Invalidity and Incapacity Pensions in Austria in 2026

If health problems prevent you from working for a long period, rehabilitation is usually the first step in Austria rather than a pension. This guide explains who may qualify for an invalidity, incapacity or inability-to-earn pension, which insurance periods are required and how much you may earn alongside it in 2026.

Key points

• A pension application is primarily treated as an application for rehabilitation.
• People born on or after 1 January 1964 receive a pension only in cases of permanent incapacity. Otherwise, they may receive rehabilitation money or retraining money.
• As a general rule, 180 contribution months or 300 insurance months are required.
• In 2026, you may earn up to €551.10 per month without reducing your pension.
• You have three months to bring an action against a negative decision.

What do the German terms mean?

Austrian law uses different terms depending on the type of work:

• Physical workers: invalidity (Invalidität) under the ASVG.
• Employees (Angestellte): occupational incapacity (Berufsunfähigkeit) under the ASVG.
• Self-employed people and farmers: inability to earn (Erwerbsunfähigkeit) under the GSVG and BSVG.

The corresponding pension terms are Invaliditätspension, Berufsunfähigkeitspension and Erwerbsunfähigkeitspension.

Who can receive an invalidity pension?

Eligibility generally requires all of the following:

• Your capacity to work or ability to earn has been reduced.
• You have completed the required waiting period (Wartezeit).
• You are not entitled to vocational rehabilitation, or rehabilitation is not reasonable or cannot reasonably be expected.
• You do not yet meet the requirements for an old-age pension, except for the corridor pension (Korridorpension).

The reduction in working capacity is established through a medical examination. Workers and employees are considered invalid if their capacity to work has fallen to less than half that of a healthy person with similar training.

Occupational protection and age-related rules

Occupational protection (Berufsschutz) applies if, during the last 15 years, you worked for at least 90 compulsory insurance months (7.5 years) in a trained or semi-skilled occupation, or as an employee.

For people aged over 50, a special hardship rule (Härtefallregelung) may also apply. One example is at least 12 months of directly preceding unemployment and 360 insurance months, including 240 contribution months.

For people aged over 60, activity protection (Tätigkeitsschutz) protects someone whose health prevents them from continuing the work they performed for at least 120 of the last 180 months.

Different age-related rules apply to self-employed people and farmers when assessing inability to earn.

Rehabilitation before a pension

An application is primarily treated as an application for rehabilitation. The aim is to help you return to the labour market. Vocational rehabilitation may not move you “downwards”: retraining for work at a significantly lower qualification level is possible only with your consent.

As a general rule, temporary benefit (Übergangsgeld) is paid during rehabilitation at the pension amount.

If you were born on or after 1 January 1964 and are a worker or employee, a fixed-term pension is replaced in non-permanent cases by one of the following:

• Rehabilitation money (Rehabilitationsgeld): paid by the ÖGK when temporary incapacity is expected to last at least six months. Case management is provided, and your condition is reviewed after one year at the latest.
• Retraining money (Umschulungsgeld): paid by the AMS when vocational rehabilitation is reasonable and can be expected. You must apply to the AMS within four weeks; otherwise, it is paid only from the date of application.

For people born earlier, a fixed-term pension of up to two years may be granted in non-permanent cases and can be extended on application. If you apply for an extension within three months of the end of the pension, there is no interruption.

How many insurance months are required?

The waiting period is fulfilled, regardless of age, if the following applies on the pension reference date (Stichtag):

• 180 contribution months (15 years), or
• 300 insurance months (25 years), or
• Before your 50th birthday: 60 insurance months during the last 120 calendar months, or
• If incapacity occurred before your 27th birthday: at least 6 insurance months.

After age 50, the five-year requirement increases by one month for every additional month of age, up to 180 months. The assessment period also increases by two months, up to 360 months. For example, someone retiring at age 52 needs 84 insurance months during the last 168 calendar months.

No waiting period is required if incapacity was caused by a workplace accident, an occupational disease or a service accident suffered in the Federal Army (Bundesheer). School and study periods count only if contributions were paid for them.

How much can you earn alongside the pension in 2026?

Your pension remains unchanged if your earnings stay within the minor income threshold (Geringfügigkeitsgrenze), which is €551.10 per month in 2026.

If your earnings exceed this amount and your gross pension plus earnings are more than €1,599.99, only a partial pension (Teilpension) is paid:

• Combined monthly income over €1,599.99 up to €2,400.09: 30% reduction.
• Combined monthly income over €2,400.09 up to €3,199.99: 40% reduction.
• Combined monthly income over €3,199.99: 50% reduction.

The reduction may not exceed your earnings or 50% of the pension increase amount (Steigerungsbetrag).

A child supplement (Kinderzuschuss) is also payable for children: €29.07 per month. It is also paid together with the 13th and 14th monthly pension payments.

Where and how do you apply?

You must apply to the responsible pension insurance institution (Pensionsversicherungsträger). The application uses an official form, and you should attach any existing medical reports. If you submit an application without the form, you will generally have to provide the form afterwards.

The application can also be submitted electronically using ID Austria or EU-Login.

The insurer issues a decision (Bescheid). You may bring an action against it before the competent labour and social court (Arbeits- und Sozialgericht) within three months of delivery.

Frequently asked questions

Can an awarded pension be withdrawn?

Yes, if your health improves substantially. For men, it can no longer be withdrawn from age 65. For women, it can no longer be withdrawn once they reach the increasing old-age pension age. At that point, you may apply to convert it into an old-age pension.

When is the pension paid?

It is generally paid from the reference date, but not before the day after you stop the activity that caused the incapacity. An exception applies if you receive care allowance (Pflegegeld) at level 3 or higher: in that case, the activity may continue.

Can I have incapacity assessed without applying for a pension?

Yes. You may submit a separate application to establish whether invalidity, occupational incapacity or inability to earn exists. This is used to assess whether rehabilitation is possible.

How are months counted for retirement before age 60?

If the reference date is before your 60th birthday and you have acquired fewer than 469 insurance months, the months between the reference date and your 60th birthday are counted as insurance months, up to a maximum of 469 months.

Practical steps

1. Collect your medical reports and information about your employment and insurance history.
2. Identify the relevant pension insurance institution (Pensionsversicherungsträger).
3. Submit the official application, using ID Austria or EU-Login if applying electronically.
4. Check whether your case should be assessed for vocational rehabilitation, rehabilitation money (Rehabilitationsgeld) or retraining money (Umschulungsgeld).
5. If you receive a negative decision, note the delivery date and seek advice promptly: an action before the Arbeits- und Sozialgericht must be filed within three months.

This information is based on sources available online and is not legal, medical or financial advice. For advice specific to your situation, contact a lawyer, legal professional, healthcare professional, labour-law or employment specialist, or another relevant professional.

Source: oesterreich.gv.at