Do you live in a neighbouring country and work in Belgium? The Belgian pension reform affects you too. Early retirement, malus, bonus, guaranteed minimum pension: several measures are already in force, and others will apply from 2027. Here is what changes, measure by measure.
Key points
- The statutory retirement age does not change in 2026: 65 to 67 depending on your date of birth.
- From 2027, only years with at least 156 days of work or equivalent periods will count towards early retirement.
- New from 2027: early retirement for long careers from age 60 with 42 years of 234 days.
- A malus may reduce early retirement pensions from 2027; a new pension bonus has existed since 1 January 2026.
- Specific measures apply to employees (periods of unemployment and end-of-career schemes) and to civil servants (end of the pension for physical unfitness).
Statutory retirement age: no change in 2026
The statutory retirement age in Belgium depends on your date of birth:
| Date of birth | Statutory retirement age |
|---|---|
| Before 01/01/1960 | 65 |
| 01/01/1960 to 31/12/1963 | 66 |
| From 01/01/1964 | 67 |
Early retirement: stricter rules from 2027
The age and career length required for early retirement remain the same:
| Age | Total career required |
|---|---|
| 60 | 44 years |
| 61 or 62 | 43 years |
| 63, 64 or 65 | 42 years |
What changes is the number of days required per year for that year to count towards your career:
- from 1 January 2027, only years with at least 156 days of work or equivalent periods will be taken into account;
- a few days short of the threshold? 5 reserve days can be added.
Please note: if you already meet the conditions for early retirement before 2027 and decide to postpone it, the 156-day rule does not apply retroactively.
New: early retirement for long careers (from 2027)
The reform creates a new early retirement option from age 60, provided you can show 42 years of career, each with 234 days of work.
Days actually worked count, but so do temporary unemployment, maternity leave, birth leave, etc.
The pension malus (from 2027)
Your early retirement pension may be reduced by a certain percentage of its gross amount if you do not meet both of the following conditions:
- a career of 35 years, each with at least 156 days of work;
- and at least 7,020 days of work over your entire career.
The new pension bonus (since 1 January 2026)
The pension bonus rewards those who postpone their pension and keep working. Since 1 January 2026, the old bonus can no longer be built up. However, you can build up the new pension bonus from that date if your pension starts in 2027 or later.
The new conditions are as follows:
- a career of 35 years, each with at least 156 days of work;
- at least 7,020 days of work over your entire career (including care leave, maternity leave, paternity leave, military service and temporary unemployment);
- not yet receiving any pension.
Guaranteed minimum pension: changes to the periods taken into account
To receive the guaranteed minimum pension, you must meet the basic career condition as well as an additional work condition:
- if you were born after 1970, you must show at least 5,000 days of work or equivalent periods;
- if you were born before 1970, transitional measures apply.
New with the reform: periods of absence for medical reasons are now counted in full and treated as days of work.
Measures specific to employees
1. Notional salary capped at the minimum salary ceiling (in force)
For periods of unemployment and end-of-career schemes, the notional salary taken into account is capped at the minimum salary ceiling. This measure does not apply to temporary unemployment, occasional unemployment or end-of-career arrangements.
2. Limit on periods of unemployment and end-of-career schemes (pending)
Periods during which you receive an unemployment or end-of-career benefit will only be taken into account up to a certain percentage of your entire career. This percentage will gradually fall to 20%. It depends on your year of birth (retirement pension) or that of your deceased spouse (survivor’s pension or transition allowance).
| Year of birth of the employee or deceased spouse | Maximum share of unemployment and end-of-career periods |
|---|---|
| 1960 and earlier | 100% |
| 1961 to 1964 | 40% |
| 1965 | 35% |
| 1966 | 30% |
| 1967 | 25% |
| 1968 | 20% |
| Periods limited for the pension calculation | Periods still fully taken into account |
|---|---|
| Full unemployment | Temporary unemployment |
| Unemployment with company supplement (RCC), pre-retirement | Occasional unemployment of dock workers, fish sorters and unloaders, sea fishers and arts workers |
| Pseudo pre-retirement (“Canada Dry”) | Unemployed persons placed in work |
| End-of-career arrangements | Unemployment with retention of rights (with and without income guarantee allowance) |
Periods not worked (sickness, invalidity, care leave) are not affected by this limit.
3. Protection in case of a gradual return to work (in force)
For employees making a gradual return to work (with the approval of the medical adviser) after an accident at work or an occupational disease, the actual salary is replaced by a notional salary. The aim: to offset the drop in holiday pay, bonuses, etc., and to prevent the return to work from lowering the future pension.
Please note: the limit on periods of unemployment and end-of-career schemes still has to be formally approved. It will only apply from its publication in the Belgian Official Gazette (Moniteur belge).
Civil servants: end of the pension for physical unfitness
Since 1 April 2026, civil servants can no longer be retired on the grounds of physical unfitness. The government intends to move to an invalidity insurance scheme for civil servants. In practice, depending on your situation:
- Civil servant on sick leave: cannot receive a pension for physical unfitness and remains the responsibility of their employer.
- Temporary pension for physical unfitness: if granted before 1 January 2025, it lasts 24 months maximum; if granted between 1 January 2025 and 30 April 2026, it lasts 36 months maximum. In both cases, a permanent pension is then granted.
- Pension for permanent unfitness: nothing changes, the pension continues to be paid.
- Long-term illness or unfitness from 1 May 2026: the civil servant cannot be retired on the grounds of physical unfitness and remains the responsibility of their employer.
Frequently asked questions
Is the statutory retirement age going up in 2026?
No. It remains 65, 66 or 67 depending on your date of birth.
I already meet the conditions for early retirement but plan to postpone it. Does the 156-day rule apply?
No. If you meet the conditions before 2027, the measure does not apply retroactively.
Do my sickness absences count towards the guaranteed minimum pension?
Yes. Since the reform, periods of absence for medical reasons are treated in full as days of work.
Source: Frontaliers Grand Est (in French). Questions about your situation? The legal advisers at Frontaliers Grand Est provide free information on pension rights in Belgium: contact them.
