Financial support for temporary soldiers during their integration into civilian working life

The service pension consists of a transitional allowance and transitional allowances.

Transitional allowance

When your service with the Bundeswehr ends, you will receive a transitional allowance in the form of a one-off payment.

The amount of the transitional allowance depends on

• the amount of your service pay in the last month and
• the length of your service, ranging from 1.5 times your last pay for a period of service of less than 18 months to 12 times your last pay for a period of service of 20 years or more.

Transitional allowances

You will also receive transitional allowances paid monthly at the end of your service. The duration of your transitional allowance also depends on your length of service, ranging from 12 months after 4 years of service to 60 months after 12 years or more of service.

If your military training has already resulted in a successful completion of a recognized apprenticeship, a master's level degree, or a college or university degree, the eligibility period for your transitional allowance will be shortened.

The amount of your transitional allowance will be 75 per cent of your last month's pay.

If you were on leave of absence or part-time during the last month without pay, the pay corresponding to your last month of service will be used.

If you are enrolled in a full-time vocational training program sponsored by the Vocational Rehabilitation Service, an educational allowance equal to 25 percent of your last month's pay will be added to your transition pay.

If you receive income from your training or other income from public service, your transitional allowance will be reduced.

If you were on leave of absence or part-time during your period of service without pay, your transitional allowance will be reduced in amount and your transitional allowance will be reduced in length of service in the proportion that the period of leave bears to the total period of service. The reduction may be waived, for example, for the period of parental leave.

If you were previously a soldier, the amount of your entitlement is determined by the total period of service, taking into account the benefits already granted.

You must pay tax on both the transitional allowance and the transitional allowance.