Get your pension money back

Pension refund is usually relevant for people who paid into the German pension system, may not fit the standard pension path and want to check whether reclaiming contributions makes more sense than waiting for regular retirement benefits.

In many refund cases, the 24-month gap after your last mandatory contribution is part of the timing logic. The exact fit still depends on your insurance history and whether another pension route is more relevant, so it should be checked in context first.

Five years or 60 months do not automatically answer the refund question on their own. They are part of the eligibility logic together with nationality, current residence and the broader pension situation, so the case should be checked before you rule refund in or out.

Most cases start with identity details, contribution history and the current address or exit context. The first review should clarify those essentials first and request the remaining documents only when they are really needed.

The timeline depends on contribution history, document readiness and authority handling. The first step should clarify whether a refund is realistic before anyone gives you a fixed timeframe.

Pension Refund follows a no-win-no-fee model. You only pay when the refund is successfully paid out. The standard success fee is 9.9%, with a minimum of EUR 899 and a maximum of EUR 2,899. Right now, Fundsback offers a limited discount of 5 – 14% on these fees, bringing the effective rate to 9.405% (minimum EUR 849, maximum EUR 2,499). The cost of an external lawyer is included. There are no upfront payments or hidden charges.

You may be able to try the refund process yourself, but many people use support to reduce document mistakes, German-language friction and authority back-and-forth from abroad. The value is usually a clearer process, external legal support where needed and less bureaucracy, not a promise that every case becomes easy.

Yes, in many cases. If you are a non-EU citizen who has worked in Germany and paid into the pension system, you may be able to claim your contributions back after leaving. The key factors are your nationality, your current country of residence, and whether you have completed fewer than 60 contribution months. A 24-month waiting period after your last mandatory contribution usually applies. Fundsback checks your eligibility for free.

The refund amount depends on how long you worked in Germany and how much you earned. Only the employee share of contributions (roughly half of what was paid in) is refundable. On average, Fundsback clients receive EUR 12,926 back. The free Pension Check and our refund calculator can give you a first estimate based on your specific situation.

Your current country of residence is one of the key factors for refund eligibility, not where you lived while working in Germany. If you now live outside the EU in a non-treaty country, your chances for a refund are usually strongest. If you moved to a treaty country or back to the EU, the situation is more nuanced and depends on bilateral agreements. Fundsback checks the exact fit for your current residence.

The main requirements are: you must have paid into the German pension system, you must currently live outside the EU (or in a country without a bilateral pension agreement), at least 24 months must have passed since your last mandatory contribution, and you must have fewer than 60 contribution months (otherwise a regular pension claim may be more relevant). Your nationality also plays a role — EU citizens are generally excluded from refunds. Fundsback checks all of these factors in the free Pension Check.