Working While Receiving a Pension in Austria: Earnings Limits and Reporting Duties in 2026

Many people continue working after retirement. In Austria, the effect on your pension depends on the type of pension you receive. Certain changes must also be reported to the pension insurance provider within specific deadlines.

Working alongside a regular old-age pension

If you receive a regular old-age pension (Alterspension) after reaching the statutory retirement age, there is no limit on your additional income (Zuverdienst), and your pension will not be reduced.

Your pension may even increase. If your earnings create compulsory pension insurance because they exceed the monthly threshold of 551.10 euros in 2026, you are entitled to a special increase (besonderer Höherversicherungsbetrag). This is paid for the first time from the calendar year following the start of your employment.

Working alongside an early old-age pension

The rules are stricter for an early old-age pension based on a long insurance record (vorzeitige Alterspension). The pension stops (Pensionswegfall) if:

• you do work that exceeds the monthly limit of 551.10 euros in 2026, paid 14 times per year, and the work involves compulsory pension insurance; or
• you independently operate an agricultural holding whose assessed value (Einheitswert) is higher than 2,400 euros.

The pension is withheld for every month in which your income is above the limit.

There is a small tolerance allowance: the pension does not stop until the total excess during a calendar year exceeds 40 percent of the monthly limit. In 2026, this is 220.44 euros. The pension stops only from the month in which this annual allowance is exceeded for the first time.

Working alongside a corridor pension

The same limit applies to a corridor pension (Korridorpension). If you start work while receiving the pension and the work involves compulsory pension insurance and pays more than 551.10 euros per month, the corridor pension stops.

What happens after a pension stops?

The money is not necessarily lost permanently. The months in which the pension was withheld can later increase the regular old-age pension:

• Early old-age pension: the pension is recalculated when you reach retirement age, and every month in which it was withheld increases the amount.
• Corridor pension: the pension increases by 0.55 percent for every month in which it was withheld.

If the reason for the suspension, such as employment, ends, the pension may become payable again. You must report this yourself to the responsible pension insurance provider (Pensionsversicherungsträger).

What must be reported and when?

The reporting duty (Meldepflicht) applies both to people already receiving a pension and to applicants whose circumstances change compared with their application.

Changes to report within 7 days

• Starting employment and the amount of income.
• Any change in income.
• If you receive a child supplement (Kinderzuschuss) for a child over 18, the child’s income.
• If you receive an equalisation supplement (Ausgleichszulage), changes in the income of your spouse, registered partner, children taken into account, or parents living in the same household.

Changes to report within 14 days

• Changes in circumstances relevant to eligibility.
• A change of address or name.

You confirm the reporting duty by signing your application. Therefore, claiming that you did not know about the requirement will generally not be sufficient.

Child supplement while receiving a pension

A child supplement is payable alongside an old-age or disability-type pension. In 2026, it is 29.07 euros per month, including with the 13th and 14th pension payments.

As a general rule, it is payable for a child under 18. After the child turns 18, it may continue, for example during school or vocational training, up to the child’s 27th birthday at the latest. It is paid only once per child. If both parents are pensioners, it is paid to the parent who applies first.

Frequently asked questions

Will my regular old-age pension be reduced if I work?

No. You can earn without a limit alongside a regular old-age pension, and the pension will not be reduced.

What is the earnings limit in 2026?

The monthly limit (Geringfügigkeitsgrenze) is 551.10 euros in 2026.

What happens if I forget to report my employment?

If this results in payments being made without legal grounds, they generally have to be repaid.

Where must I report a change?

Report it to the responsible pension insurance provider that pays your pension.

Practical steps

1. Identify which type of pension you receive: regular old-age pension, early old-age pension, or corridor pension.
2. Check whether your expected monthly income exceeds the 2026 threshold of 551.10 euros.
3. Report the start of employment, the income amount, and any income changes within 7 days.
4. Report relevant eligibility changes, including an address or name change, within 14 days.
5. Keep confirmation of every report submitted to the responsible Pensionsversicherungsträger.
6. If your pension stops because of work, report the end of that employment so that your pension can be reviewed for reinstatement.

This article is based on information available online and does not constitute advice. Use of the information is at your own risk. For professional advice, contact a lawyer, legal professional, healthcare professional, employment-law or employment-services professional, or another relevant specialist.

Source: oesterreich.gv.at