The legal age of the pension was increased from 65 to 66 years in 2025 and, over the first five months of the year, the drop in retirements which accompanied this measure saved 100 million euros in the State, wrote Echo and Tijd on Wednesday.
Since January, the legal retirement age has increased from 65 to 66 years. He will then be brought to 67 years in 2030. The last Belgians who could take their legal pension at 65 were those who was 65 years old in December 2024, their retirement taking effect on January 1, 2025. Those who celebrated their 65 years later, in January 2025, will have to wait until February 2026, when they are 66 years old.
This hardening is clearly reflected in statistics from the number of people who have been retired since February – the month when the measure has actually taken effect. “Between February and April, the number of new retirees fell 60 % compared to the same period of the previous year, going from 10,000 to 4,000 per month on average,” according to Vik Beullens, spokesperson for the Federal Pensions Service. These new retirees are exclusively those who have opted for early pension, accessible from 63 years old with 42 years of career, at 61 years old with 43 years, and from 60 years with 44 years of career.
The drop in retirement has a significant financial impact on pension spending. With an average pension of 1,850 euros per month, the savings accumulated over the period from February to May amount to 100 million euros, according to the figures provided by the Federal Pensions Service.
Since this effect will extend until the end of the year, this amount will further increase significantly in the coming months.
