Back, diabetes or rheumatism: With these chronic diseases, you can retire earlier

Those who are chronically ill can retire earlier without financial disadvantages. Here's what you need to know.

Berlin – In Germany, almost eight million people are considered severely disabled and thus have a severely disabled person's pass. Contrary to the widespread prejudice about disabled people, most of them are fully employable and integrated into the labor market: in 2021, this affected 57 percent, according to the Federal Statistical Office. What many people don't know is that a variety of chronic diseases such as diabetes, asthma and rheumatism can be recognized as a disability. The relief you get from this could make life easier for many people.

Get severely disabled person's passes and retire earlier

According to the social association VdK, more than a third of all people in Germany have a chronic disease. When exactly a disease is considered "chronic" is controversial in medicine. However, the definition of the Federal Joint Committee of Health Insurance Funds and Doctors has agreed on this definition: Anyone who is dependent on medical treatment for the same disease at least once a quarter is considered chronically ill. Anyone who has a chronic illness can apply for a severely disabled person's pass and thus also benefit from relief and support. The following diseases, among others, can be recognized as chronic diseases:

Severely disabled and chronically ill people can retire earlier. (Symbolic image) © Eibner/Imago

• Diabetes
• Rheumatism
• Asthma
• Cardiovascular disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Back pain
• Cancers
• Consequences of a stroke
• Migraine
• Depression and anxiety disorders

The decisive factor for an application for severe disability is first of all the degree of disability (GdB), which is determined by a doctor upon application. From a GdB of 50, you are considered severely disabled and can therefore get a severely disabled person's pass. The lowest GdB is 20, the highest 100. According to the VdK, a severe migraine, which occurs every few days and thus has a significant impact on everyday life, can be quantified with a GdB of 50. The severely disabled person's pass is then applied for at the pension office after the GdB has been determined.

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Retirement at 63: Severely disabled people retire earlier

If you have a severely disabled person's pass, you can receive various benefits and compensation for disadvantages. In addition to tax breaks and special leave, severely disabled people can also retire two years earlier after 35 years of insurance – without financial deductions. Those who accept less pension may retire even earlier. For those born in 1954, this means a pension at the age of 63 without a reduction in the pension and at the age of 60, who accepts a reduction of 10.8 percent. The following table summarizes which year of birth is associated with which early retirement:

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Those who can no longer work receive the disability pension

Anyone who is no longer able to work in whole or in part due to a long-term illness can receive the disability pension. The hurdles for this are very high, as the disability pension replaces income. It is also a prerequisite that you have not yet reached retirement age. Before a disability pension is approved, those affected must have undergone various rehabilitation measures.

Meanwhile, many people dream of retiring earlier. We explain what discounts can be expected.