
Gaps in your pension insurance history can reduce your future entitlements. In some cases you can close these with a request.
The optimal pension insurance account looks like this: You work continuously from the first day of your training until you retire and pay into the pension fund without interruption. But only very few are likely to achieve this ideal.
Illnesses, for example, can lead to gaps in your pension insurance policy. But how can it be that anyone who receives sick pay is also covered by pension insurance while they are unable to work? That’s usually true German pension insurance but points out possible exceptional cases:
- No sick pay: Employees who are not entitled to sick pay do not receive any contributions during long-term illness.
- Private health insurance: Contributions are not paid automatically.
The solution can be a Application for compulsory insurance be with the German pension insurance. This allows illness-related gaps in the insurance history to be closed.
This can be worthwhile for people who are unable to work and who need the compulsory contribution periods in order to maintain the eligibility requirements for a pension due to reduced earning capacity or to fulfill a waiting period.
Close pension gaps quickly

The data from your insurance history is crucial for the amount of your pension. It also applies that you Pension gaps should be avoided. To avoid pension gaps due to periods of illness, proceed as follows:
- Check: Determine whether your sick leave is preventing uninterrupted contributions.
- Make an application: Contact the German pension insurance and submit the application for compulsory insurance.
- Count: Pay the contributions for the corresponding months to ensure waiting times.
The due contributions will be included to 80 percent of the last insured salary will be charged and payment will be made for the periods during which the interruption existed. Important: The inability to work must be proven by appropriate certificates.