Annual pension letter (Renteninformation)

Level 2 · Foundations⚙ MethodDE · 2026 figures

German termRenteninformation

Read firstPension points · Replacement rate

Deep divesState Pension (Gesetzliche Rente)

The Renteninformation is Deutsche Rentenversicherung's annual snapshot of a person's statutory pension record and projections. It shows gross amounts for pension rights already earned, projected old-age pension if recent contributions continue, and potential full Erwerbsminderungsrente. It is a scenario document, not a guaranteed net retirement budget [1][2].

Who receives it

DRV automatically sends a Renteninformation annually from age 27 once at least five contribution years are recorded. From age 55, a more detailed Rentenauskunft normally replaces it every three years [1].

The first information package includes a Versicherungsverlauf (insurance record). Child-raising, education, foreign coordination, and other periods may require clarification rather than appearing automatically.

Read three numbers

Figure	What it means	Common error
Acquired old-age pension	Gross monthly amount if no more points are earned	Reading it as today's net spending money
Projected old-age pension	Gross estimate if recent contributions broadly continue to retirement age	Treating continued earnings as guaranteed
Full reduced-earning-capacity pension	Gross amount under the statutory disability rules	Confusing it with occupation-specific BU cover

The letter can also show projections using assumed annual pension adjustments. Those are scenarios, not promised investment returns.

Worked reading example

Suppose the letter shows €620 acquired pension and €1,650 projected pension. The difference of €1,030 depends on future contributions and assumptions. It is not money already earned.

A planning workflow is:

1. verify the insurance record;
2. separate acquired from projected rights;
3. mark all figures as gross;
4. convert to a consistent price date;
5. estimate health, care, and tax deductions;
6. combine with other pillars before calculating the gap.

Check yourself

Who normally receives an annual Renteninformation automatically?

Anyone aged 18 or olderInsured people from age 27 with at least five contribution yearsOnly people already retired

What is the acquired-pension figure?

The amount earned so far if no more points are addedA guarantee of future net spending moneyThe account's cash surrender value

How are the letter's pension amounts stated?

As gross amountsAs guaranteed net amountsAs inflation-adjusted household spending

Which actions belong in a sound reading workflow? Select all that apply.

Check the Versicherungsverlauf for gapsSeparate acquired from projected pensionCombine comparable net estimates across pillarsTreat assumed pension increases as guaranteed

Sources

1. Deutsche Rentenversicherung — Meine Post von der Rente, https://www.deutsche-rentenversicherung.de/DRV/DE/Rente/Allgemeine-Informationen/Meine-Post-von-der-Rente/meine-post-von-der-rente_node.html (accessed 2026)
2. Deutsche Rentenversicherung — Renteninformation helps cross-pillar planning, https://www.deutsche-rentenversicherung.de/DRV/DE/Ueber-uns-und-Presse/Presse/Meldungen/2025/250224-renteninformation-hilft-bei-altersvorsorge.html (2025)