The application principle

Statutory pension schemes operate on the basis of the application principle (known in German as the Antragsprinzip). This means that the procedure for determining your entitlement to benefit can only be carried out following an application.

You must apply to claim your pension.There will be an application form for this purpose. However, a written request to claim your pension will be treated as an application, even if no application form is used. You should apply to claim your pension two to three months before you want to begin drawing it, and in any event not later than the end of the last full calendar month before you intend to start drawing your pension.

Legal basis

Section 361 of the Allgemeines Sozialversicherungsgesetz (ASVG) (apllies to all insurers)