"
sur le site de la Caisse nationale d’assurance pension (CNAP)
Legal references
- Code de la sécurité sociale
-
Loi du 21 décembre 2012
portant réforme de l'assurance pension
-
Règlement grand-ducal modifié du 5 mai 1999
concernant l'assurance continuée, l'assurance complémentaire, l'assurance facultative, l'achat rétroactif de périodes d'assurances et la restitution de cotisations remboursées dans le régime général d'assurance pension
