Should I opt out of pension insurance in a minijob?
In short
Should I opt out of pension insurance in a minijob? Usually only if you already pay compulsory contributions through a main job. At EUR 603 earnings, pension insurance costs you 3.6 percent, or EUR 21.71 a month. In return the time fully counts for qualifying periods, rehab and reduced earning capacity pension. Since 1 July 2026 an exemption can be reversed once.
Your share and the pension effect, calculated with official 2026 values: contribution shares of the Minijob-Zentrale, current pension value EUR 42.52 since 1 July 2026 and provisional average earnings EUR 51,944.
Example
Typical range
Commercial minijob at EUR 400, your share 3.6 percent
EUR 14.40 a month
Commercial minijob at EUR 603, your share 3.6 percent
EUR 21.71 a month, EUR 260.50 a year
Private household minijob at EUR 603, your share 13.6 percent
EUR 82.01 a month
Pension from one year of minijob at EUR 603, insured
about EUR 5.92 a month
Pension from one year of minijob at EUR 603, opted out
about EUR 4.78 a month
Own calculation under § 76b SGB VI and § 52 (2) SGB VI with 2026 values,
without future pension adjustments.
It does not replace a personal pension statement;
the information and advice centres of the Deutsche Rentenversicherung calculate your case free of
charge.
Worked example
One year of a commercial minijob at EUR 603 a month
How insured and opted out compare, calculated with the current pension value of EUR 42.52.
Yearly earnings
EUR 7,236
Pension points insured (7,236 ÷ 51,944)
0.1393
Supplement opted out (0.1393 × 15 ÷ 18.6)
0.1123
Your share when insured
EUR 260.50 a year
Monthly pension insured
about EUR 5.92
Monthly pension opted out
about EUR 4.78
Qualifying period insured and opted out
12 months and 3 months
For EUR 260.50 a year you get around EUR 1.14 more monthly pension, 9 extra qualifying months and protection for reduced earning capacity and rehab.
What compulsory pension insurance means in a minijob
A minijob with earnings limit exists if in 2026 you earn on average no more than EUR 603 a month. Such minijobs are generally subject to pension insurance (Rentenversicherungspflicht). A commercial employer pays a flat 15 percent, you pay 3.6 percent. In a private household the employer pays 5 percent and your share is 13.6 percent.
If you opt out (Befreiung), only your share is dropped. The employer keeps paying the flat contribution. From that you only get a smaller supplement on your pension account, and the time only partly counts towards the qualifying period.
With pension insurance
Opted out
Your share at EUR 603 (commercial)
EUR 21.71 a month
EUR 0
Pension from one year of minijob at EUR 603
about EUR 5.92 a month
about EUR 4.78 a month
Credit towards qualifying period for one year
12 months
3 months
Rehab and reduced earning capacity pension
compulsory contributions count
no compulsory contributions
Riester subsidy and salary conversion
possible
not through the minijob
When staying insured pays off
The bigger benefit is not the pension amount but the protection. A reduced earning capacity pension (Erwerbsminderungsrente) under § 43 SGB VI requires, among other things, at least three years of compulsory contributions in the five years before. If you only have a minijob, for example while raising children, your share keeps this entitlement open.
The months also fully count towards qualifying periods for the old age pension, you are entitled to rehab, you can take out a state subsidised Riester pension and convert part of your pay into a company pension. The periods can also count for the basic pension supplement (Grundrente).
When opting out is reasonable
If you have a main job besides the minijob in which you pay compulsory contributions anyway, insurance in the minijob mainly brings a few euros more pension. Protection for reduced earning capacity already exists through the main job. Then opting out is purely a matter of numbers.
As an investment your share is no sure thing: at EUR 603 you pay EUR 260.50 a year and get about EUR 1.14 more monthly pension than when opted out. Without future pension increases you get it back after about 19 years of drawing a pension. If you die early you get less back, if your earning capacity is reduced much more.
How opting out and reversing it works
You apply for exemption in writing or electronically to your employer, in a private household through the household cheque (Haushaltsscheck). It applies from the month the application arrives, at the earliest from the start of the minijob. With several minijobs it applies to all of them. The Minijob-Zentrale can object within one month, otherwise the exemption counts as granted.
Since 1 July 2026 you can have an exemption under § 6 (6) SGB VI reversed once. You apply to the employer again. The reversal applies from the following month, never backdated, and for the whole minijob. A new exemption is no longer possible after that, and you cannot withdraw the reversal itself.
Step by step
Check whether you pay compulsory contributions elsewhere, for example through a main job.
If not: stay insured in the minijob, if only for the reduced earning capacity pension.
If yes: weigh your share against the extra pension.
Apply for exemption only in writing or electronically to the employer and keep a copy.
If you are already opted out and want back in: apply to the employer for reversal, it applies from the following month.
Checklist
Earnings average no more than EUR 603 a month
Other compulsory contributions in the last five years checked
With several minijobs, remembered that the decision applies to all
Riester subsidy or salary conversion wanted or not
Clear that reversing an exemption is only possible once
Common mistakes
Signing the exemption form at the start without knowing the consequences
Looking only at the few euros of pension and missing the reduced earning capacity protection
Using the one time reversal and later wanting to be exempt again
Believing the reversal applies backwards to past months
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
Can I rejoin pension insurance later?
Yes, since 1 July 2026 once.
You apply to the employer, insurance then applies from the following month for the whole minijob.
Does the exemption apply to all my minijobs?
Yes.
With several minijobs with earnings limit you can only opt out for all of them,
and a reversal also applies to all that run in parallel or are added later.
What does my employer pay if I am opted out?
A commercial employer still pays a flat 15 percent, a private household 5 percent.
Only your share is dropped.
Is staying insured worth it for pupils and students?
Often yes, because they collect compulsory contributions early.
The logic is the same: without other compulsory contributions you mainly gain protection for
reduced earning capacity.
Does the minijob pension replace private provision?
No.
One year of minijob at EUR 603 brings about EUR 5.92 monthly pension.
For the gap in old age you need additional provision.
Where do I get the form?
The Minijob-Zentrale provides a form.
You hand it in to your employer, not to the pension insurance.
