Pension FAQs
Invalidity pension
If you are ill for a long time or your injury prevents you from working, you may be entitled to a disability pension. It is paid by the Social Insurance Institution and the amount depends on the level of disability, but also on the number of years of social insurance.
General partner
Who is entitled to an invalidity pension?
Invalidity pension is granted on the basis of 3 conditions.
The first is a medical assessment, which determines how much your health problems limit your ability to do your job or be self-sufficient. You are eligible for a disability pension if you have been diagnosed by a doctor with a long-term (at least one year) adverse health condition and your ability to do your job has decreased by at least 41%.
Disability can manifest itself as:
- physical limitation,
- sensory (relating to sensations) limitation
- sensitivity to stimuli
- limited ability to register stimuli from the external and internal environment
- psychological limitation.
Details of how different illnesses affect your ability to work can be found in the Social Insurance Act (Annex 4).
Attention!
For multiple work-limiting illnesses, only the one that has most affected your ability to work counts. The others may only increase disability by an additional 10% percent.
The second important condition is that you have the necessary number of years of service, which depends on your age. This condition does not apply if you have become disabled as a result of a work-related accident or occupational disease. This condition also does not apply to a natural person residing in the territory of the Slovak Republic who has become invalid during the period in which he or she is a dependent child (the so-called invalidity pension from youth, entitlement to which starts at the earliest from the date of reaching the age of 18), and to a full-time doctoral student if he or she has not attained the age of 26 years.
| Age of applicant | Minimum number of years of service |
| up to 20 years | less than a year |
| 20-24 years old | at least 1 year |
| 24-28 years old | at least 2 years |
| 28-34 years old | at least 5 years |
| 34-40 years old | at least 8 years |
| 40-45 years old | at least 10 years |
| 45 years and over | at least 15 years |
The last condition is that you must not yet be entitled to an old-age pension or have been granted an early retirement pension.
How much will my pension be and how long will I receive it?
The amount of the invalidity pension depends on:
- Periods of insurance before the onset of invalidity: the more years of service you have and the higher your earnings, the higher your pension will be. Years of eligibility for a disability pension up to retirement age also count.
- The established rate of decline in the ability to perform work: For a decline from 41-70%, a share of the full pension is paid according to the percentage of disability (60% disability, 60% pension). For disability above 70%, you are entitled to a full disability pension.
You will continue to receive your pension as long as your doctor continues to recognise your continuing disability at regular check-ups. If your condition improves or worsens, the percentage of decline in your ability to work may be adjusted.
Attention!
If you do not attend the medical check-up even after repeated requests, the Social Insurance Institution will stop your pension payments. If your health deteriorates and this deterioration is proven by professional medical findings, you can ask for a reassessment of your health.
Once you reach retirement age, you are not required to have a disability pension check-up.
You could lose your disability pension if you were convicted of a crime that caused your disability.
How do I apply for a disability pension?
1
Book an appointment at the Social Insurance Office in your place of residence (or temporary residence)
2
Have your health assessed by your GP.
Bring him/her professional findings from examinations by other specialists that you don’t already have filed in your medical record.
3
If you continue to work in the same job, have your employer draw up a “pension record sheet” which you will need to calculate your pension.
4
Bring all the documents to the branch on the booked date, and together with an insurance company employee, write up a “Disability Pension Claim Record”.
5
The insurance company will contact your doctor to fill out the forms for the examination (Screening Examination).
6
The assessing doctor will assess the decline in your ability to work according to the documentation from your doctor.
7
The social insurance company will send you a summons to draw up an application for an invalidity pension, stating the place, date (day and time) and a list of documents.
8
You and a member of staff from the Social Insurance Institution will write an “Application for Pension”.
9
Wait for the decision. The social security office will check your application and make a decision within 60 days (or 120 days in complex cases) of writing it up.
10
Your pension will be paid into your account, in cash via the Slovak Post, or directly to a social services institution.
You fill in the way your pension is to be paid on your application form.
Payment and remittance of pension
1
If you want to have your pension paid into your account, you must submit a completed and bank-certified application to the Social Insurance Institution.
2
If you want to receive your pension in cash via the Slovak Post, you must send a request (letter) to the Social Insurance Institution informing them that your pension should be sent in cash to your chosen address via the Slovak Post.
If the insured person writes an application for an old-age pension, he/she shall indicate directly in the application that he/she wishes the pension to be paid in cash.
No special request!
Such an informal request shall be sent by already received by the pensioner if he/she wants to change the method of payment – the pension is paid into a bank account but he/she wants it to be paid in cash by post.
The application must state your exact residential address.
3
If you are currently in a social services facility, your pension will automatically be sent to the facility via a bulk voucher unless you request otherwise.
The pension shall always be paid to a pensioner who is in custody or serving a custodial sentence through the custodial institution or prison.
What documents are needed to apply for a disability pension?
Identity card
ID card/passport
Form completed and certified by a doctor
“Fact-finding inspection tour”
If you continue to work
You do not need to carry the ones that are registered in the Electronic Insured Person’s Account (EUP), but fill in the ones that are not registered in the EUP. You can find them under the tab for unrecorded periods in the Preparing for retirement section. You can check what is already on your record in your Electronic Insured Person’s Account, if you have it activated. Otherwise, you can request an EUP statement by calling the freephone number 0800 123 123, emailing podatelna@socpoist.sk, or in person at a branch of the Social Insurance Institution.
Evidence of completion of education
School leaving certificate, school leaving certificate, diploma or school certificate on the length and duration of studies, documents on the completion of compulsory school attendance, if requested by a Social Insurance Officer.
Evidence of military service
Men also have proof of compulsory military service or a military booklet.
Employer’s confirmation of the period of employment before 1 May 1990
In countries with which the Slovak Republic has not concluded an interstate social security treaty.
Documents proving the period and length of employment
Sufficient for occupations not in Electronic account of the insured person.
Children’s birth certificates (if you are applying for recognition of custody)
They are only required if you are a foreigner or the child was born abroad and was not registered in a special registry. If such a child died before the age of 18, a death certificate is also required.
Proof of foster care (if you are applying for recognition of custody of the child)
If you have taken the child into foster care (or other care replacing parental care), you will also need a decision from the competent authority to take custody of the children. If the child has been in the care of another person or institution, you will also need to provide proof of the duration of that period (only if you are applying for recognition of custody or fostering)
Confirmation from the competent institution of periods of insurance abroad
If you were insured abroad, you need an assessment of your entitlement to the minimum pension. This will be done by the Social Insurance Office on the basis of certificates and receipts for the amount of pension paid from abroad.
Completed and bank-certified form
“Application for transfer of pension benefits to the pensioner’s bank account”, if the insured person requests to transfer the pension in this way.
Add further information at the request of the Social Insurance Office, if necessary
Can I work or receive another pension alongside my invalidity pension?
You can’t receive an invalidity pension and an old-age or early retirement pension at the same time.
If you qualify for one of these pensions, apply for it and the Social Insurance Institution will automatically pay you the higher pension.
However, you can work and run a business without any restrictions while receiving a disability pensionand the state will even actively help you to join the workforce through supported employment agencies.
For more information please visit:
https://www.socpoist.sk/kto-som/dochodca/ziadatel-o-dochodok/ako-poziadat-o-invalidny-dochodok
