Planning your retirement
You can retire on old-age pension according to your coping and willingness to work once you have reached the lowest retirement age in your age class. If your working ability has declined or you wish to cut down on the amount of work you do before reaching retirement age, look into your options for rehabilitation or for receiving a disability pension.
You can receive an old-age pension when you have reached the minimum age for your old-age pension. Your lowest age for old-age pension age is determined according to your year of birth. For more information on old-age pension and a calculator for checking your retirement age, see the Old age pension page on the Työeläke.fi websiteOpens in a new window..
If you are employed by the State, municipality, wellbeing services county church or Kela, your retirement age may deviate that given by the calculator. You can check your own retirement age in the Keva's My Pension serviceOpens in a new window..
You can also apply for a partial old-age pension at the age of 61 at the earliest if, for example, you want to lighten your workload before retiring completely. However, please note that early retirement and possible part-time work reduce your pension as a whole. Partial old-age pension does not prevent receiving unemployment benefits, and partial old-age pension is not deducted from the amount of unemployment benefit. More information on partial old-age pension and a calculator for estimating your partial old-age pension can be found on the Flexible partial old-age pension page on the Työeläke.fi websiteOpens in a new window..
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If your working ability has declined before reaching retirement age due to an illness or disability, please first apply for rehabilitation. The doctors treating you and your pension provider or Kela will investigate your possibilities of recovering from work. More information on vocational rehabilitation
You may also be eligible for a full or partial disability pension either temporarily or for a fixed period. A fixed-term disability pension is called a rehabilitation allowance.
You can return to work after receiving a disability pension immediately when your health so allows. Returning to work does not strip you of the right to receiving a disability pension again in the future if your health so requires.
If your disability is due to an occupational accident or occupational disease, you are eligible for a worker's compensation pension. Any other pensions you are entitled to will not reduce your worker's compensation pension, but the worker's compensation pension will reduce your earnings-related pension and national pension.
You may also be entitled to a years-of-service pension if:
- you were born in or after 1955
- you have worked full-time for at least 38 years in a job that causes strain and wear
- your ability to work has deteriorated.
The required working time of 38 years may include a total of no more than three years of family leave. This also includes short sick leave, lay-offs or periods of unemployment.
As a pensioner, you can work for an old or new employer. If you continue working for the same employer, you must conclude a new employment contract. You can also continue business activities as an entrepreneur or establish a new company.
When on old-age pension, you can work without income limits, i.e. wages and income from entrepreneurship do not affect the amount of your earnings-related pension. If you are on a disability pension, find out from your pension provider how much you can earn without the income affecting your pension. You will need a separate tax card for your salary if you work while you receive a pension.
If you work while you are on old-age pension, you will accumulate more pension up to the age limit of the insurance obligation. The age limit varies depending on your year of birth. The payment of a pension accrued alongside an old-age pension must be applied for separately. If you work as an entrepreneur after you have retired, insurance contributions are voluntary.
More information is available on the Working while getting a pension web page on the Työeläke.fi websiteOpens in a new window..
Survivors' pensions include a surviving spouse's and orphan's pensions. A surviving spouse may receive a surviving spouse 's pension if the preconditions are met. A biological or adopted child under 20 years of age will always receive an orphan's pension if the child’s parent dies.
Information on the preconditions for receiving and applying for survivors' pensions can be found in the guide Death of a close family member.