BBZ
Will you get a Belgian old age pension when you retire?
You can get a Belgian old age pension (rustpensioen) in the following cases:
- you worked in paid employment in Belgium and your employer paid 'RSZ contributions' in Belgium, or
- you received a Belgian unemployment benefit or sickness benefit.
If you build up rights to a Belgian old age pension, you will also be insured for a survivor pension (overlevingspensioen). This means that your spouse will get a survivor pension if you pass away.
Accrual of pension rights and the pensionable age
For every year that you work or receive an unemployment or sickness benefit in Belgium, you build up pension rights. The standard pensionable age is 65, but in some cases you can start to receive your pension at an earlier age.
Where can you claim a Belgian old age pension?
If you live in the Netherlands, you can claim your Belgian old age pension via the SVB office serving your area. We would advise you to submit a claim to the SVB around 1 year before you reach the pensionable age.
Can you also get an old age pension (AOW pension) from the Netherlands?
If you lived or worked in the Netherlands for any period between your 15th and 65th birthdays, you may have built up rights to an AOW pension. Your AOW pension will be paid to you in addition to your Belgian old age pension.
If you live in Belgium and work in the Netherlands as a frontier worker, you will build up rights to a Belgian frontier worker pension (grensarbeiderspensioen).