From January 1, 2025, the legal retirement age in Belgium will increase from 65 to 66 years, in accordance with a decision taken in 2015 and confirmed by the recent pension reform passed in 2024. A further increase to 67 is planned for 2030. Workers who have accumulated 42 years of career will, however, be able to benefit from early retirement from the age of 63.
The reform also introduces a condition of effective work to access the minimum pension. Full-time workers must have 5,000 days of actual work, while part-time workers must have 3,120 days. Exceptions are provided for maternity leave, temporary unemployment or time credits for medical assistance.
Another major new feature is the “pension bonus”, intended for workers extending their careers beyond the legal retirement age. This bonus can reach up to 943.75 euros per month after three additional years of service, for a cumulative total of 22,650 euros net.
Finally, from 2025, the minimum age to benefit from a survivor’s pension in the event of the death of a spouse will be raised to 50 years, compared to 49 years and 6 months currently. These adjustments aim to strengthen the viability of the Belgian pension system while introducing incentive mechanisms to extend working hours.
M.Ba.
Belgium
