Building up pension at your own cost

When to continue building up pension

You can continue to build up pension, but you don't have to. Whether this is the right choice for you, depends on your income and expenses after your retirement. And whether you can pay the contribution now.

• Check whether you can pay these extra costs when you have no or a lower income. You pay the entire contribution yourself.
• It is wise to make an overview of your income and expenses after your retirement. Check whether you need to continue to build up pension to have enough money then.
• When you stop building up pension, the part of the partner pension insured on risk-basis also expires. When making your choice, also consider whether your partner will have enough income if you die.

Make arrangements on time: apply within 1 year

Do you want to carry on accruing pension with PME at your own cost? Apply within 1 year of ending your job by using the Pension accrual at your own cost form (pdf).

How long can you accrue pension at your own cost?

• You can carry on accruing pension at your own cost for 3 years.
• If you become self-employed, you can carry on accruing pension at your own cost for 10 years. 

You pay all of the pension contributions

You pay all of the contributions towards your pension accrual yourself, including the part previously paid by your employer.

• The amount of the contributions you must pay depends on the pensionable salary you earned before you left your job (reference date: 1 January of the year in question). We calculate the contributions based on your last-earned salary.
• You may be able to deduct the contributions on your income tax return. If you have any questions, it is best to contact the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration.