Working while on pension and income limits

You may work while on pension. Pension accrued from employment alongside pension needs to be applied for separately.

You can work without income limits while on

  • Old-age pension
  • Partial early old-age pension.

There are income limits, i.e. restrictions to your income amount if you work while on

  • Partial disability pension
  • Partial rehabilitation allowance
  • Disability pension
  • Cash rehabilitation benefit
  • Years-of-service pension.

More pension accrues from employment

Pension accrues in the amount of 1.5% of annual earnings while working on pension. Depending on your year of birth, pension accrues up to the age of 68, 69, or 70. Pension insurance contributions will also be withheld from this income.

The pension calculator for work while on pension shows how much new pension you have accrued from working while on pension. The calculator can be found on the My Pension online service, if you are on old-age pension, disability pension, cash rehabilitation benefit, partial disability pension or partial rehabilitation allowance and you have worked while on pension, are currently employed, or your employment relationship while on pension has ended. Go to the My Pension service

Only the employment relationships and earnings for which you have not yet received pension will show on your pension record.

Pension accrued from employment alongside pension needs to be applied for separately. The easiest way is to apply for your pension in the My Pension service using the old-age pension application form.

You need a tax card for income and for pension

Pension is taxed differently from employment income. You need therefore two tax cards: one for the payment of your current pension and one for your employment income, as pension is taxed differently from employment income. Read more: Taxation of pension

Working while on old-age pension

You can work as much as you want while on old-age pension.

You can work full-time, part-time, or in temporary employment. This does not have any effect on the payment of your pension. Working does not affect the old-age pension already being paid to you whatsoever.

You accrue new pension from employment until the upper age limit at which pension accrues. The upper age limit at which pension accrues is determined by your year of birth.

Year of birth Upper age limit at which pension accrues
1955 68 v
1956 68 v
1957 68 v
1958 69 v
1959 69 v
1960 69 v
1961 69 v
1962–1964 70 v
1965– Will be confirmed later

You can continue working even after you reach the upper age limit at which pension accrues. No pension insurance contributions are withheld from this income, so no new pension is accrued either.

How and when do I apply for pension accrued while on old-age pension?

You can apply for pension accrued while on old-age pension as soon as you have reached the upper age limit at which pension accrues. Apply for your pension in the My Pension service using the old-age pension application form.

 

Working while on partial early old-age pension

While on partial early old-age pension, you can continue working as before, work shorter hours, or stop working altogether. You can also switch employers or work as an entrepreneur.

You should agree on any changes to working hours with your employer.

Income earned while on partial early old-age pension does not affect your pension amount.

You do not need to notify Keva of any changes in working hours or income or if you stop working. Keva does not monitor your income.

Working while on disability pension, cash rehabilitation benefit, partial disability pension, partial rehabilitation allowance

You can work while on disability pension, cash rehabilitation benefit, partial disability pension, or partial rehabilitation allowance, as long as your income stays within your personal income limit.

If you work while on pension, new pension is accrued. Apply for this pension that has accrued when you reach your retirement age and you stop working. This new pension is added to your old-age pension. Apply for your pension in the My Pension service using the old-age pension application form.

Remember your income limit

Your income limit is personal.

The income limit applies to all following income:

  • Salaries and benefits paid by the employer
  • Holiday pays and reimbursements paid by the employer
  • Entrepreneurial income
  • Foster and family care allowances.

The income limit is always specified in gross income.

You can see your income limit in the My Pension service.

  • You can see your personal gross income limit from your pension decision.
  • The income limit is reviewed yearly using an index. You can easily find your current income limit in the My Pension service on the page “Ansaintaraja eläkkeen aikana” (Income limit while on pension).
  • From 1 January 2025 you can however earn a minimum of 986.30 euros a month.

If your income exceeds the limit

  • Please see above which income is affected by your income limit.
  • If your income exceeds your personal limit for a minimum of three months, Keva will pause the payment of your pension. This is referred to as leaving your pension dormant.
  • If you already know beforehand that your income will exceed your income limit for more than two consecutive months, please notify Keva immediately. Keva will pause the payment of your pension from the beginning of the month during which your income exceeds the limit.
  • When your income decreases again and goes below your income limit, please notify Keva. Keva will begin paying pension to you again.
  • If you work and your income exceeds the limit for over two years, Keva will terminate your pension altogether.