FAQ hub
Get clear answers to the main pension questions without ending up in the wrong path.
The FAQ hub answers the questions people usually Google first: refund eligibility, documents, timing, fees and when a different pension path fits better.
Popular questions
Answers people look up first
The questions most people ask before they choose a pension path — refund eligibility, timing, and when another route fits better.
Who can claim a pension refund?
You can claim a German pension refund once you're no longer compulsorily insured in Germany, have no right to insure voluntarily, and 24 months have passed since your last compulsory contribution (§ 210 SGB VI). That usually applies if you hold no EU, EEA or Swiss passport and live outside those countries. With a passport from a treaty state such as the US, Canada, India or Turkey, a refund usually only works with fewer than 60 contribution months; UK citizens who started working in Germany from 2021 count as a treaty case, while those who started earlier are treated like EU citizens. German, EU, EEA and Swiss citizens, and anyone living in Germany, usually only get their contributions back at the standard retirement age, and only with fewer than five years paid in. A second German, EU, EEA, Swiss or UK passport blocks the refund in the same way, which is why your own case needs a check before you apply.
Read answerDo I have to wait 24 months for a pension refund?
In almost every case, yes. The Deutsche Rentenversicherung only refunds contributions once 24 full calendar months have passed since your last compulsory pension contribution (§ 210(2) SGB VI), and you cannot shorten that period. It starts with your last insured month in Germany, such as your last payslip or your last month on unemployment benefit (ALG I); leaving the country or deregistering doesn't move the start. If you become compulsorily insured in Germany again during that time, the clock starts over. Have Fundsback check your case when you leave anyway. You'll know your earliest date, everything is ready, and the claim goes out as soon as the wait is over.
Read answerWhen is Pension Assist more relevant than Pension Refund?
Pension Assist becomes more relevant when a regular pension route, contribution history review or a broader application question matters more than a refund-first evaluation. It is the better path when the case needs careful pension application guidance instead of an exit-style route.
Read answerWhen should I handle deregistration?
If your German address still needs to be deregistered, that step is usually handled first through the partner path. Once that is clear, the case can continue into the Fundsback refund flow when relevant.
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Browse the FAQ by topic
Each topic groups the related questions in one place, so you can stay on one track before you move into a service.
Who qualifies for a German pension refund?
See the key eligibility questions around German pension refunds, including timing and 5-year or 60-month rule context.
Open topicWhich documents matter first?
See which documents and preparation steps matter first for German pension refund and widow pension support cases.
Open topicHow do Fundsback fees work?
Understand pricing transparency, fee framing and support expectations for Pension Refund and related Fundsback pension services.
Open topicWhen should I handle deregistration before leaving Germany?
Understand how deregistration timing connects to leaving Germany and the next pension-related step with Fundsback.
Open topicWhen is widow pension support the right path?
Find answers about widow pension fit, preparation and support paths before moving into a guided survivor pension case with Fundsback.
Open topicHow do country and residence questions change the answer?
Understand how residence, country context and voluntary contribution questions can affect your German pension path.
Open topicFree to start
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