If my situation changes
You do not always think about it, but changes in your personal or work situation often also affect your pension. All of these life events are clearly presented together below. For each topic, we will briefly explain what you can do yourself or what you need to think about.
Changes in my private life
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Moving house
Moving house is often a fun and sometimes exciting step. And retirement is not the first thing that springs to mind. However, it can still have consequences, for example if you move abroad. Or vice versa. Therefore, make sure you know what to arrange.
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Separation
If you are getting separated, you and your ex-partner have a lot to arrange. For example, custody of the children, but also about the division of the house, the household effects and savings. Furthermore, pensions are an important topic for you both to consider. On this page you can read what to look out for.
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If your partner dies
If your partner dies, this has many consequences. Usually also for your financial situation. That is why it is good to consider this together now. Are you married, registered partners or cohabiting? And does your partner accrue pension with a pension provider? Then you are usually entitled to survivor's pension.
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In the event of death
Of course, you hope that you'll stay healthy. Nevertheless, it is good to consider what the consequences are for your pension when you die. And whether you leave your surviving relatives behind in a good position. Many pension schemes include a separate scheme for this. Both for your (ex-)partner and for your children. Exactly how much they get depends on your situation at the moment of your death.
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Marriage or cohabitation
Now that you are going to build a future together, it is good to consider a number of things. One of these is your pension. If you start living together or get married after your retirement, your (new) partner will not receive a partner's pension. Read about how it all works and you won’t get any surprises.
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Nursing home
You naturally hope it will never come to that, but it may be that you or your partner needs to move into a nursing home at some point. A life event of this type can affect the amount of your state retirement pension (AOW). This depends on your situation.
Changes in my work situation
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Retiring
Your retirement age is appearing on the horizon. You can often decide for yourself exactly when your retirement will start. Before that happens, you usually still have a number of pension choices to make. For example, how you want to receive your pension and what you want to do with the accrued survivor's pension. In addition, you will also receive an AOW pension from your AOW age.
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New job
Do you have a new job or do you plan to change jobs? Then it is good to take a moment to think about your pension. How do you know whether you have a good pension scheme? What happens to your ‘old’ pension? And what can you do if you do not accrue a pension with your new employer, or start as a freelancer.
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Becoming incapacitated for work
You would rather not to think about it; being ill for a long time or becoming incapacitated for work. This may affect your current income and your pension. Are you accruing a pension with a pension provider? Then this usually continues for the first two years of your illness. If you do not have a (permanent) job or a temporary contract, it often works differently.
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Becoming a freelancer
The reasons for starting work as a freelancer differ. Sometimes you choose to do this yourself and sometimes it is necessary to practice a profession. What is a fact is that “being in charge” affects how you have to manage your finances. This also applies to your pension. Whether it is necessary to provide a supplementary pension varies per person.
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Becoming unemployed
Losing your job is unpleasant. Moreover, it affects more than just your income. This is because you will not accrue any pension when you are unemployed. Luckily, what you have already accrued will remain in place. In addition, being unemployed also has an influence on the amounts that your surviving relatives receive if you die.
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Working more or less hours
If you are going to work more or less hours, this often affects your pension. Are you working more hours? Then not only your salary, but also the amount of your pension would change. Sometimes you might want to work a little less for a while. For example, because you want more free time, have young children or are about to retire. In that case, your pension will often be lower.
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Receive lump sum
You may take a sum of your pension capital immediately as soon as you start your pension. This is called a lump sum. If you choose to receive a lump sum, your remaining pension payout will decrease as a result. Read more on how this works, and what you should take into consideration.