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Gaps in your pension account? Why account clarification is worthwhile

Your later pension depends on all periods being recorded correctly in the pension account. Often years are missing: education, child-raising, unemployment, mini-jobs. With 'account clarification' you bring your insurance record up to date.

Reach your next steps and the matching ready-made texts in just a few minutes, free of charge:

Initiate the account clarification →

Your chances of getting your money back

In the account clarification, the German pension insurance checks your insurance record and adds missing, proven periods. This can noticeably affect the pension amount later; child-raising and education periods in particular are easily overlooked.
The earlier you clarify, the better: old proof (certificates, confirmations) is harder to obtain after decades. You can apply for the account clarification at any time.

What you should do now

  1. 1

    1. Request the insurance record

    Request your current insurance record from the German pension insurance (or in the online account).

  2. 2

    2. Find the gaps

    Compare it with your CV: are education, studies, child-raising, unemployment or employment periods missing?

  3. 3

    3. Submit proof

    Provide proof of the missing periods (certificates, birth certificates, notices) and submit them for account clarification.

  4. 4

    4. Use advice services

    The information and advice centers of the pension insurance help free of charge.

Frequently asked questions

What is the point of an account clarification?

It ensures that all pension-relevant periods are recorded correctly. Missing but proven periods (e.g. education, child-raising, unemployment) are added; that can increase your later pension. Otherwise errors in the insurance record often go unnoticed until the start of the pension.

When should I have my pension account clarified?

Best done early and not just shortly before the pension, because old proof is hard to obtain after many years. You can apply for the account clarification at any time. The advice centers of the German pension insurance support you with this free of charge.

Take action now

We put together the ready-made texts and the right places to contact for you.

Initiate the account clarificationCheck a suspicious message
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General information for self-help, not legal advice (RDG). In case of a high loss or uncertainty: contact a consumer advice center or a lawyer.