BBZ - Pre-retirement pension

If you are dimissed by your employer in Belgium when you are around the age of 60, you can get a pre-retirement pension (brugpensioen). From what age you can get this pension depends on your collective agreement (CAO). The pre-retirement pension is paid by your employer as a supplement to your unemployment benefit. It stops when you turn 65. From then on, you will receive an old age pension (rustpensioen).

You will get a pre-retirement pension if:

• you have been dismissed by your employer in Belgium, and
• you have worked for at least 25 years, and 
• you receive an unemployment benefit.

If you receive a pre-retirement pension, you cannot get an early retirement pension. You must choose between a pre-retirement pension and an early retirement pension.

Belgian pre-retirement pension if you live in the Netherlands

You can also get a pre-retirement pension if you live in the Netherlands, but your rights and obligations will differ from those of people living in Belgium. If you are fully unemployed, you will be entitled to a Dutch unemployment benefit, for which other conditions apply. For example, you will not get a benefit if you are unemployed through your own fault (e.g. if you resign from your job or accept dismissal while there were no serious obstacles to continuing to work).

You will also need to register with UWV WERKbedrijf and apply regularly for jobs. Employees who live in Belgium do not have to do this.

NB: if you are under 62 and receive a Dutch unemployment benefit

If you live in the Netherlands and start receiving a pre-retirement pension before your 62nd birthday, your unemployment benefit will stop before you turn 65. The reason for this is that a Dutch unemployment benefit cannot be paid for more than 3 years and 2 months.

This means that you could suddenly be left without income. It is important to bear this in mind and, if applicable, apply for a national assistance benefit in time.

To receive a pre-retirement pension until your 65th birthday, you must not start to receive this pension until you are 61 years and 10 months old. To get a pre-retirement pension at this age, you must have worked for at least 38 years. If you have worked in Belgium for a long time, you can also choose to apply for an early retirement pension ('vervroegd rustpensioen') as from the age of 60.