Conversion application R0110 — from your current German pension to an old-age pension
If you already draw a pension from the German statutory pension insurance (Deutsche Rentenversicherung), for example a pension for reduced earning capacity (Erwerbsminderungsrente), and want to move to an old-age pension (Altersrente), the tool is the short application R0110, which the pension insurance calls the conversion application (Umwandlungsantrag). For the standard old-age pension (Regelaltersrente) you often do not need it: anyone who drew a pension for reduced earning capacity or a child-raising pension (Erziehungsrente) until reaching the standard retirement age then receives the standard old-age pension unless they decide otherwise (section 115(3) sentence 1 SGB VI). The application matters when you want to switch to an old-age pension BEFORE the standard retirement age. Where several own pensions are due for the same period, only the highest is paid (section 89(1) sentence 1 SGB VI). And once an old-age pension has been granted with binding effect, there is no way back to the reduced-earning-capacity pension (section 34(2) SGB VI).
Up to date for 2026 — verified on September 23, 2026Official formGuide: about 40 min
Deadlines
- Apply within three calendar months, or the pension starts later
- Section 99(1) SGB VI — a pension from your own insurance is paid from the calendar month at whose start the conditions are met, provided it is applied for by the end of the third calendar month after the month in which the conditions were met (sentence 1). If you apply later, it starts only in the month of application (sentence 2). Subsection 2 concerns survivors' pensions and does not apply here
- Recommendation: about three months before the intended start
- According to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung, it is advisable to apply for an old-age pension about three months before the intended start — a recommendation for a seamless transition, not a statutory deadline
- Standard retirement age: end of the reduced-earning-capacity pension
- Section 43(1) and (2) SGB VI — entitlement to a pension for partial or full reduced earning capacity lasts until the standard retirement age is reached; the standard old-age pension is then to be paid under section 115(3) sentence 1 SGB VI unless you decide otherwise
Documents to prepare
- Your pension insurance number (Versicherungsnummer) and, if known, the reference code (Kennzeichen)
- The decision (Bescheid) on the pension you currently receive
- Information or advice from the pension insurance: which old-age pension, from when, and how much
- For the old-age pension for severely disabled people: disability card and the decision establishing the disability
- Evidence for periods still missing from your insurance record (training, abroad, contribution periods)
- Paying body, period and file reference of every other benefit you receive or have applied for
- Name of your statutory health insurance fund or private health insurer
- If someone else applies on your behalf: power of attorney or court order
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Who this applies to
- People drawing a pension for full or partial reduced earning capacity who want an old-age pension before the standard retirement age — the reduced-earning-capacity pension is in any case only paid until the standard retirement age is reached (section 43(1) and (2) SGB VI)
- People drawing a child-raising pension (Erziehungsrente) who want to move to an old-age pension
- People who do NOT want the standard old-age pension to follow automatically after a reduced-earning-capacity or child-raising pension and wish to decide otherwise (section 115(3) sentence 1 SGB VI)
- NOT people who do not yet draw any pension: they file the full pension application, which has its own guide
- NOT people who already draw an old-age pension and want to move to another old-age pension, a reduced-earning-capacity pension or a child-raising pension — after a binding grant of an old-age pension such a switch is excluded (section 34(2) sentence 1 SGB VI)
- Usually NOT needed for the standard old-age pension after a reduced-earning-capacity pension: it is paid afterwards without a new application (section 115(3) sentence 1 SGB VI)
Worked example
Monika Albers moves from a reduced-earning-capacity pension to the old-age pension for severely disabled people
Since 1 June 2021 Monika Albers has drawn a pension for full reduced earning capacity of 1,150 euros a month. She holds a severe-disability card. After advice she knows that from 1 June 2027 she meets the conditions for the old-age pension for severely disabled people, which at 1,210 euros would be higher. In March 2027 she files R0110, ticks the old-age pension for severely disabled people in item 1, gives June 2027 as the start and encloses her disability card and the decision establishing the disability. She is well within the deadline in section 99(1) SGB VI. For June 2027 two entitlements exist; only the higher pension is paid (section 89(1) sentence 1 SGB VI), and the decision on the reduced-earning-capacity pension is revoked from the start of current payment of the old-age pension (section 89(1) sentence 3). If the old-age pension only goes into current payment in August 2027, she receives for June and July only the difference of 60 euros a month (section 89(1) sentence 6). For tax, the old-age pension follows the earlier pension from the same insurance: the percentage is set by the year 2027 minus the six years the earlier pension ran, i.e. 2021 (section 22 no. 1 sentence 3 letter a double letter aa sentence 8 EStG). The amounts are illustrative.
How to fill it in, step by step
- First check whether you need an application at all: the standard old-age pension after a reduced-earning-capacity or child-raising pension is paid without a new application (section 115(3) sentence 1 SGB VI).
- Ask the pension insurance which old-age pension you could receive, from when, and whether it is higher than your current pension — only the highest is paid (section 89(1) sentence 1 SGB VI).
- Decide deliberately: once an old-age pension has been granted with binding effect, there is no switch back to the reduced-earning-capacity pension and no switch to another old-age pension (section 34(2) SGB VI).
- Have your pension insurance number ready — according to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung it is the only item needed to start the online R0110 form.
- Complete R0110, online via eAntrag, which the pension insurance recommends, or as a PDF: the old-age pension you want, full or partial pension, start date, missing periods, earnings and other benefits, health insurance.
- For the old-age pension for severely disabled people, enclose the disability card and the decision establishing the disability, which the pension insurance asks for with this pension.
- File in time: ideally about three months before the start, at the latest by the end of the third calendar month after the month in which the conditions are met (section 99(1) SGB VI).
- Check the new decision: the decision on your previous pension is revoked, and back-payment is made only to the extent the new pension exceeds the old one (section 89(1) sentences 3 and 6 SGB VI).
Good to know
- The standard old-age pension after a reduced-earning-capacity or child-raising pension is to be paid afterwards unless you decide otherwise (section 115(3) sentence 1 SGB VI) — a new application is not the condition for it.
- Where pensions are of equal amount, a statutory order of precedence decides, with the standard old-age pension first and the pension for full reduced earning capacity only after the old-age pensions (section 89(1) sentence 2 SGB VI).
- According to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung, the supplement for reduced-earning-capacity pensions is also paid on an old-age pension that directly follows a reduced-earning-capacity pension which began between January 2001 and December 2018.
- Where pensions from the same insurance follow one another after 31 December 2004, the taxable percentage of the later pension is set by its starting year minus the time the earlier pensions ran, but never by a year before 2005 (section 22 no. 1 sentence 3 letter a double letter aa sentence 8 EStG). The taxable share itself comes from the pension taxation calculator, if you enter that notional year as the year the pension started.
- According to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung, the online form can be saved for up to 30 days and sent directly with an immediate confirmation of dispatch; documents can be uploaded.
- According to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung, every pension is paid only on application — the exception in section 115(3) SGB VI for the standard old-age pension after a reduced-earning-capacity or child-raising pension is in the statute itself.
Common mistakes
- Filing the conversion application merely to keep receiving a pension on reaching the standard retirement age. After a reduced-earning-capacity or child-raising pension, the standard old-age pension is paid afterwards anyway (section 115(3) sentence 1 SGB VI).
- Switching to an early old-age pension without comparing amounts. Only the highest pension is paid (section 89(1) sentence 1 SGB VI), and after a binding grant of the old-age pension there is no switch back (section 34(2) SGB VI).
- Applying too late. After the third calendar month, the pension starts only in the month of application (section 99(1) sentence 2 SGB VI).
- Expecting the full new pension as back-payment for the overlapping months. Only what exceeds the pension already paid is paid out (section 89(1) sentence 6 SGB VI).
- Using the actual starting year of the old-age pension for tax. For a follow-on pension from the same insurance, the year counted back by the time the earlier pension ran applies (section 22 no. 1 sentence 3 letter a double letter aa sentence 8 EStG).
- Applying for the old-age pension for severely disabled people without the disability card and the decision establishing the disability, which the pension insurance asks for with this pension.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to apply for the standard old-age pension if I draw a reduced-earning-capacity pension?
Usually not. Anyone who drew a pension for reduced earning capacity until reaching the standard retirement age then receives the standard old-age pension unless they decide otherwise (section 115(3) sentence 1 SGB VI).
Which pension do I get if I am entitled to two?
Only the highest. Where amounts are equal, the order of precedence in section 89(1) sentence 2 SGB VI decides, starting with the standard old-age pension.
Can I go back to the reduced-earning-capacity pension after the old-age pension?
No. After a binding grant of an old-age pension, switching to a pension for reduced earning capacity, a child-raising pension or another old-age pension is excluded (section 34(2) sentence 1 SGB VI).
From when is the old-age pension paid?
From the calendar month at whose start the conditions are met, if you apply by the end of the third calendar month afterwards; otherwise from the month of application (section 99(1) SGB VI).
Will the new pension be paid in full for the transition months?
No. For the time in which the old pension was already paid, the higher pension is paid out only to the extent it exceeds the lower one (section 89(1) sentences 5 and 6 SGB VI).
How is the old-age pension taxed after a reduced-earning-capacity pension?
As a follow-on pension from the same insurance: the percentage is set by the starting year of the old-age pension minus the time the earlier pension ran, never by a year before 2005 (section 22 no. 1 sentence 3 letter a double letter aa sentence 8 EStG). The pension taxation calculator gives the share for that year.
Go further
Compute the related amounts
Official sources
- Section 115 SGB VI — Start of proceedings (subsection 3: standard old-age pension after a reduced-earning-capacity or child-raising pension) — September 23, 2026
- Section 99 SGB VI — Start of a pension from one's own insurance — September 23, 2026
- Section 89 SGB VI — Several pension entitlements — September 23, 2026
- Section 34 SGB VI — Conditions for a pension entitlement (subsection 2: switch excluded) — September 23, 2026
- Section 43 SGB VI — Pension for reduced earning capacity — September 23, 2026
- Section 22 EStG — Other income (no. 1 sentence 3 letter a double letter aa sentence 8: follow-on pensions) — September 23, 2026
- Deutsche Rentenversicherung — form R0110, short application for an insured person's pension (conversion application) — September 23, 2026
- Deutsche Rentenversicherung — How, where and when do I apply for my pension? — September 23, 2026
- Deutsche Rentenversicherung — FAQ on the supplement for reduced-earning-capacity pensions from December 2025 — September 23, 2026
Guide and document provided for information purposes only; they do not constitute personalised legal or tax advice. Check the recipient organisation's requirements and consult a professional if needed.