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Miners; application for miners' compensation benefit

If you have lost your job in the mining industry, you can receive a miners' compensation benefit (Knappschaftsausgleichsleistung, KAL) under certain conditions.

Responsible for you

Deutsche Rentenversicherung Knappschaft-Bahn-See

Street address

Pieperstraße 14-28
44789 Bochum

Postal address

44781 Bochum

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Procedure details

KAL helps older miners affected by the difficult labor market situation until they start their old-age pension. You will receive KAL until you switch to another pension and until you reach the standard retirement age at the most.

The amount of your KAL is calculated in the same way as the pension for full reduction in earning capacity. However, there are the following special features:

  • Only your entitlements from the miners' pension insurance are taken into account. If you have acquired other entitlements under the general pension insurance scheme, for example through work outside the mining industry, these do not count. The contributions you pay to the general pension insurance will only be taken into account for a later pension, for example your old-age pension.
  • Performance bonuses for permanent underground work are also not taken into account.
  • In contrast to the calculation of a pension due to reduced earning capacity, the KAL does not include an additional period.

The amount of your KAL pension is therefore determined only by the portion of your entitlement from the miners' pension insurance.

If you receive KAL, it is advantageous for you to receive your old-age pension at the earliest possible time. In contrast to KAL, you will then also receive

  • the supplementary benefit for continuous underground work and
  • entitlements from the general pension insurance will also be taken into account.

The time during which you receive KAL is taken into account as a credit period in your pension. As a result, you will receive more pension later. The following old-age pensions are possible after KAL:

  • the old-age pension for miners who have worked underground for many years,
  • the old-age pension for severely disabled persons,
  • the old-age pension for those insured for many years,
  • the standard old-age pension or
  • the old-age pension for those insured for a particularly long period of time

Which old-age pension you qualify for after the KAL depends on which eligibility criteria you meet. Your Knappschaft-Bahn-See pension insurance will advise you on this.

If you receive the KAL, you may only earn limited additional income. Partial payment, as in the case of old-age pensions, is excluded. You cannot receive unemployment benefit I or unemployment benefit II during this time.

If you start working again in a miner's company, you can no longer receive KAL. This applies regardless of how much you earn.

You are at least 55 years old.

Either you have

  • completed an insurance period of at least 25 years of continuous underground work

or you have

  • completed an insurance period of at least 25 years for miners' pension insurance,
  • you have worked underground and
  • have given up the last underground job for health reasons.

In addition, you must have been dismissed through no fault of your own, for example due to

  • Limitation of operations,
  • Layoff due to shutdown,
  • amalgamation of operations, or
  • other rationalization measures.

You can also voluntarily leave the miner's company if you have

  • have completed an insurance period of 25 years of continuous underground work, and
  • had to change your underground employment for health reasons after December 31, 1971 (reduced occupational capacity in mining).

If you have received an adjustment allowance, these periods count towards the insurance period. For this to be the case, you must have last worked underground before receiving the adjustment allowance.

  • Required document/s
    • Application for miners' compensation benefit
    • Personal document (such as identity card, passport, birth certificate or family register)

You can submit your application online, in person, or in writing.

Online application:

  • On the website of the German Pension Insurance (DRV) under "Online Services" you will find detailed information on the process.
  • If you follow the link "Submit application", you will be guided through the further steps and can select the desired application.
  • Alternatively, you can use the online services with registration. For example, you can see right away which insurance periods have already been recorded. You also save time and do not have to re-enter data you already know.
  • Complete the application in full and upload the required documents.
  • Submit your application online.
  • You will receive a confirmation of submission.
  • The Knappschaft-Bahn-See pension insurance institution will check your application.
  • You will receive a decision on your application.

Personal application:

  • Compile the necessary documents for your application and make an appointment with the DRV.
  • When making an appointment online, your personal information and, if possible, your insurance number will be required.
  • You can select a desired counseling center and your preferred appointment time. Depending on the availability of free appointments, you will receive a proposal for a binding counseling appointment.
  • During your personal consultation, your application will be recorded electronically and forwarded online to the relevant pension insurance institution.
  • The Knappschaft-Bahn-See pension insurance institution will review your application.
  • You will receive a decision on your application.

Written application:

  • Go to the DRV's website.
  • Download the application form you need.
  • You can also pick up the form in person at the information and advice centers.
  • Fill out the application form, sign it and attach the required documents.
  • Send all documents
    • by mail to your Knappschaft-Bahn-See pension insurance institution or
    • hand them in at one of the local advice centers.
  • The Knappschaft-Bahn-See pension insurance institution will review your application.
  • You will receive a decision on your application.

A person you trust can also submit your pension application on your behalf. For this purpose, please submit a power of attorney to the pension insurance agency. As long as the power of attorney is valid, the pension insurance company will only contact the person you have authorized.

If you give your consent to electronic communication, all correspondence can be done online. Either use the electronic mailbox under online services with registration or De-Mail.

There are no costs involved.

If possible, you should submit the application already 3 months before the desired pension start date.

3 months

  • Appeal.
    Detailed information can be found in the decision on your application.
  • Action before the Social Court.
    Detailed information can be found in the notice of appeal.

  • Unemployment benefit; application

    If you lose your job or your training position, you can apply for unemployment benefits so that you are financially secure.

  • Unemployment; notification

    If you wish to apply for unemployment benefits, you must register as unemployed electronically in the specialist portal of the Federal Employment Agency or in person at the employment agency responsible for your place of residence.

Status: 23.01.2023
Editorially responsible for prodecure description: Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales
Source: Federal Portal
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