On 21 August 2015 the Act of 10 August 2015 pertaining to the increase of the legal retirement pension age, the conditions for early retirement
and the minimum age for the survivor’s pension has been published in the Belgian Official Gazette.
The measures that were approved relate to the pension arrangements for employees, self-employed and the public sector.
The legal pension age, which is currently 65 years of age, will in two steps be increased to 67 years of age: as of 1 January 2025 it will be brought to 66 years of age, to be increased to 67 years of age as of 1 January 2030.
Furthermore, the Act contains a few modifications of the rules pertaining to early retirement. The gradual increase of the age condition with 6 months per year, which was introduced as of 1 January 2013, will be continued in 2017 and 2018, in such a way that as of 2018 early retirement will only be possible as of the age of 63. The career condition, which currently amounts to 40 years, will become 41 years as of 2017 and 42 years as of 2019. For long careers an exception will be made, even after 2016. A person with a career of at least 43 years in 2017 and 2018 will still be able to benefit from early retirement as of the age of 60, while a person with a career of at least 42 years will be able to benefit from early retirement as of 61 years of age. As of 2019 a career of 44 years will be required in order to benefit from early retirement as of the age 60 and a career of 43 years will be required in order to benefit from early retirement as of the age of 61.
For pensions that take effect during the month of January, the age and career conditions of the previous year will be applied.
As was the case in previous reforms, once a person fulfils the age and career requirements, his entitlement to early retirement is maintained. Moreover, a transitional measure will be provided for persons who have reached or will reach a certain age in 2016. This measure limits their number of additional years required in order to benefit from early retirement.
Finally, the Act continues the reform of the survivor’s pension. During a previous reform it was already decided that the age on which the surviving spouse was entitled to survivor’s pension would be increased with 6 months each year during the period as of 2016 until and including 2025, in order to bring it from 45 years in 2015 to 50 years in 2025. During the period as of 2026 until and including 2030, the required age will be further increased with 1 year, in order to bring it to 55 years in 2030. The Act also modifies and completes some other provisions regarding the survivor’s pension and the transition measures.
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