Starting a new job in 2026? What about your pension compensation?

Are you planning to change jobs this year? Then it may be wise to look at your pension policy. The transition to the new pension system could leave some people with a pension shortfall, as they could miss out on pension compensation. This could potentially amount to thousands of euros.

The gap between old and new

Compensation is intended for employees who have accrued pension for years according to the old system and are disadvantaged by the new rules. The important detail: you are often only eligible if you are still actively participating in the pension fund in question at the time of the switch.

Check your fund

That is precisely where the risk lies. If you switch to an employer in a different sector, you often also switch pension funds. If your old fund has not yet switched and your new fund has, you may miss out on compensation from both funds. In some cases, the amounts involved are several thousand to even tens of thousands of euros.

In short

If you are planning a career change in 2026, it may be wise to map out the consequences for your pension in advance. If in doubt, you can request information from your pension fund and investigate whether a switch will affect any compensation schemes. Good preparation can prevent an unpleasant surprise later on. If you are you in doubt or have any questions? Please don’t hesitate to contact  us and we will look at your specific situation with you.