Pension reform: federal government reaches agreement

The main measure impacting employers is the doubling of the special social security contribution to be paid on very high supplementary pensions (known as the "Wijninckx contribution"). This contribution only has to be paid if the statutory and supplementary pension combined exceeds the maximum statutory civil service pension and will be increased from 3 to 6 % by 2028.

It was also decided that the pension bonus, the bonus paid to those who do not retire early, will be paid net (and not gross).

Employees who work longer hours will also be able to choose to have the bonus paid in one lump sum. That lump sum can amount to € 22,645 net if you work three years longer than the date you are eligible to retire early.

Only those who work at least one year longer are entitled to (part of) the pension bonus. For long-career individuals, the pension bonus awarded per additional year worked will be equal to the pension bonus awarded in the general scheme for the third additional year worked.

The counter for the pension bonus always starts running from 1 January. The measure takes effect from 1 January 2024, which in practice means the first pension bonuses could be paid from early 2025.

As part of the Summer 2022 Pension Deal, it was already decided that you must have effectively worked for 20 years AND reached the statutory retirement age (currently 65, which will be raised to 67 by 2030) to be entitled to a minimum pension.

In order to take into account career differences between men and women, it was additionally decided that as well as the equivalent periods provided, subsequent periods will also be considered as effectively worked:

• preventive work removal;
• maternity leave (converted or otherwise);
• birth leave;
• adoption leave;
• foster parent leave;
• thematic engagements;
• time credit (palliative care and care of child with disabilities);
• temporary unemployment.

For retired civil servants, there will be a capping of what is known as equalisation payments. In addition to the index, civil service pensions will only be able to increase by a maximum of 0.3 % of the total civil service pension per year.